Barney's Love Story
Barney could’ve died and I could’ve remained homeless trying to get him the surgery to save him—if it weren’t for you! I’ve called all my friends and told them the folks who give to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund are the answer to my prayers.
A message from Barney's mom...
What would I do without my Barney? I pray I never have to find out! Before the help from the amazing donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund I was sure I would lose him. The horrible infections in his mouth were like a time bomb that just kept ticking as I scurried to find ways to pay for him to have all of his teeth removed. My poor boy has had trouble chewing his food for six years now. Unfortunately, it hit a tipping point just as the pandemic began.
Things were OK before my job was eliminated during COVID. All of a sudden I found myself, my two cats, and my dog Barney homeless.
Let me back up a little. Barney originally came to our family as a puppy to be my aunt’s emotional support dog. I got super bonded with him as I taught him how to be with my aunt. He became my dog when my aunt had to go to a nursing home & she asked me to adopt him.
He is now in training to be MY mental health service dog. I went through some traumatic abusive situations growing up which have left me feeling vulnerable and anxious. Barney is amazing at getting me through my PTSD reactions when they come up. When I’m going into a panic attack, he signals me by whining and then he presses against me, applying deep pressure to my chest. If he thinks I need to release tension by stroking him, he will paw at my hand if I stop petting. How amazing is that that he knows just how to keep me calm and grounded? Without Barney, I don’t know that I could function in the world!
I’m proud to share that I have just graduated from truck drivers’ school. Which means I’ll have a job where I can always take Barney with me—and a job that pays well enough to start over. And thanks to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund’s financing Barney’s surgery, I can use my paycheck to rent us all a place to live! Things are looking up! Barney could’ve died and I could’ve remained homeless trying to get him the surgery to save him—if it weren’t for you! I’ve called all my friends and told them the folks who give to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund are the answer to my prayers.
