I am so very desperate to help my sweet pup. Some of you in the community have interacted with her and seen her ride strapped into my bike basket around the MidCoast.

At 11:30pm on 9/29/2025 , I woke and adjusted my bedding. Sassy was sleeping at my feet curled in the blankets, I turned to fall back asleep when I heard her fall/jump out of bed, followed by a slight whimper and thump. I got out of bed and found her laid out on the ground. I approached and picked her up, she was completely limp.

I laid on the ground with her, rubbing her and holding her, giving her my love and reassurance. She woke with labored breathing. I assessed and jumped up getting my glasses and a blanket for her, then rushed downstairs with her in my arms. I reached out to my wonderful neighbor in my confusion, trying to figure out how to help her.

We brought her to MidCoast Animal Emergency Clinic. I was told best case scenario she’s experiencing heart failure. At the time, she was improving and alert but with some labored breathing. She stayed in an oxygen chamber, had X-rays done. The estimate for her staying that night on oxygen was is $2000.

Her little tail is waving when she sees me. Something is wrong with her heart, I then needed to travel down to Scarborough so she could have an echocardiogram.

Two days in Scarborough receiving care through tests and all. It was discovered on the first day she is experiencing Congestive Heart Failure. My sweet pup. Now that we have an answer, through meds she can keep going. However, all the care she received to find a solution, came to $5,520 for those 2 days, on top of her emergency visit originally.

I am heartbroken, because I am in a position where I do not have the funds to get her the help she needs. I’m only looking to find out exactly what can be done. Not to extend her life selfishly if it’s her time to go, but to see if there’s anything within reason. It would break my heart having to put her down when she seems she has a great chance of being alright, but I don’t have the funds to even find out.

I don’t have all the money in the world, I’m just trying to live as best I can while providing for her place in my life as well. She is such a sweetheart, she deserves any effort I can give to her. I am asking for help from anyone who can. I will give all the updates regarding her progress and what is found out. She is such an amazing sweet small dog, the gentlest of souls. I am a better person because of her place in my life, she deserves more in this life but I do the best I can for her.

She came into my life 6 years ago this Wednesday, October 1st 2019. I found her in the middle of the road in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas on a cross country trip with my friend. She was with a 6 month old Shepard mix, both had been dumped on a farmers property. I adopted Sassafras, while my friend adopted the Shepard pup, naming him Ozzie.

Sassy is an incredibly sweet, gentle, and wonderful dog. She absolutely loves riding my bike and gets so excited whenever she sees her harness pulled out for these rides. She loves saying hello to you in the community, she enjoys giving love to those who wish to receive it. She can give you high fives, say woof, shake, and sit for a little treat. And will stay in your lap forever if you let her.

My heart is hurting, I wish I could take care of her completely on my own in this emergency situation. She’s my responsibility. If it’s time for her to go, I can say goodbye and lovingly hold her as she slips away. But, to think I’d only have to make such a decision due to lack of some funds, breaks my heart. She’s alert, I feel like she could be alright, I just need to find out what’s best, this is not a moment of “I can’t let her go”.

If you know of anyway to help, please reach out to me. I am open to any and all suggestions. I have Venmo, I’m willing to make a go fund me. I will do whatever it takes to help her.

Thank you for taking the time to read. MidCoast Maine has become a wonderful home for Sassy and I. We truly appreciate the amazing people we’ve met since moving here.