Help Save Heather Parker’s Puppies
I am raising money for my good friend and fellow veteran, Heather, whom I had the pleasure of meeting while we were both in the Navy. However, since then she’s become more of a sister than a shipmate.
On the evening of November 11, 2020, Heather Parker’s 18-month-old English Cream Golden Retriever, Tucker, began showing signs of GI distress. His behavior became critically different from his normal playful, happy, and cuddly demeanor. Heather rushed him to the emergency vet in the middle of the night, where he was diagnosed with Parvovirus; and he was kept overnight. Heather picked him up in the morning and transferred him to the local vet, where he was hospitalized and further monitored. Tucker had an IV initiated and the staff gave him fluids, vitamins, antibiotics and nutrition. Heather visited him Friday and Saturday. However, Sunday morning, she received a call that he had passed away due to complications in the middle of the night. Tucker was a new father of a litter of 10 puppies along with Heather’s other English Cream Golden Retriever, Lily (2yrs old). While Tucker was hospitalized, some of the puppies began showing symptoms of Parvovirus just as their dad did and became extremely ill. Heather and her mother volunteered to receive impromptu training from the vet to give IVs, injections and treat all 10 puppies continuously until further notice. Unfortunately, one puppy had become too ill to initiate treatment at home and was hospitalized for two days, ultimately the little pup passed away at the veterinary hospital. On that very same night, another puppy passed away in Heather’s mother’s arms at home.
Heather Parker is a single mother, a military veteran and was medically retired 9 months ago for PTSD with panic disorder among other limiting physical disabilities. Heather’s English Cream, Lily, the mother of the litter of puppies, is her Emotional Support Animal (with letters of accommodations and certification from her PCP). Lily has been unwaveringly at Heather’s side through multiple surgeries, difficult days/nights and life transitions. Lily is currently fighting for her life against the same virus that took Tucker and two of their puppies. She has been hospitalized for three days as of this posting and is having difficulty keeping food down and even standing. She is in critical condition and in the ICU where her best friend, Tucker, passed away.
Heather is a full time student. Unfortunately she has tapped out her has savings as well as credit cards to pay the insurmountable vet bills that continue to accumulate. Between the emergency vet visits, cremations, vet appointments, medications and hospitalizations…the cost has really added up. She would never ask for a handout or help, which is why I’m creating this for her and her puppies. I know Heather would do anything for her dogs and to continue to give them a fighting chance in this world. Currently, she is still grieving the loss of her carefree ball fetching Tucker and the two puppies.
If you’re still reading this, thank you, and if there’s anything you can give to help ease financial burden at this time would be greatly appreciated.
God bless you and Happy holidays!