Save Riley: Urgent Surgery

Help Riley Get the Life-Saving Surgery She Desperately Needs.

I’m reaching out because my dog Riley, my emotional support animal and my last connection to my late father, is very unwell right now. Riley just turned 4, and she’s been my constant companion through some of the hardest times in my life. Right now, she’s in excruciating pain because of a stone lodged in her bladder. She can’t urinate, and her only relief comes in the form of blood passing through. If she doesn’t get surgery soon, I’ll lose her—and I can’t bear the thought.

Riley came into my life when I was 17, the same year my dad passed away in 2021. My dad was my rock. For 12 years, he was a dedicated baseball and softball coach with the Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders. He wasn’t just a coach; he was a mentor, a father figure to so many kids in our community, and the glue that held our family together. Losing him shattered me. At just 17, I was struggling with overwhelming grief and trying to navigate life without the person who always believed in me.

Riley was my dad’s dog for her first two years of life, and she adored him. She would sit at the door waiting for him to come home, and after he passed, you could see her grief, too—crying, confused, and searching for him. Taking her in was like keeping a piece of my dad with me, and together, we started to heal. Riley isn’t just my dog; she’s the last living part of my dad that I have left.

Riley’s love and unwavering support transformed my life. I certified her as an emotional support animal because she truly is my lifeline. She doesn’t just bring me comfort; she brings joy to so many others. Occasionally, I take her on trips to hospitals to visit sick children and to psych centers to brighten the lives of patients. Watching her light up a room and bring smiles to people who are hurting reminds me how special she is. Riley has the rare gift of spreading love to anyone she meets.

Now, she needs us. The surgery to remove the stone in her bladder is expensive, and I simply can’t afford it alone. Riley has been there for me through my darkest days, and I want to do everything I can to be there for her now.

If you’re able, please consider donating to help save Riley’s life. Every single contribution—no matter how small—brings us closer to giving her the chance to keep sharing her love and light.

Even if you can’t donate, sharing her story would mean the world to me. Together, we can help Riley heal and continue being the incredible dog who’s brought so much happiness to my life and the lives of others.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping in any way you can.

With gratitude,

Angel S.

She'll be taken cared of by Brookside Vet Hospital in Bridgeport CT.