Hi Everyone,

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, our family was rocked by yet another tragedy. Earlier in the week, we took our 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Marlo, to the vet, where she was diagnosed with an eye infection. I fought with them because I felt this was wrong, but ultimately, I chose to listen to the professionals. We followed up on Friday morning since there was 0 improvement and there was a small bump forming on her head. They told us she must have bumped her head playing with her brother. By Sunday, Marlos's head began to swell, and on Monday, she had a large abscess (that we were told must be a boo-boo or bump from playing with her brother) rupture on her head, leading to Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).

Sadly, we were unaware of the severity, and the infection spread within 24 hours and destroyed most of Marlo’s healthy tissue and skin on the right side of her head and face. We hope we receive good news on the status of her right eye, although there is the likelihood she could lose that as well. Marlo is going to require multiple skin grafts and surgeries to help her heal and take her life back.

Anyone who knows us knows that our dogs are everything. We are in the process of adding our beautiful 12-year-old daughter to our family, and she is beside herself with grief and anxiety, as Marlo has become her world over the past 19 months. This could not come at a worse time for us. Our family is compassionately moving home so that I can become the primary caregiver for two terminally ill parents, one who also just recently had a limb amputation and the other stage 4 cancer.

Marlo has been in critical care since Tuesday at AltaVista in Ottawa, and the first round of bills has already totalled around $12,500, but we have been warned to expect much more based on how extensive Marlo's wounds are. We have effectively drained our savings. We know times are tough for everyone, so our family comes to you with our hearts in our hands. If there is anything you can give to help, we would be eternally grateful.

If you’re able to donate, any amount makes a difference. Even if you can’t contribute financially, sharing this page would mean the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping Marlo get the chance she deserves to keep living her happy, golden life.

With love and gratitude,

The Roches