We only got one year with him. He deserved more.

My daughter had always dreamed of having an orange cat and I kept my eyes open for the right one. When I found Dipper and his bonded sister Mabel, I knew they were family. I drove her out to a farmhouse in Washington without telling her why. We parked, and a kind woman came out carrying two little fluff balls. I pulled out a cat carrier. My daughter started to realize what was happening and the tears started flowing, the good kind. When she saw them, it was love at first sight. We brought them both home because they belonged together.

Dipper was made of pure kindness and love. He was a talker, a cuddler, an orange fluffball, a total derp, and such a special companion. Calm and gentle, silly, and he loved everyone. He had been dreamed about for years. And then he was here.

And then he was gone.

When Dipper first started acting sluggish, we took him to the vet right away. We were told it was a simple stomach blockage and that he just needed help passing it. We trusted that. When he didn’t improve, we took him back again. We were told the same thing.

That night, everything fell apart.

I was woken up around midnight by my eldest child, who told me something was wrong with Dipper. He was on the floor, spasming. I wrapped him in a towel and held him close while calling an Uber to Dove Lewis. I waited for what felt like the longest 10 minutes of my life before getting picked up. I rode through the night with him in my arms, hoping he would make it, telling him he was safe and loved the whole time.

At DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, they rushed him to the back immediately. Within moments, they asked for permission to perform CPR. I said yes, but there was nothing they could do. His heart had already stopped.

Then we learned what really happened.

I won't go into detail, but he didn’t have to die.

I held him afterward for as long as I could. I thanked him for being such a beautiful, loving presence in our lives. I said goodbye to a friend who deserved so much better.

The next morning, I had to share the news. I watched a child’s world break in real time. The confusion, the searching, the heartbreak. It was devastating, and it did not have to happen.

DoveLewis was incredibly kind through all of this. They sat with me while I cried, walked me out, and helped me get home. I want to do right by them and pay what I owe for the care they tried so hard to give.

I owe $729 for the emergency visit, and $300 for a legal consultation to understand what happened and what can be done next.

We are asking for $1,029 total.

I do not want to be asking for help, but I cannot do this alone.

If you are able to donate or pass this along, it truly means everything to us.

Thank you for helping us honor Dipper’s life.

He mattered. He was loved. He should still be here with us.