Mimosa, or “Mimi” as we called her, was the kind of dog who left an impression on everyone she met. She was curious, deeply loving, and endlessly strong but also a total little ham from the very beginning.

We first met Mimi eight years ago when we were asked to foster her. She had just been rescued from a puppy mill in Houston, where she had recently given birth to a litter of puppies, and she was also battling heartworm. The moment she came off the transport van and into my arms, the rescue team laughed and called her a “little ham” and they were absolutely right. We bonded instantly, she was scared but found calmness in my arms. I knew right away she was meant to stay with us, love at first sight. It didn’t take much to convince my husband, he already knew.

From that day on, Mimi became our family.

Over the years, she continued to face more medical challenges, more than most dogs ever should; heartworm treatment, some of the largest bladder stones our vet had ever seen, dental disease, IVDD that temporarily paralyzed her back legs, an enlarged heart, and chronic skin and ear issues. Time and time again, she fought her way through it all with a resilience that amazed everyone around her. She was a fighter through and through.

But more than anything, Mimi was there for us.

She was with us through moves, job changes, personal losses, and life’s many ups and downs. She was our constant, our distraction from the world, our reminder to keep fighting. She was even our flower dog at our wedding, perfectly behaved, of course, and completely adored.

To me, she was more than a pet; she was my emotional support, my companion, and my little shadow.

In her final days, her condition declined very quickly. We made the heartbreaking decision to let her go peacefully when it became clear her heart was failing, and she was likely bleeding internally. She could no longer continue to fight. The veterinary team did everything they could to keep her comfortable while we said goodbye, and we are so grateful she was able to pass gently, surrounded by love, finally at rest.

The cost of her final care has come to approximately $2,200, with some final arrangements still pending. After navigating recent job loss and ongoing financial hardship, this is more than we can manage on our own.

We are asking for help to cover Mimi’s final vet bills so we can focus on grieving and honoring her memory, rather than worrying about how to pay for her care.

If we are fortunate enough to exceed our goal, we will donate the additional funds to New Collar Collective in Mimi’s name, to help other rescue dogs get the second chance she was given.

Mimi was loved deeply not just by us, but by everyone who met her. She was strong, sweet, and unforgettable.

Thank you for helping us give her the goodbye she deserved.

With love,

Alaina (Dottie))