“We are beyond grateful and super excited to get our sweet Charbaby back—happy, healthy—alive! You have saved my kids from so much suffering. I can’t put into words the relief, joy and gratitude I have for you fund and all the kind people who support it.”

– Charlie’s Mom

Charlie

Whoever says cats are aloof sure doesn’t know our Charlie! She has been our “nanny cat” since she entered our lives at 6 weeks old. From day one, she has been patient and tolerant and will play with the kids for hours.

My Mom found her in the middle of traffic on Wilmington Pike and couldn’t just leave her to get hit. As is often the case with animals, even though we thought we were rescuing her, it’s turned out quite differently.

We are a blended family with four daughters and three sons (ranging from 17-5 years old). My sons Chandler and Chase insisted that our new fur kid have a “CH” name. Hence our girl kitty became Charlie.

Charlie joined our family when our youngest, twins, were 6 months old. Lana and Charlie bonded immediately and strongly. She slept with her every night. In fact, as time went on, she started giving everyone a turn. Now she rotates through each child’s bed at sometime during the night. Unless someone is feeling poorly. Then she stays and ministers to them.

Our girl comes running if we’re crying. But she also makes us laugh. She loves to play fetch but she’ll only bring the item of interest half way back to us. So who’s playing fetch with whom? Oh, and she always waits by the shower, lying on her back & reaching toward us to pet her. Then she hops up and licks the shower clean. In general, she is super social. Her post is by the front storm door so she can lick the hand of everyone who enters in friendly greeting.

I can’t imagine our lives without Charlie. So when she started throwing up green/brown fluid every hour, we were beside ourselves. The vet suspected she had something obstructing her bowel. She wanted to do an x-ray but we couldn’t afford it. So they gave her fluids in hopes it would dislodge and sent her home. By Sunday night she was obviously dying. So we spent most of our life savings to take her to the emergency clinic. No way could we afford the needed surgery so we looked at the other terrible option. But we couldn’t even afford to euthanize her.

The kids were going to be devastated. I started calling our vet once a minute until they opened on Monday morning. They got her right in. That’s when they contacted Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. Next thing I knew we were on our way to the surgeon. He removed some tread from a lego tire! She loves to steal those tires from the kids and strut around with them. They’re too big to swallow so I thought they were safe. Who would’ve ever expected her to chew one apart?

We are beyond grateful and super excited to get our sweet Charbaby back—happy, healthy—alive! You have saved my kids from so much suffering. I can’t put into words the relief, joy and gratitude I have for you fund and all the kind people who support it.

–Charlie’s Mom

“All of you at Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund made the difference between happy and broken hearts. We are so incredibly grateful to all your donors for keeping our family together by making all this possible. Thank you!”

– Nanami’s Mom & Grandma

Nanami

When we read the listing on Craigslist, we drove almost 5 hours to help keep this accidental litter of kittens from being turned in to the local shelter. I told Mom we’d just go look at them, knowing full well she’d fall in love with at least one of them. We came home with Nanami and her brother Chucky. Upon our return, my brother swept Chucky away for his own. In both cases, it was love at first sight!

My Mom has MS, and at that time had also just had her third abdominal surgery (she’s now up to #6). I had just ended my engagement, and was struggling with seizures and fainting spells from a recently diagnosed neurological disorder. So we were having big challenges, to say the least. We named Nanami after one of our favorite Annamae characters. A young girl who persevered through hard times and brought the world hope.

This little orange kitten is does that for us! From the time she arrived, she wasn’t afraid of our other pets. In fact, there was no hissing from either side! Everybody loves her, two-legged and four. She is full of spunk and fire. Though she also knows how to relax. More often than not, you’ll find her with her belly in the air, with a look on her face that says “life is good!”.

One day, when Mom got out of her recliner it wouldn’t close all the way. We were mortified to discover Nanami was inside it! Her breathing was shallow, so we spent our November rent to get her seen at the ER. We feared internal bleeding.

We were relieved to discover that wasn’t the case. But our relief was short lived as it was discovered our baby was in HEART FAILURE! How could this be? She’s less than a year and a half old. She needed to stay in oxygen in the ICU until she could see a cardiologist. That was definitely out of our price range.

Mom and I work hard to take care of our fur family. Our options are limited with our physical challenges. But we’ve figured out that if Mom drives (she has trouble walking) and I get out and deliver (I don’t drive because I sometimes pass out), we can deliver for Doordash. Which we do 7 days a week.

So you see, all of you at Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund made the difference between happy and broken hearts. We were planning to start pawning everything we could to try to get our baby the care she needed and be out of pain. Now that she’s on medication for her cardiomyopathy we’ll be able to afford the pills going forward. And thanks to this accident, Nanami’s heart condition was diagnosed. Without that, we most likely would have found her dead one day. We love our girl so much. We are so incredibly grateful to all your donors for keeping our family together by making all this possible. Thank you!

–Nanami’s Mom & Grandma

“It felt like the end of the world when I had to give her to my cousin. And then after my happiness at getting her back, to have her get so sick and need surgery was terrifying. Your people are such a blessing! Without you, I wouldn’t have my furry lap warmer, my constant companion—my inspiration for living. Thank you for blessing me with the healthy return of my baby.”

– Lila’s Dad

Lila

It was the craziest thing. My husband and I were driving down Limestone St. Cars were speeding as usual. Somebody up ahead swerved and then I saw it! A tiny pair of ears between all the cars. We’ve never gone into traffic to rescue an animal before but it was clear she was soon going to be a pancake.

Once we had her, we put out a massive search for her family. But meanwhile, off and on she was standing real stiff and still. It looked like seizures, but since my husband’s recent 4 month hospitalization on life support, we didn’t have a dime to get her to a vet.

Then we found her Dad. Turns out he was forced to give Lila to his cousin in order to be allowed in his new government housing. He couldn’t afford to get her the required vaccinations and spaying. He admitted he’d been crying every day, and apparently so had Lila. She’d finally escaped to try to find him.

That’s when our new vet reached out to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. Their kind donors paid for the shots and spaying. The seizures thankfully were found to be due to Lila’s terror so they disappeared as soon as she got back with her Dad!

But then there’s MORE! Two days after their happy reunion, Lila fell deathly ill. She was rushed to the ER where it was discovered her abdomen was septic! A very complicated and costly lifesaving surgery was immediately undertaken, thanks to more funding from Ellie’s.

Today we are visiting those two. Lila is running circles of joy around us all. Who knew this adventure would give us a whole new extended family!

–Lynn & Doug, Lila’s Rescuers

NOTE FROM WALTER, LILA’S DAD:

My daughter gave Lila to me at 3 months old, since I was grieving so bad from losing my previous chihuahua to old age. She became my world! As soon as I wake up, she brings a smile to my face. She cuddles me constantly. She wags her tail so hard it looks like it’s going to fall off. I’m disabled but having her makes me get up so she can go to the bathroom. Without her I’d probably be in a nursing home now.

It felt like the end of the world when I had to give her to my cousin. And then after my happiness at getting her back, to have her get so sick and need surgery was terrifying. Your people are such a blessing! Without you, I wouldn’t have my furry lap warmer, my constant companion—my inspiration for living. Thank you for blessing me with the healthy return of my baby.

“I want to thank each one of you who helped her to get back to a happier life. Now she can get her favorite belly rubs without fear of pain. And in the future, if everyone donates (which I will do as soon as I can), we could stop sad stories of people having to say goodbye to their best friend because they can’t pay the bill.”

– Suzie Q’s Dad

Suzie Q

In Suzie’s words…

Ever heard the song, “Suzie Q.”? It goes,
“I like the way you walk (actually, run for me)
I like the way you talk (well, bark)
Say that you’ll be true and never leave me blue”

I AM Suzie Q. And I think that’s what my Dad would say! Actually, we could say that about each other. We’re always there for each other. When I first got to the OhioSPCA I was very hesitant about people. I stayed clear. But when Dad came to meet me, I looked him in the eye, slowly went over for treats and then leaned in for him to pet me. That was it! We instantly adopted each other.

Boy, did I make the right decision! This last two months have been the best of my life. We do everything together. Want to know some of my favorites? I love it when he lets me run at the park off leash, and then afterwards we go for a pupcup. Or when he gives me a new dental chew. Sometimes for fun I hide it to enjoy later when I’m waiting for him to come back home. Oh, then there’s the yummy homecooked meals. I wasn’t a big fan of dog kibble or wet food, so now he’s my personal chef! If it sounds like he really loves me that’s because I KNOW he does!

I try to make sure he knows I love him too. When we’re chilling together on the couch, I make lots of grumble noises so he knows I’m relaxed and happy. And I give him my belly every chance I get.

Sadly, it had gotten very painful to offer him my belly. My back HURT every time I did. I could feel stuff sometimes oozing out of my back as well. I know Dad had been trying hard to help me. He spent money he couldn’t spare on my antibiotics. I think he even missed some meals to do that. It would help for a little while but then it would come back worse than ever!

When the nice lady in the white coat said something to him about surgery, I could tell he was very upset. I wished I could have told him that I understood he couldn’t afford it. I knew it didn’t mean he didn’t love me! Then the coat lady said something about Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund and he started looking so much better.

I’m so glad to be back home now. I’m not loving this soft donut thing around my neck but I AM loving being with my Dad. He can depend on my “always being true and never leaving him blue”.

NOTE FROM SUZIE’S DAD:

I came to the United States when I was 18 years old in order to get a better education. I have lived by myself throughout college and now work. From time to time, I could sense the emptiness of my heart. I used to feel sad when sunset was coming because there would be me and me alone. I increasingly felt there was no difference whether I existed in this world or not. But all of that changed when Suzie came into my life. I want to thank each one of you who helped her to get back to a happier life. Now she can get her favorite belly rubs without fear of pain. And in the future, if everyone donates (which I will do as soon as I can), we could stop sad stories of people having to say goodbye to their best friend because they can’t pay the bill.

“I may have trouble speaking due to my cancer, but I want you to hear how grateful I am to have the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund and all your people who care about how important Monkey is to me. It is a blessing from God that thanks to you I still have my precious Monkey. I can’t put into words how happy and grateful I am to receive this funding for my baby. My companion.”

– Monkey’s Mom

Monkey

“I may have trouble speaking due to my cancer, but I want you to hear how grateful I am to have the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund and all your people who care about how important Monkey is to me. It is a blessing from God that thanks to you I still have my precious Monkey. I can’t put into words how happy and grateful I am to receive this funding for my baby. My companion.”

I went through some very tough times when I was recovering from cancer of the head and neck. With all of the pain and struggles, I became very depressed. I happened to be at a pet store one day when they were having an adoption event and there he was! When I saw Monkey, then 4 years old, it was love at first sight! Ever since that day, we’ve been inseparable.

On bad days, Monkey gives me a reason to get out of bed. Sometimes she’s my only reason to carry on through chemo, radiation, and surgery. Through all this, I’ve nearly lost my voice, but Monkey hears me loud and clear. He knows when I’m struggling to breathe or am going to have a seizure. He stays right by my side and he lets the family know too that something is wrong. My boy is very vocal and speaks for me when I cannot.

My daughter is not wrong when she says that I love my cat more than people most of the time. The unconditional love of my Monkey gives me the hope and strength to carry on.

So, when Monkey began to have seizures himself, I was beside myself. I feared for his life. As you probably know, emergency veterinary treatment is expensive. This situation was life and death. I would do anything for my Monkey. But with being on a fixed income, and my medical bills and all, I had nowhere to get funding. Thank God the ER staff saw how special my boy and I are to each other and reached out to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund for help.

They believe Monkey was suffering from a chemical toxicity, possibly from flea medication. He required hospitalization and like I said, my social security checks can’t cover unexpected emergency costs like this.

Thankfully, Monkey is expected to make a full recovery and will soon be back to waiting by the front door when I return home. He will be sharing his opinion about how long I was gone and asking where his new toy is. He will be bullying my daughter’s chihuahua when they come to visit. And most thankfully, he will resume keeping guard over me through good days, and especially bad ones.

I may have trouble speaking due to my cancer, but I want you to hear how grateful I am to have the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund and all your people who care about how important Monkey is to me. It is a blessing from God that, thanks to you, I still have my precious Monkey. I can’t put into words how happy and grateful I am to receive this funding for my baby. My companion.

–Monkey’s Mom

“Having your support is such an amazing and wonderful gift to receive because it means that we can focus on caring for Cobaka instead of stressing over if we can afford to keep her healthy. We had no idea this organization was here to give caring pet lovers a way to help families like ours.”

– Cobaka’s Family

Cobaka

Can you speak Russian? I can! Well, only one word but it’s the most important one – Cobaka. That’s ME! In Russian it means dog. My Dad was putting his school tuition to good use by naming me something he learned in his Russian language class.

I’m older now but when I was younger I helped my Dad flush out rabbits and pheasants. In fact, he got me as a wee pup from a farmer who’d advertised hunting dog puppies. I was the only female left of the litter born to his hunting dog. My Dad and his friend Doug were so determined to get there before someone else got me that they actually got a speeding ticket rushing to that farm! I love hearing that story because it lets me know I was wanted, and I’ve felt that every day of the last 13 years.

When I was 5, I decided one day I had more important work to do for Dad than just hunting. So the next time he took me to hunt, I ran the field once and then went back to the car and sat waiting for him. That ended my hunting career but moved me into providing emotional support full time. Dad had some struggles and for a while it was just him and me but I made sure he felt extra loved.

When he met my Mom, I made sure right away she felt welcome and loved too. Later still, when my human sister was heartbroken over losing her fluffy best friend I made sure she had some soft fur to hang on to and cuddle while she grieved. I think I really helped.

My family calls me an “aggressive cuddler” just because I push my way onto the couch and then sprawl on them. That’s just natural right? Just like when I used to go stand on the kitchen table to look for crumbs. Naturally, that was the best perspective to check out the food situation and other goings on. A dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do!

Recently my folks really noticed a change when I stopped being so “sassy” and especially when I stopped hoovering up my food like it owed me money. I ended up in this big place having these weird tests. It was cold on my belly but I did OK. Now they’re waiting to talk to some fancy doctor about how best to take care of me and make me comfortable. But I can just tell them myself; they need to keep doing what they’ve always done, cuddle me hard and remember I’m in charge. I am the luckiest dog in the world! I have four humans who love me unconditionally, and show me every day of my life. I’m so happy I get to do the same!

A note from Cobaka’s family:

Having your support is such an amazing and wonderful gift to receive because it means that we can focus on caring for Cobaka instead of stressing over if we can afford to keep her healthy. We had no idea this organization was here to give caring pet lovers a way to help families like ours. When we found out our fur baby needed more diagnostics and to see a specialist, we really didn’t know how we were going to make it work. Cobaka has always been there for us so thank you for helping us be there for her. We will do everything we can in the future to make sure we are a part of helping other families through their tough times as well.

“The supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund helped to bring the light back into Laila’s eyes. I see more and more of her true personality with each walk we are now able to take. She is back to playing with my other dogs and enjoying her life to its fullest. Laila was always the light at the end of the tunnel for me in my times of need… I am thankful that when she needed it most, Ellie’s Fund could be the light for her.”

– Laila’s Mom

Bob Bob

Quote: “The supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund helped to bring the light back into Laila’s eyes. I see more and more of her true personality with each walk we are now able to take. She is back to playing with my other dogs and enjoying her life to its fullest. Laila was always the light at the end of the tunnel for me in my times of need… I am thankful that when she needed it most, Ellie’s Fund could be the light for her.” –Laila’s Mom

Just after I got her when she was still a young puppy, Laila witnessed me having a panic attack. She started barking and howling and licking my face. She proceeded to run and bark at my mom for help. We were blown away.

Laila coming into my life was the best thing that could’ve happened. It wasn’t long before we became inseparable. Laila and I had become so connected that she had naturally picked up on changes preceding my emotional struggles (like my panic attacks) without any formal training. Once we realized this, my Mom and I started working with her and training her to perform specific tasks for my needs. Her training consisted of alerting me when I became anxious, applying pressure to my pressure points, alerting my mom or a person nearby if needed, getting me my needed anxiety medication at onset of or during a panic attack, making me feel more confident, comfortable, and safe.

Laila has been a true emotional support dog for both me and my mother. We have both experienced trauma and she helps us physically and emotionally. There are times that I think if I didn’t have Laila by my side, I wouldn’t be able to keep going. I am a college student training to work with kids with special needs, in addition to being a family caretaker at times. I honestly think if I didn’t have Laila, I wouldn’t have made it through the past few years. I wouldn’t have kept fighting. I would have given up. I needed her so much and relied on her for support. Of course, I still do!

In late 2019, Laila began limping. After diagnostic testing and a second opinion, I knew she had torn her cruciate ligament and needed surgery. TTA surgery is expensive. I saved and borrowed money so she could get the necessary surgery. I was told that the surgeon was extremely qualified and respected.

After 12 weeks of strict cage rest, Laila was still in pain. X-rays confirmed she had a break in the leg. Which meant more cage rest. She was never the same after that. For the next two years, she was on daily anti-inflammatory medication for pain. I was told that there was nothing they could do for her.

I couldn’t bear it anymore and saved up money to take her to a different vet. After more testing I was told that the original surgeon had not fixed her ACL. She still needed to have it stabilized. WHAT? I have spent almost $10,000 over the past several years to fix my girl and end her pain only to find out that I trusted the wrong person and something different should have been done. I was devasted.

But there was hope for her. IF I could afford yet another surgery. With financial assistance, Laila had one more chance to be restored to the happy loving compassionate dog that she is. Enter Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund.

Your supporters helped to bring the light back into Laila’s eyes. I see more and more of her true personality with each walk we are now able to take. She is back to playing with my other dogs and enjoying her life to its fullest. 

Laila was always the light at the end of the tunnel for me in my times of need… I am thankful that when she needed it most, Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund could be the light for her!

“If it weren’t for the supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, people with such love and compassion, I would not be writing this now. You are such blessings. Thank you for saving me from having to say goodbye. I will be forever grateful for this blessing.”

– Bob Bob’s Mom

Bob Bob

30 years ago, I lost my 11 month old daughter. At 3 months old, she was the youngest child in Ohio to have had a heart transplant. Unfortunately, 8 months later her body rejected that heart. With it went my heart as well. I still suffer from severe depression and grief. I also struggle with physical ailments: COPD and degenerative spine disease. 

What does this all have to do with a dog, you might ask. Everything! When I got Bob Bob as a brand new puppy, I thought it was simply to ease my suffering over the death of my last Shiz Tzu who I lost to liver disease. He needed a blood transfusion that I couldn’t afford so I had to put him to sleep. 

Imagine my shock when Bob Bob’s presence started bringing me out of my longstanding depression. And distracted me from my physical pain. How could I stay glum with a snuggly pup sticking his head under my chin whenever he felt me slipping back into sadness? And I had to laugh when he began throwing empty  water bottles in the air and executing amazing catches. Heck, he was better than a trip to the circus! He is my son, my best friend, my protector, my emotional support.

I was beside myself when he had his first seizure. When he had his second, I rushed him to the ER but since I live on Social Security disability, I didn’t have the money to get him seen.  I couldn’t go through it again. Losing another dog without being able to have the vet at least try to save him.  And what would I do without him?

Then a miracle occurred. My first thought was, “there is kindness in the world”. If it weren’t for the supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, people with such love and compassion, I would not be writing this now. You are such blessings. Thank you for saving me from having to say goodbye. I will be forever grateful for this blessing.

“We thought we would have to put our beloved Jett down because we couldn’t afford the surgery to unblock him so he could urinate again. He was in so much pain and he looked just terrible. All I could do was cry. Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, and all of you that donate to it, are a prayer answered. You will never truly know how much you have done for our family. Bless you. We are FOREVER grateful!”

– Jett’s Mom

Jett

My husband and I joke that Jett is our third Golden Retriever. I don’t think he knows he’s in the body of a cat. He ALWAYS greets us at the door. I work from home and wherever I am, Jett is. He jumps in his pet stroller every morning to walk his human sister to catch the school bus. He loves to go for rides in the jeep. He doesn’t hang his head out the window like a dog but he does stretch out on the dashboard or in the back window.

He is also very much our child! He’s our ornery toddler that gets into everything. He demands being the center of attention and requires lots of loves and pets. How can I deny anything to those blue eyes that peer into my very soul?

Of course, he IS a cat, so that rounds out his actions. His favorite thing to do is to hide on the ledge at the top of our stairs and execute a sneak attack when you come up. And he goes crazy for our daughter’s tuna packets. When she packs them in her lunch, watch out! Crazy cat will work his way into her satchel. Probably my “favorite” is when he decides I need to wake up. At any time of the night, I may be treated to a toy mouse dropped on my face. My very own personal invitation to play.

As you can tell, this boy has lots of personality! From the time 2 years ago when we went to my husband’s co-workers barn to “just see” the kittens, to today with his daily antics and cuddles, Jetty brings so much joy to everyone he meets and is a friend to all. We can’t imagine our lives without him.

We thought we would have to put our beloved Jett down because we couldn’t afford the surgery to unblock him so he could urinate again. He was in so much pain and he looked just terrible. All I could do was cry. Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, and all of you that donate to it, are a prayer answered. You will never truly know how much you have done for our family. Bless you. We are FOREVER grateful!

“The help from the donors of Ellies Rainy Day Fund is a sigh of relief. It gives us one less thing to stress and worry about, so we can focus on rebuilding a place to call home for our family. I can’t tell you what this exactly means to us because we can’t even express the feeling after going through so many tragic events, but I can say that we are thankful for a program like this, for those who need it, because Gram probably wouldn’t have pulled through without you. Especially on behalf of my daughter, but from the rest of us as well, we want to thank you for preventing us suffering even more tragedy and loss.”

– Gram’s Mom

Gram.

To put it mildly, it hasn’t been a good week. It started with my husband’s grandma dying. The following day as we were leaving grandma’s burial, our aunt (grandma’s daughter) had a heart attack. Unfortunately, she also died.

While we were at grandma’s viewing, we got a call that our house was on fire!

By the time we got home, there wasn’t much of it left. We lost everything. We have 4 kids (between the ages of 1 and 10) and 3 dogs (between the ages of 15 weeks-5 years). Fortunately, the kids weren’t at home but the dogs were not that lucky.

 My father lives directly across the street and when he saw the flames he rushed over and kicked in the door to try to save our beloved pups. He was able to grab one of the 15-week-olds but it was too hot to go in any farther.

When the firefighters arrived, he told them about the other two and miraculously they found them both. We are forever in their debt! Our older dog was unscathed but the other puppy—little Gram—had burns on his leg and was struggling to breathe.

Gram joined our family to help my 10-year-old daughter who struggles with ADHD & ODD. When we brought Gram home, they instantly fell in love with each other and he’s been such a help to her ever since. He reassures her and makes her feel safe. He sleeps with her every night and follows her around to make sure she is okay. The support he has given all my children blesses us every day. Now he’s showing my kids, really all of us, how to make the best of a difficult situation.

First, he adapted to being in the strange place of the ICU in the oxygen crate. And now that he’s back with us, he’s found something that brings him joy in this brand new location (a rose bush!) and he regularly rolls on his back beside it. That may sound like nothing to you but to us he’s showing he hasn’t given up. He can still find joy. He’s the only one of us who got physically injured. If he can do this, so can we.

The help from the donors of Ellies Rainy Day Fund is a sigh of relief. It gives us one less thing to stress and worry about, so we can focus on rebuilding a place to call home for our family. I can’t tell you what this exactly means to us because we can’t even express the feeling after going through so many tragic events, but I can say that we are thankful for a program like this, for those who need it, because Gram probably wouldn’t have pulled through without you. Especially on behalf of my daughter, but from the rest of us as well, we want to thank you for preventing us suffering even more tragedy and loss.

“Buster Brown is all I’ve got. It’s just him and me going through every day. Being a senior citizen on a fixed income, after all the monthly bills there isn’t much left. Still, I wanted the best for my boy. It’s amazing to me that people donate to help others they don’t even know. I’m sure thankful that you do. Thank you for keeping the love alive between Buster Brown and me.”

– Buster Brown’s Dad

Buster Brown

What do you think of the name Buster Brown? I like having a name with a double “B”—it makes me sound important. And to my Dad, I am!

My Dad saw an ad in the paper for me & my brothers and sisters when we were 8 weeks old. When he came to look at us, I zoomed around & ran to him & did everything I could think of so he would pick me. As you can see, it worked. I heard him tell the people who had me that I was the biggest & spunkiest & he thought I’d always be an “alpha” —whatever that means. I DO run our house. Does that count?

So home we went! It was just Dad & me. Still is. Ten years now. I do my best to take good care of him. Every morning I bark and lead him to the door so that I can take him for a walk. Everywhere we go I make sure to look extra cute so people will come over and he’ll have folks to talk to.

He also talks to me all day long. I heard him tell the neighbor that I make his day and that when he leaves he can’t wait to get back home to me. That makes me happy—and proud! He’s my favorite part of the day too.

I felt ashamed when I got so tired that I stopped being able to give him a proper greeting. He took me to that nice man in the white coat, Dr. Hapner. He pokes me with needles sometimes but he always strokes me softly and gives me great treats. Anyway, he said he needed to take those bumps off of me. He said it’s cuz they were bleeding that I got tired. And they could get infected and do bad things to me.

Now I’m back to taking Dad for walks and being fierce when he wants to play. I feel good! I’m so glad we have each other!

A Message From Buster Brown’s Dad:

Buster Brown is all I’ve got. It’s just him and me going through every day. Being a senior citizen on a fixed income, after all the monthly bills there isn’t much left. Still, I wanted the best for my boy. It’s amazing to me that people donate to help others they don’t even know. I’m sure thankful that you do. Thank you for keeping the love alive between Buster Brown and me.

“To all of you Ellie supporters, THANK YOU for giving us both this second chance. I truly don’t know what I would do without her.”

– Gabby’s Mom

Gabby C.

Gabby and I do most everything together, including the chores. Last week, we were taking the trash to the curb. Partway down, I turned around to pick up something else for the bin. That’s when I heard it. A loud thump. Followed by a scream. I turned to see my beloved pup dragging herself back off the road as she tried to get to me.

Life is worth living because I have Gabby.

She needs me. She depends on me. I need her. Every bit as much. The house is not empty because she’s in it. She knows when I’m hurting and gives me kisses to get me through the pain. Let’s face it, having a dog is better than having a man. Dogs are more grateful , even for the simple things.

It’s hard sometimes being elderly. Some of my friends are gone. So is some of my mobility. My income is limited. But my desire to interact with others and to feel that I’m loved is just as strong as ever. Why wouldn’t it be?

Gabby is there every day to give me those gifts. She’s only a little over a year old so she keeps me on my toes. In the evenings, she leaps and twists as she tries to catch fireflies. Got a soft/squeaky toy? She’ll destroy it in minutes. Then there’s playing in the water. Gabby LOVES it! Going by the creek at the park becomes a giant splash fest.

So, seeing her by the road writhing in pain was just unbearable. When I got to her and touched her, she stopped screaming. I hurt so badly right along with her. I knew she was trusting me to make her OK.

But how could I? I rushed her to our wonderful vet at Twin Maples but she said what I’d feared most. Gabby had a broken pelvis and it was going to require expensive surgery to save her. I couldn’t afford that. She’d have to be euthanized so she didn’t have to keep suffering. It broke my heart to think of this 1 year old dog having to lose the rest of her life. When my vet told me Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to pay for what was needed, I started crying so hard I couldn’t stop. It felt like winning the lottery! Your donors are nothing short of a blessing.

UPDATE:: Gabby did great through her surgery. She’s still at the early part of her healing so I have to be very careful about not letting her move around too much. Do you know what it’s going to be like telling a one-year-old she’s got to be quiet for the next six weeks? I can’t wait until she starts trying to run and play again though. That’s how I’ll know she’s really feeling better. Meanwhile, I’ll just keep cuddling and loving on my girl. To all of you Ellie supporters, THANK YOU for giving us both this second chance. I truly don’t know what I would do without her.

“Thanks to many empathetic, generous donors to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, we’ll never have to face that heartache. I can’t find adequate words. If it weren’t for you, our beautiful baby boy would be gone. Our whole family is forever grateful. Thank you for saving Frankie and making our family whole again.”

– Frankie’s Family

Frankie B.

I am an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. I am classified as disabled. I function now as well as I do because I live with the world’s best dog. He keeps me grounded. He keeps me sane.

Frankie isn’t just “the best” for me alone. He has the greatest human big sister and sweetest little human brother.

When his sister was 1 year old, her mommy thought a companion would be perfect to grow up alongside her. So when Frankie was only a few months old and a baby himself, he joined their family. He is now 2, and she is 3. They have grown up together and have experienced everything together. They are inseparable.

When his sister is around, he won’t leave her side. When she is crying, he licks her tears and makes her laugh again. When she goes to eat, he stations himself on crumb patrol. When she goes to time out, so does he. You get the idea.

Frankie was a little unsure about his new role as big brother when his baby brother entered the family in October. But as time went on, Frankie took a liking to him. He takes his new position very seriously, as a certified protector and kisser of the baby now. And when anyone gets too close to him, he barks and lets them know their place. 

Frankie brings everyone in our family joy and a sense of purpose. Have a bad day? Frankie will fix it! He’ll lay in your lap and encourage you to stroke his fur. He’ll run circles around you, greet you at the door every time you get home, lick your tears away. He’ll even steal your spot in bed.

When he’s done you’ll feel calmer and have a smile on your face! You’ll know you are loved and important. You’ll know you can make it through another day.

Do you have anyone in your life like that? If you do, then you’ll understand our alarm when he quickly went from his playful spunky self to not eating at all, throwing up constantly, and laying on the floor helplessly.

We quickly took out a loan to get him to the vet and to pay for x-rays. We had to help our baby. The vet DID find the problem. Our silly, cuddly, energetic, amazing pup had swallowed his toy bone and now it was stuck in 2 different parts of his intestine. Which was cutting off the normal blood flow. We were told it would be fatal and that time was of the essence.

We were just babysitting Frankie while the family went on vacation, then to lighten the load as they dealt with a car accident and new business venture. It worked out perfectly since Frankie sleeping over coincided with a drop in my anxiety and a lessening of my depression. We were prepared for regular vet bills. But where would we get the whopping $7,000 or more we needed now to save him? Both our families together couldn’t get anywhere close.

He was so young. How we were going to break the news to my granddaughter? How were we going to handle knowing that Frankie could’ve been saved but it just wasn’t in the budget… Thanks to many empathetic, generous donors to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, we’ll never have to face that heartache. I can’t find adequate words. If it weren’t for you, our beautiful baby boy would be gone. Our whole family is forever grateful. Thank you for saving Frankie and making our family whole again.

-From All Three Generations of Frankie’s Family

“A cold sadness overcame us and our hearts we thought couldn’t possibly break anymore were then shattered. Just then our wonderful angel of a vet came in and let us know about Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. I am so thankful. Otherwise we would have lost a family member that we have had for only 6 months but yet has transcended our lives forever.”

– Whinnie’s Family

Whinnie

I LOVE kids! The kids in my family are the best, but I cover every child I meet with kisses. They need it. Someone needs to help them feel secure and remind them they are special and they are adored.

Heck, I’m even named Whinnie for a sweet girl from the TV show The Wonder Years. Her combined with Winnie The Pooh. So of course I’m a kid magnet.

I’ve heard my Mom tell her friend that I’m especially good for my 15 yo brother. She said I “bring him out of his shell” and I’ve “taught him responsibility”. It sounded like those were happy things so I’m glad.

I take my job of family morale builder very seriously. If anyone is feeling down, I tug on their pant leg until they smile. My Mom has lots of stress and anxiety so I make sure to give her my fuzzy belly to stroke. My Dad? Well, I got him over the grieving from losing his last two canines when he looked into my baby blue eyes and decided to open up and give his heart again.

When my folks came to check me out after seeing me on Craig’s list, I immediately reached up and licked my Mom on the nose. I’m 7 months old now, not that 8 week old baby, but my favorite thing to do is still giving kisses.

My folks know that so I think that’s why they panicked when they came home and I didn’t greet them with kisses. I just layed there with what was left of those little pills around me. They looked like something new and interesting to try. How was I supposed to know that they would make me unable to contract my lungs, screw up my heart beat, mess up my blood pressure, and other awful stuff!

A Note From Whinnie’s Family:

Your supporters’ help means the world to us. We just faced one of the darkest days. Our puppy who has completed our family, filled our hearts with so much joy and brought us endless laughs and love, was nearly lost to us for good. While being watched by a family member she got into some medication. It was horrible and gut wrenching to see her in so much pain and distress. We found out we had to pay thousands of dollars to save her life or the only option was euthanasia. Our worlds crumbled at that moment. We knew we did not have the money, but we also knew we could not give up on her. She has filled our home with so much love, the wheels in our minds were turning thinking of everyone and everywhere we could possibly borrow from. Unfortunately, we couldn’t come up with any solutions. A cold sadness overcame us and our hearts we thought couldn’t possibly break anymore were then shattered. Just then our wonderful angel of a vet came in and let us know about Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. I am so thankful. Otherwise we would have lost a family member that we have had for only 6 months but yet has transcended our lives forever.

“Leela is everything to my son. I wasn’t sure how he’d make it without her. But the hospitalization and treatments were going to be thousands of dollars we just didn’t have. She wouldn’t be home right now glued to my son if it wasn’t for you kind, generous people. She wouldn’t still be on this earth. Thank you for saving Leela. Thank you for saving my son.”

– Leela’s Grandma

Leela

I am the most important member of my family! Without me, my Dad, who gets pretty nervous about being around other people, might never leave the house. But because of me he has structure in his life; he gets out to walk; and he even interacts with people who come over to pet me. I’m a cuteness magnet. Dad knows when my cuteness brings people over, I’m always there to support him. No judgements. I KNOW he’s the best! My grandma says I help him to be more independent.

That’s cool. But I’m just being me. My name is Leela, by the way. Of course, I always stick with my Dad. Of course, the sight of him makes me super happy and gives me propeller tail. I get so excited wagging back and forth isn’t enough. My tail goes around in circles for him. He’s my main man! The whole family laughs when they see that reaction but that’s cool too. I know I’m bringing everyone joy.

I felt awful when I stopped having the energy to even wag my tail. I was in so much pain. I thought it was my back. But the lady in the white coat told grandma it was my kidneys. Said I had a severe kidney infection. So they pumped in all these fluids. But that made me WORSE! I was in a place called the ICU and I heard them saying they didn’t think I was going to make it. But I had to get back to my Dad—somehow!

A note from Leela’s grandma:

Leela is everything to my son. I wasn’t sure how he’d make it without her. But the hospitalization and treatments were going to be thousands of dollars we just didn’t have. She wouldn’t be home right now glued to my son if it wasn’t for you kind, generous people. She wouldn’t still be on this earth. Thank you for saving Leela. Thank you for saving my son.

“I’m fiercely independent. I’ve always paid my own way. But I cried when I was told that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to help us. Those scammers stole my money, and if it wasn’t for your donors, they would’ve stolen my family too. Bless you for keeping that from happening.”

– Sadie’s Mom

Sadie D

“Silly Sadie, Sissy Sadie, Sexie Sadie”…my girl has LOTS of nicknames. But mainly she’s my “Savior Sadie”.

True, in the beginning I thought I was rescuing her. When I saw her picture on Petfinder—looking pitiful sitting in a cardboard box—I headed to Kentucky to meet a rescue person in a Walmart parking lot and adopted her. One of my dogs had died soon before and my other one was lonely. It was entirely too quiet with just one dog.

I was thrilled to bring home a new daughter; especially one who is a French bulldog/Boston terrier mix (Yes, I’m a sucker for both breeds!). If you’re a dog who snores and farts, we’re good.

Sadie has been everything I’d hoped for. She plays with my Izzy. She makes me laugh. She loves for me to play tug with her. If it squeaks, she loves it & she’ll bring it. She meets me at the door when I get home and walks me to the door when I leave. If I’m having a bad day, she sits next to me with her head on my leg. When I first wake up in the morning, the routine is always the same: kiss, snuggle, belly rub.

If it sounds like I adore my Sadie, it’s because I do! It’s just me and my two pups. I can’t imagine my life without her.

She’s had her health challenges. I’ve been paying for meds and appointments to treat her Cushing’s disease for a while now. It’s not cheap but she’s worth it! But all of a sudden, she developed a serious eye problem. My wonderful vet at Northridge (where I’ve taken my pets for 45 years) said her eye could rupture at any time.

So I decided I’d dip into my life savings to help her. That’s when I discovered all of my money was gone! I’d fallen prey to a scam and the bank says I’ll probably never get any of it back.

If you know anything about eye injuries you know how painful they are. Sadie had already run up some bills at Northridge and now she needed to go see a specialist as well. I couldn’t allow her to suffer but I had no way to pay for treatment. The only loving thing to do for my baby was to put her to sleep.

I’m fiercely independent. I’ve always paid my own way. But I cried when I was told that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to help us. Those scammers stole my money, and if it wasn’t for your donors, they would’ve stolen my family too. Bless you for keeping that from happening.

–Audrey, Sadie & Izzy

“We are beyond grateful and super excited to get our sweet Charbaby back—happy, healthy—alive! You have saved my kids from so much suffering. I can’t put into words the relief, joy and gratitude I have for you fund and all the kind people who support it.”

– Meeko’s Mom

Meeko

Hi, I’m Meeko! My human parents had always been “dog people”. I heard them tell the people where I first lived that they lived in a small space so they were looking for an animal that would fit and fill the void. That was OK by me.

All I really cared about was that I had a loving home. Prior to my folks coming for me, I lived with 12 other cats and wanted to move somewhere I felt more comfortable. One of my siblings accidentally got killed when a horse stepped on him. So, I was pretty scared and very shy. Mom and Dad actually had come to look at another kitten but when they saw me peeking out from behind a cereal box, they fell in love. So did I!

Even though I started out shy, my folks say that now I’m the “host of the house”. Why not? Now I talk to everybody who comes to visit. It’d be rude not to say meo-ello.

I’ve been described as a “lifesaver” and as the giver of happiness and love. I try! They also say I’m the “cuddliest cat ever”. Guilty as charged. I want to cuddle and be cuddled all the time. I love to snuggle in with the fam and watch basketball games. When Dad is playing video games, I nuzzle my head in so he has to stop and scratch me. I make sure I’m in whatever room my people are in. Anyone who says cats are aloof hasn’t met me!

It got lots harder to maintain my charming personality though after I started having trouble peeing. Every time I got blocked up the pain was horrible. I know I wasn’t doing my part anymore to bolster my folks’ mental well-being. Plus, I heard them talking about how worried they were about all my vet bills. They kept paying for treatments but they weren’t working. They said they didn’t know how much more they could do. I felt awful that I was adding to their stress.

I’ll let them tell you the rest.

A note from Meeko’s family:

Meeko is our first born (cat). We love him more than any animal we’ve ever had. We were worried about him for months when his urethra kept blocking. Every incident was life or death. And every treatment was expensive. We resolved to do whatever it took. But then it was determined his only chance was to have reconstructive surgery. Without the means left to afford it, we were so worried about having to make an unthinkable decision. The people who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund kept us from wondering how we would go on without Meeko. He means the world to us, and now so do you for keeping our baby boy with us. We will be forever grateful.

“It means everything to me that the donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund came to the rescue. I know we haven’t had the kitten long but he was already a part of the family. I have a special bond with him and if it wasn’t for you, I would’ve lost my baby.”

– Scar’s Mom

Scar

It’s a boy!! (After the vet appointment, that’s how Scarlet became Scar)

I had no idea that Nala, one of the 1-year-old cat sisters I adopted last year from an ad on the Neighborhood app, had gotten out of the house and gotten pregnant. A week before she was scheduled to be spayed. Go figure.

I’d never witnessed a cat giving birth before. My sweet Nala acted like she hadn’t either. So I ended up as a kitty midwife. I cleaned off the first kitten because she hadn’t. When I thought all the kittens were out, I reached inside her and pulled out the placenta. And finally I got all the kittens over to her so they could nurse.

The whole process was messy and a bit anxiety-provoking. But I also experienced a sense of awe. I became instantly bonded to these little beings that I had helped to arrive.

The kittens were 1 week old yesterday. A loud noise outside our apartment scared Nala and she immediately moved her babies under a dresser. Sometime during the move, the tiny orange guy that I had fallen in love with got a gash under his chin. It looked so painful. I panicked. Don’t tell the others but he’s my favorite. The one that always cries when he smells me close by, until I put my hand out. Then he climbs into my hand, cuddles in and gets instantly quiet.

Of course, this was the worst time for this to happen!

I have six kids—3 are mine & 3 I took in after my friend died in 2020. So in our household, the humans are 2,3,4,5,8,15 years old (though the 15 yo lives with his Dad). As you can imagine, Christmas presents take a huge chunk out of my budget. They definitely did this year. I’m getting closer to coming even. But then this. How was I going to pay to get my new baby help?

I spent a whole day desperately calling vets. I was so distraught at the thought of losing him. But I was prepared to surrender him if that was the only way to save his life. It means everything to me that the donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund came to the rescue. I know we haven’t had the kitten long but he was already a part of the family. I have a special bond with him and if it wasn’t for you, I would’ve lost my baby.

“I’m a single dad, living on a policeman’s salary. But a member of my family needed help! I had to get her out of pain and give her back the ability to move well again! She provided for me for the last 8 years. She did her service. The donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund have honored her legacy of the thousands of citizens she’s protected. Thank you for giving her back her life and for keeping my family whole.”

– Zeta’s Dad

Zeta

Allow me to introduce you to Zeta. If you live in the Dayton area, or attend music or sporting events in Cincinnati, it’s likely she has contributed to your safety. She served tirelessly on the City of Dayton police force for 8 years (until Feb., 2022) in the dual roles of explosives detection and patrol K-9. Some of her duties in bomb detection have included: the 2016 & 2020 Presidential elections, 2015 MLB All-Star game, NCAA First Four, UD Men’s Basketball, US Men’s World Cup Qualifying Game, WWE Smackdown and Country Concert in Fort Loramie. Then of course there’s dignitary protection, tracking of missing children and seniors, and bomb sweeps—more than 50 of them specifically at schools. During her almost 8 year career, she was deployed in excess of 250 times.

I had the privilege during those years of being her handler. We counted on each other at times for our lives. Thanks to a law in the State of Ohio that honors this bond, I was given first opportunity to purchase Zeta when she retired. Police K-9s are usually imported from Europe and between their purchase and extensive training, a single dog often costs a police department about $30,000. Prior to the law that I mentioned above, when a dog was getting older, s/he was often sold to a smaller department at reduced cost, giving them access to a K-9 but meaning the dog kept working until it died. Thanks to Ohio’s law, I was able to make Zeta a member of my and my 2-year-old son’s family instead–for $1.00.

And family she is! She is amazing with my son; really with all kids. He can pull her fur and climb all over her and she sits patiently. It always made me smile when kids at schools or demonstrations got so much joy from interacting with her. Now it’s the same with my son. With me she’s always willing to be a 74 pound lap dog, or to roll on a moment’s notice for a belly rub. She loves being brushed. She enjoys fetching a ball but she WON’T give it back. She lays just out of reach and chews on it instead. And you should hear her when I tell her to “talk trash”. Makes everybody laugh!

Police dogs work hard. Their bodies undergo a lot of stress in the line of duty. German shepherds are focused and loyal and smart. Unfortunately, because of their confirmation, they have a propensity toward knee injuries. Zeta had to have her left knee repaired in 2019. Amazingly, she was able to return to duty. A month after she retired (and became my financial responsibility), the ACL in her right knee tore.

I’m a single dad, living on a policeman’s salary. But a member of my family needed help! I had to get her out of pain and give her back the ability to move well again! She provided for me for the last 8 years. She did her service. The donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund have honored her legacy of the thousands of citizens she’s protected. Thank you for giving her back her life and for keeping my family whole.

Allow me to introduce you to Zeta. If you live in the Dayton area, or attend music or sporting events in Cincinnati, it’s likely she has contributed to your safety. She served tirelessly on the City of Dayton police force for 8 years (until Feb., 2022) in the dual roles of explosives detection and patrol K-9. Some of her duties in bomb detection have included:

• 2016 & 2020 Presidential elections
• 2015 MLB All-Star game
• NCAA First Four
• UD Men’s Basketball
• US Men’s World Cup Qualifying Game
• WWE Smackdown and Country Concert in Fort Loramie

Then of course there’s dignitary protection, tracking of missing children and seniors, and bomb sweeps—more than 50 of them specifically at schools. During her almost 8 year career, she was deployed in excess of 250 times.

“What did it mean to us that you made this surgery possible? The world! You saved our world. There aren’t words strong enough to say what this means to my family. I was going to try to mortgage my home to save her. But it wouldn’t happen fast enough. I am crying just typing this up. I truly feel like it’s a miracle. I am so beyond thankful to every single donor to your organization.”

– Indy’s Mom

Indy

When we first brought Indy home as a puppy, she headed off and came back with our other dog’s food dish. Dropped it at our feet. And stared intently. Four years later she still carries around her empty dish to let us know when it’s feeding time. That’s our silly, loveable dog!

She is always there for us. Getting her at 4 months old pulled me out of a deep depression I’d been in since my Mom had died the year before. When my 18 year old son who’s on the autism spectrum is panicking, she stops his pacing by getting in the way until he stops and lays down with her. She even “saved” the 3-legged dog we fostered and then adopted by acting as his protector and teaching him how to be a dog. We can’t imagine life without her.

Indy makes our lives better simply by existing. She truly is the sweetest most loving dog. She brings laughter into our lives daily with her quirky personality. She senses if anyone is upset, or had a bad day and will cling to that person until their spirits are lifted. Get ready for 80 pounds in your lap until she believes you feel better. You simply cannot be sad when she is around you.

And boy have we needed her help! My wife has been off work and unpaid for six months due to a broken leg while on the job. I am a nurse and ended up being off work several times myself due to COVID. And then of course there are the challenges of raising a special needs teenager. As you can see, our Indy helps us get through a lot!

All of a sudden one day, our girl stopped her goofiness and her snuggling. She became incontinent. She was obviously in pain. We took her to emergency and they found a fatty mass the size of a grapefruit. She needed surgery in order to prevent the eventual blockage of all bathroom functions. Surgery…expensive surgery. Without it she’d keep feeling miserable and probably eventually die.

What did it mean to us that you made this surgery possible? The world! You saved our world. There aren’t words strong enough to say what this means to my family. I was going to try to mortgage my home to save her. But it wouldn’t happen fast enough. I am crying just typing this up. I truly feel like it’s a miracle. I am so beyond thankful to every single donor to your organization.

–Indy’s Mom

“I was never a cat person but this sweet boy has become my third child. During the two months I was in bed because I was so weak from COVID and then having a heart attack, Mowie is what got me through. With no paycheck for those two months, when he needed surgery, I was sure it was over. I just laid in bed and cried because I felt like I was killing him. I felt I had nowhere to turn and I’d be forced to just let him die. But then you amazing people swooped in and saved us. I can never tell you what it means that you saved my best friend, my other child”

– Lupin’s Mom

Lupin

Lupin (Mowie)’s Love Story

Hi!  My name is Lupin (as in Harry Potter).  But you can call me Mowie.  That’s what my family calls me.  I’m in charge of three humans; my Mom, my 16 year old sister & my 4 year old brother.  I try every day to repay them for saving me when I was a baby.

You see, my sister found me abandoned in their back alley when I was four weeks old.  My Mom was allergic to cats, so she said they’d keep me long enough to get me healthy and then find me a home.  I knew I was already home so I started meeting Mom at the door whenever she came home, and following her around, and snuggling with her and the kids so she’d know it too.

And she figured it out.  I heard her tell a friend that waking up and knowing I’m waiting for her makes her happy.  She also says I’ve helped my family to bond more because they come together to play with me and feed me and give me the best life possible!  It makes my heart purr to know that.

It made my heart heavy when my Mom got bad COVID in early January.  She was in bed for over a month.  And then it gave her a heart attack.  She was off work for two months. 

Toward the end of that, I felt horrible too.  I stopped eating and drinking and all I could do was puke all the time.  You see, I had been playing with this pretty dangly thing in Mom’s bedroom.  I was trying to perk her up and make her laugh.  But she didn’t see a string had come loose and I’d swallowed it. 

Poor Mom struggled out of bed to get me to the vet.  They said part of my insides were choked off.  With no paycheck for two months, and a threat of the utilities being shut off, she couldn’t afford surgery.  So the vet tried to make it easier for the string to pass and my family prayed.  Two days later I was too weak to lift my head.

I was lying on my Mom’s chest in bed when she called the vet crying hysterically and sobbed that she couldn’t have saved me as a kitten only to kill me with her bedroom decoration.

The amazing folks at Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital arranged to partner with Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund (I usually hate rain, BTW, but I digress) to get my surgery and keep me in the hospital.  I didn’t realize just how close I came to dying until I heard them talking.

Never fear!  I am back to cuddling my family, and greeting them, to laying on Mom’s laptop and escorting her to the bathroom.  Basically, to keeping my family safe and happy.

Note from Mowie’s Mom:

I was never a cat person but this sweet boy has become my third child. During the two months I was in bed because I was so weak from COVID and then having a heart attack, Mowie is what got me through. With no paycheck for those two months, when he needed surgery, I was sure it was over. I just laid in bed and cried because I felt like I was killing him. I felt I had nowhere to turn and I’d be forced to just let him die. But then you amazing people swooped in and saved us. I can never tell you what it means that you saved my best friend, my other child.

Lupin’s Mom

“We desperately wanted to try to save her but living on a widow’s social security benefits, and already paying to care for my Mom, didn’t leave me any options. That is, until the folks who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund stepped in. Now our baby will have the surgery that will keep us all together for as long as possible. Thank you for giving Lil Bit a chance and for keeping Mom and me together with the pup we adore.”

– Lil Bit’s Mom

Lil Bit

My daughter gave Lil Bit’s mother to my late husband to help him get through his treatments for throat cancer. Unfortunately, that sweet dog died of infection from an undetected stillborn pup who didn’t get born. So three days after her birth, Lil Bit (and her 8 siblings) were orphans.

I guess since she was the runt, she wasn’t strong enough to suckle. So my mother and I took turns hand feeding and manually expressing the bladder of our tiny girl. It was grueling tending to her every 2-3 hours around the clock. But it bonded both my mom & me to Lil Bit like to no other dog either of us had ever known.

My Mom is 91 now and lives with us, much to Lil Bit’s delight. She sleeps with me or my Mom every night. She keeps an eye out to make sure Mom is comfortable. The fact that she always has that Boston Terrier smile on her face makes my Mom–& me—smile too! She’s not above tugging on our pant legs when she thinks it’s time for her to have more attention.

Neither of us can imagine being without our little girl. It was really scary when she had to have cancer removed from her leg last August. It seemed to go well so we breathed sighs of relief. But now it’s back. We were told this time it’s either remove her leg or keep her comfortable until the cancer takes over.

We desperately wanted to try to save her but living on a widow’s social security benefits, and already paying to care for my Mom, didn’t leave me any options. That is, until the folks who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund stepped in. Now our baby will have the surgery that will keep us all together for as long as possible. Thank you for giving Lil Bit a chance and for keeping Mom and me together with the pup we adore.

–Lil Bit’s Mom

“To have received help from great people we don’t even know, through Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, was a New Year’s miracle! 2022 started out as the worst year ever but thanks to you, now it’s the best! Brutus is getting back to his sweet, loving, high-energy self and we are all so thankful to still be together.”

– Brutus’s Mom

Brutus

My name is Brutus. Brutus Buckeye to be exact. My Mom loves that but it sometimes gets to my Dad because he’s a diehard Michigan fan. But he loves me so much he overlooks that.

In fact, my whole family is crazy in love with me—just like I am with them! The first thing we do every morning when we get up is have a love fest. Hugs and kisses and ear scratches and cuddles. You’d never know we’d just spent all night together. Ha! When they come home at the end of the day, we do it all over again!

I have three human sisters ages 11, 8 & 5. It’s a big responsibility making sure they each know every day that they’re the most important people in the world. I play with them (tug of war is my favorite!) and make goofy faces. I toss toys in the air to myself to make them laugh. During COVID lockdown, they couldn’t see their other friends, but they knew they always had me. I remember when I joined the family 4 years ago—they all three climbed all over me. You should have heard all the giggling when I covered them with kisses in return.

I can’t afford to not be there for them. But on New Year’s Eve, I ripped open a wound I’d gotten nine days earlier when a random dog from the neighborhood attacked me. We all thought it had been healing but it turns out the skin underneath had been dying.

My folks had paid lots of money to get me stitched up after the initial attack. That was on December 26 so there was the double whammy of bills for the kids to have a good Christmas. But without expensive surgery, we were going to have to say goodbye.

Words from Brutus’ Mom:

I was at the emergency room on New Year’s Eve when the ball dropped. At that moment I was crying, along with the kids and my husband at home, because we couldn’t leave Brutus in so much pain but we couldn’t afford to get him fixed. My kids were about to lose their best friend and I was about to lose my shadow. To have received help from great people we don’t even know, through Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, was a New Year’s miracle! 2022 started out as the worst year ever but thanks to you, now it’s the best! Brutus is getting back to his sweet, loving, high-energy self and we are all so thankful to still be together.

“You saved her life.  When the vet came back, we we’re ready to tell him we’d have to put her down.  It wasn’t fair.  She was so young.  My kids think of her as a sibling. There were so many memories still to make with her.  And now thanks to your supporters, we’ll get to make them.  There are no words to express the depth of our gratitude, or what your kindness truly means to us and our girls.”

– Darla’s Mom

Darla

Let me tell you about Darla, our “Velcro” dog.  When she focuses on you, she can make eye contact forever.  I swear she reads our souls.  She is in tune with everything.

If part of her “pack” isn’t home, she’ll watch out the window until everyone is accounted for.  If we’re having a party, she’ll scan the room until someone makes eye contact.  Then she’s over to them like a shot; directing them in how to scrub her butt.

She was my younger daughter’s gift for her 3^rd birthday.  My older daughter had gotten our other bulldog 2 years before for her 7^th.  So of course, it wouldn’t do for only her sister to have a dog.  And wouldn’t you know—Darla has always slept on my youngest’s bed!  I swear she knows!

Darla is truly our family sweetheart.  The kids can do ANYTHING to her and she’ll play along.  No growling.  No trying to get away.  She’d rather snuggle and be with us than anything, even than eat.

Well, except maybe if you offer her peanut butter knobs.  That’s how we first knew something was wrong…she stopped eating those favorite treats.

Even when she started throwing up, since she does that sometimes, we weren’t concerned.  But within a couple of days she was throwing up every 10 minutes.  When our vet took x-rays the next day, there was her bouncy ball blocking her intestines.  Dr. C. said if she didn’t have surgery, she wouldn’t last the day.

Sobbing, I called my fiancé, who dropped the kids at my Mom’s and rushed over.  We tried everything but just couldn’t figure out a way to afford what Darla needed.  As we readied ourselves to tell the vet it was over, a tech came in and told us Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to help us.  But we needed to get Darla over for emergency surgery immediately.  We didn’t fully understand  what Ellie’s Fund was but we knew it was our girl’s only chance, so we scooped her up and started driving.

Our girl is back home now, acting thrilled to be back to her job as family Chief Snuggle Officer.

You saved her life.  When the vet came back, we we’re ready to tell him we’d have to put her down.  It wasn’t fair.  She was so young.  My kids think of her as a sibling. There were so many memories still to make with her.  And now thanks to your supporters, we’ll get to make them.  There are no words to express the depth of our gratitude, or what your kindness truly means to us and our girls.

–Darla’s Family