Honoring Diggidy: Aid for Littlejohn Family

Hi! My name is Wendy Lough, and I am raising money to help the Littlejohn Family pay an enormous vet bill from the loss of their service dog.

On Monday, April 8, 2019, I sat in the lobby of Canine Assistants in Alpharetta, GA with my friend Allison and her daughters Grace and Faith. There were three service dog candidates selected based on a personality test Grace had taken a month before arriving in Alpharetta. A 2 year old, handsome golden retriever named Diggidy picked Grace to be his girl. Over the next 2 weeks, Grace and her gentle giant worked on becoming a team. Their bond strengthened as they learned to help each other & Diggidy learned to alert her parents when a problem arose. Unlike most service dogs, Diggidy wore a vest with a patch that read “ask to pet me, I’m friendly.” People were pleasantly surprised they could pet him and give him a nice belly rub. He had a unique ability to understand when a person needed his attention. He made new friends everywhere he went and brought joy to those around him.

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Diggidy was required to have emergency surgery to have his spleen removed. An ultrasound showed internal bleeding and cancerous growths on his spleen. He seemed to be doing well with recovery, but when the family was allowed to visit on Wednesday, his heart stopped. Everything was done to save him, but the surgeon believed a blood clot led to his tragic death. He was only 6 years old and just too young to die so tragically. Diggidy was such a special and well-loved service dog for Grace. He gave her comfort, confidence, and care. This is a great loss to the family, and he will be missed tremendously. Many have asked if Grace will get a new service dog. She will need one. However the medical services required to save Diggidy’s life needs to be paid first. The family is required to pay the bill within six months in order to avoid interest fees. There have been other medical needs within the family that has caused this to become a great financial burden. The quicker this bill is paid, the sooner they will have the ability to save their money and provide another service dog for their daughter. Thank you for your generosity in helping this family. All donations will go directly towards Diggidy’s medical expenses. Sharing their story will also help them. We appreciate your prayers and support. Diggidy will forever live in our hearts.