Hi, my name is Krystal, and I’m a volunteer at the West Valley Animal Shelter in Utah. My family and I do what we can to help animals in need, from walking dogs at the shelter, donating when we can, and fostering those in need of extra care or who we can provide a short respite even if temporarily from shelter life. Ten days ago, we took in a stray puppy from the shelter—a sweet little guy we think is a Newfoundland mix—to foster temporarily until he was ready to find his forever home.

Teddy isn’t our dog—we’ve only had him for a short time—but in that time, he’s stolen our family's hearts. Now, Teddy is battling parvo, a severe and life-threatening virus, and we’re doing everything in our power to help in the hopes he will recover. We’re reaching out for your support.

Teddy’s Story:

Teddy arrived at the shelter as a stray, estimated at just 8 weeks old, scared and alone. With shelters in crisis and parvo spreading rapidly, we brought him home to foster so he could grow healthy and have a shot at finding a loving forever family.

For nine wonderful days, Teddy thrived. He played with our four dogs, ran around the backyard, and soaked up all the love we could give him. But yesterday morning, everything changed. He suddenly fell ill, and by the afternoon, our worst fears were confirmed—Teddy has parvo.

The Challenge We Face:

Parvo is a highly contagious and often deadly virus for puppies if not treated promptly and intensively. Unfortunately, overcrowded and underfunded shelters often cannot provide the care these puppies need, forcing shelters to make heartbreaking choices.

Determined to give Teddy the best chance possible, our family decided we needed to admit him to MW Veterinary Specialists in Bluffdale, UT. He’s now in their ICU isolation unit, receiving life-saving treatment. The cost of his care is significant—estimated between $3,500 and $6,500—and we’ve already put down $3,500 to begin his treatment.

As volunteer fosters, we personally cover the expenses for the animals we care for from the shelter (rescues typically handle these costs for their fosters). This means the cost of Teddy’s care falls entirely on our family—there’s no reimbursement or tax break, just our deep love for animals and commitment to giving them a chance at life.

We’re reaching out to our community of animal lovers for help. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in giving Teddy the fighting chance he deserves.

Why We’re Asking for Help:

Helping Teddy has also impacted our long-term dream of opening a rescue of our own. Inspired by Duke and Steph from PAWerful Rescue in Dallas, Texas—where we adopted our third dog, Jameson—we hope to one day purchase a little land, establish a 501(c)(3) rescue, and dedicate fully to saving and rehabilitating animals on a larger scale.

But right now, every dollar we’re spending on Teddy is taking us further from that dream and what we have saved to make it a reality. While we’re fully committed to his care, we’re humbly asking for your support to help cover his medical costs.

How You Can Help:

*Consider volunteering at your local shelter.

*If you’re able, fostering a dog in need is an incredible way to help. Many rescues cover all costs, including food and vet bills, so all you need to do is open your home—sometimes for just a few days.

We’ll keep everyone updated on Teddy’s progress and hopefully this includes his journey to recovery. Your support means everything—not just to Teddy, but to our family and our mission to help animals like him.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, compassion, and generosity. Together, we can give Teddy the fighting chance he deserves.

Just remember:

Teddy may be small, but his fight is mighty—and so is the heart of this community. By donating, sharing, or even volunteering locally, you can help save lives like Teddy’s and make a lasting difference. Thank you for helping us give this sweet boy the future he deserves.