Hi friends. I am writing this with a heavy heart and a lot of love for my sister Ashley, her family, and her sweet puppy, Winnie. Ashley would never dream of asking anyone for help. She is the type of person who tries to carry every burden alone because she never wants to add stress to someone else’s life. And with the way the world feels right now, she has been even more hesitant. We are living in a time when people are working harder than ever just to stay afloat. Families are dealing with a government shutdown. Grocery prices are sky high. Many people are trying to survive one day at a time.

But this situation has left her feeling heartbroken and overwhelmed, and I know she cannot do this alone. Winnie, her sweet puppy, needs help. And even in difficult times, I believe that kindness still matters and that the smallest bit of support can bring a little hope where it is desperately needed.

Some of you already know that Ashley lost her sweet three legged pitbull, Bella this past July. It was sudden and heartbreaking, and it left a space in their family that words cannot quite describe. Not long after, Winnie came into their lives, and it truly felt like a little bit of light returning. They adored her from the moment she arrived.

At Winnie’s first vet appointment, the veterinarian noticed something concerning and immediately referred her to a cardiologist. After a series of emotional and very expensive tests, we learned that Winnie has a serious heart condition. One of her valves is not working properly, and the failing valve has caused dangerous enlargement of the surrounding heart muscle. Without surgery, the cardiologist believes Winnie only has no more than a year to live.

The surgery she needs costs about $10,000. It also carries risks, including the possibility that she might not make it through the procedure. Even if she does, she will need lifelong monitoring, testing, and specialized care. Including every 6 months $1700 for EKG tests for life. It is not a simple choice.

although this is a birth defect, Tacoma humane says that they knew nothing about this when my sister adopted her at 10 weeks and we want to put our faith in that.

I am here asking for help not because Ashley wants it, but because I know she needs it. If Ashley and her family decides that the surgery is not in Winnie’s best interest, every donation will be refunded. If she does move forward with the surgery, anything you give will go toward helping Winnie live the longest and happiest life possible.

More than anything, I hope this support helps Ashley feel less alone as she faces an impossible decision. Winnie is deeply loved. She deserves a real chance, and your kindness could give Ashley just a little more hope and a little more room to breathe as she weighs the options.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and for caring. Your support means more to us than you will ever know.

We will likely leave this up for about a month as they plan to take about that long to decide the best route for everyone involved. If we can gather enough support to cover the cost of Winnie’s surgery, her family should be able to budget for the lifetime of expensive routine care that follows. The ten thousand dollar price tag makes this an incredibly hard decision for them, especially knowing that Winnie will still need long term costly treatment for her condition. Your support lifts that immediate financial weight so they can focus on giving her the steady, loving care she needs. Every contribution helps turn a very tough moment into a much more manageable path forward for Winnie and the people who adore her.

Also please feel absolutely zero pressure to donate. Truly. If you are someone we know, we love you already and your support in any form means the world. Feel free to share it if you want, but there is no guilt trip here at all.

-Sincerely,

Brittany