Help Us Bring Mochi Home

Right now, our sweet girl Mochi is in the hospital fighting her 3rd episode of congestive heart failure. She's been there for two days, and the doctors say she needs at least two more. She is 14-year-old Maltese and is the love of our lives. We're asking for your help to bring her home.

Meet Mochi

Mochi joined our family when I was in high school. She has been by my side through every high and low of my adult life — every milestone, hard season and quiet moment. Her presence alone is enough to bring a smile to your face even when you’ve had a rough day.

If you've ever met her, you know that she loves nudging your hand until you pet her and will always position herself for the perfect butt massage. She loves people watching from her favourite spot by the window at my mom’s house and finding the perfect sunbathing spot. Even now, on her better days, she still insists on her walks, sniffing around and being endlessly curious about the world. She is truly the sweetest girl we know.

Her Story

In 2024, Mochi was diagnosed with Stage B2 heart disease. Heart disease in dogs is progressive. There is no cure and only management through medication and monitoring. For over a year, she did really well on medication. She stayed stable, attended regular cardiologist visits, and kept on living her life. She would still get the zoomies every night, sprinting back and forth in our hallway, like a puppy.

Then, late last year, things took a turn.

She has now experienced three episodes of congestive heart failure — meaning her heart can no longer pump blood efficiently, and fluid builds up in her lungs, making it hard to breathe. Each episode has required emergency hospitalization, blood work, imaging, IV diuretics to clear the fluid, oxygen support and more.

Her heart isn't her only challenge. Just ten days ago, she was in the ER for her collapsed trachea. She is currently managing both conditions on six different medications.

The Cost of Keeping Her Well

Our pet insurance covers up to $2,500 per condition and at this stage of her care, we exhaust that in a single visit. Each hospitalization runs between $1,500 to $7,000. Just her cardiologist appointment with imaging and bloodwork runs around $2,500. On top of that, the diuretic strains her kidneys, requiring ongoing blood work to monitor kidney function, another cost that adds up quickly.

Between three hospitalizations, an ER visit for her trachea, specialist appointments, imaging, and daily medications, the cost to care for Mochi has totalled over $20,000. We are currently raising to cover her current hospitalization, the upcoming cardiologist consultation, and her ongoing care.

What We're Asking

We want to give Mochi the best care so we can bring her home, keep her comfortable, and love her well through whatever time she has left. We'll make the hard choice if we ever have to but first, we want to give her every chance. She has given us everything and we want to give that back to her.

If you can give anything — whatever feels right — it goes directly toward her care. And if you can't give, sharing this page means just as much. Every share puts Mochi in front of someone who might be able to help. Thank you for reading Mochi’s story and loving her with us.

We'll post updates here as her care progresses. Every donation will go toward her medical costs, and if we raise beyond what's needed, any remainder will be donated to a heart disease research fund for dogs.