Cooper has been with us for nine years, ever since a puppy. He's seen all of the major events of our adult life and his company helped nurse me back to health after an extremely bad car accident. He has always loved life and been one of the most exuberant and charismatic dogs I have ever known.

At the end of December he developed a hacking cough, which we and the vet both assumed was an upper respiratory issue. His symptoms quickly worsened and we took him in for a sedated x ray. Only two days after the x ray he started struggling to breathe and we rushed him to the emergency vet.

What we thought was a simple illness turned out to be heart failure. He has been there for nearly 24 hours now, relying on oxygen tubes and diuretics to help remove the fluid in his lungs. We don't know if he will make it much longer, but we have put every cent that we have into his care, and now have to come to a decision on his end of life process.

It's our wish to have him pass in the comfort of his home, not in a room at the vet office, but we only have enough to ensure that he gets care through the night. We need help to try to get him the additional care he needs as he is weaned off of oxygen, as well as paying for the services of an in home veterinarian to assist with everything, whenever that time comes. Anyone who has ever known Cooper knows that he is slow to warm up, but once you've earned it, he is an incredibly loving dog. We want to ensure that he leaves this world knowing how loved he truly is.