Help Linda and Mike Heal from Heartbreaking Loss

Hello everyone,

my name is Angela Strain, and I’d like to give a trigger warning as I won’t share details but this story is very tragic and disturbing.

My family and I are trying to raise funds for my my mother Linda and stepfather Micheal. On September 19th, my mom and step dad went through something incredibly tragic and unfortunately lost their dog Sophia who is pictured there with my mom. My mother last year had joined a program through the state that assists people who are intellectually impaired or disabled - it’s called shared living. Out of the goodness of their hearts they wanted to give this young man a chance in the world and because my mother is older it was a way for her to stay home more and still make money (my stepfather who’s a similar age is still working). Unfortunately just Friday, Linda and Mike had to have sweet Sophia euthanized due to the young man they took in, it was that Friday we unfortunately learned Sophia had lost her life but it was done via SA. My mother and Mike’s world is completely shattered and all of this is just a lot to process for all of us. My mom is taking the necessary legal matters to pick up the pieces and though the state is kind enough to have a program to help with the vet bills. As of now, there will be no other help financially through them. My mother had originally signed a 1 year contract to help take care of that young man but won’t even be paid the rest of the year. We as a family are going to do everything to help my mother and stepdad but I’m coming on here to help raise some funds as my mom is only receiving one more check and then is without a job. She of course is currently looking for work, but as her daughter I would really like to try to give her some time to process and heal and not have to worry about money and bills right away. I feel it’s unfair there is barely any compensation for her all she was trying to do is give someone a good life. Now, she’s picking up the pieces of hers. I’d also like to add it’s hard for both of them but especially my mother to stay there as she was the one who found her Sophia and in the home as she is experiencing PTSD. If this works gofundme works out it would also help with potentially rehomimg them so they can heal in a place that doesn’t remind them of this tragic event. Thank you for taking the time to read and thank you for donating if you choose to. It means a lot.

More about Sophia:

Sophia and her family loved walks in Manson Park, she loved chasing the squirrels. The smoked meats my mom and Mike shared with her (she was actually on her weight loss journey she got a little chunky hehe), she was a friendly sweet gentle soul. She loved kisses and her naps. She loved going for rides and different adventures with her parents. Her younger brother, Apollo came into their lives just earlier this year and she took such good care of him. She loved sharing her food, napping and playing with him. They were besties for sure and she was such a good big sister. She was known by the whole neighborhood never failing to forget to greet anyone. She was my parents world. They had had her for 7 years and she lived a beautiful life with them, but it should have been much longer. We still can’t believe what has happened but we’ll continue to advocate for her and make sure we keep her in our hearts. Sophia you will be missed my dear. ❤️