Earlier this week, our dad, Richard “Rich” Goodrich, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, just days after retiring. He had no health conditions, and we were incredibly shocked by his passing. My brother Evan and I are still trying to process everything, but one thing we know for sure is how much our dad loved his dog, Java. Java is an 8-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever, and he was truly our dad’s best friend—they went everywhere together, and Java was his favorite hunting and adventure partner. After a long and difficult divorce, our dad had only just gotten Java back a few months ago. It meant the world to him to have Java by his side again.

When we learned of our dad’s passing, we found that Java had been alone for several days. Since bringing him home, we’ve noticed he’s underweight and clearly adjusting to a lot of change. We want to make sure Java is safe, comfortable, and cared for during this transition. A vet tech friend recommended a thorough workup, including a full blood panel, testing for worms and heart disease, screening for other health concerns, and dental care if needed. The costs for these exams and treatments are significant, and because of the legal and probate process, we won’t be able to access any estate funds for quite some time. That means these expenses will need to come directly out of our pockets right now.

Several people have asked how they can help, so we created this fundraiser specifically to support Java’s veterinary care. Java is a very good boy, and making sure he’s healthy is incredibly important to us as we honor our dad’s memory. If you’re able to contribute, we are deeply grateful. If not, sharing this page also helps more than you know. Thank you for the kindness and support so many people have already shown our family during this incredibly difficult time. – Jessie and Evan