Ginkgo, our little white poodle, joined our family in June and quickly became the heart of our home. He was a constant companion, always eager to snuggle in our laps or curl up beside us at night. Our grandkids adored him, and he brought a new sense of joy and togetherness to our family. Even in noisy gatherings, Ginkgo always found comfort with us, and it was clear he knew who his people were. His presence strengthened our marriage and deepened our family bonds in ways we never expected. When he passed, we buried him in our backyard surrounded by our daughters and grandchildren, each of us honoring his memory in our own way. The loss has left a profound emptiness in our lives, but we are grateful for the time we had with him.

Ginkgo’s illness came as a shock. What started as mild symptoms quickly escalated into a series of urgent vet visits, specialist appointments, and hospital stays. We did everything possible to help him, but the costs mounted rapidly. We spent nearly $20,000, paying for his care out of our savings and eventually relying on credit cards, never expecting the expenses to grow so high. As retirees, our income is limited, and this experience has been financially overwhelming. We don’t regret a single decision we made for Ginkgo, but we now find ourselves needing help to recover from the financial impact. Our hope is to pay down our credit cards, rebuild our savings, and eventually be able to support the rescue community again. We are not seeking to recoup every dollar, but any support will help us move forward and, in time, open our hearts and home to another rescue dog. Thank you for considering helping us honor Ginkgo’s memory and continue our commitment to animal rescue.