Hello, my name is Rosie.
I am a 15-year-old Poodle mix. I lived with my dad in his van near the woods off the highway. We were experiencing homelessness after my dad lost his job six months ago. He found me abandoned five years ago, wandering near the river. He took me in as his own, and I became his companion and fierce protector. I even saved him twice, once from a rattlesnake and once from a wolf.

As time went on, I started losing weight, sleeping all day, and barely eating or drinking water. My dad became deeply concerned about my health but did not know what to do without the money for a vet visit. He searched online for help and applied for financial assistance from Feeding Pets of the Homeless. I was soon approved to see a veterinarian.

At the clinic, the doctor was kind and gentle with me. She gave me injections for pain and nausea and discussed treatment options with my dad. Unfortunately, the prognosis was poor. The vet was concerned about my weight and muscle loss. After careful thought, my dad made the heartbreaking decision to proceed with humane euthanasia so I could pass peacefully. He was there with me in the room, and I was not scared. I got to look into the eyes of the person I loved most before I passed.

Thank you, Feeding Pets of the Homeless, for making this difficult time easier.
$338 was contributed toward Rosie’s care.

From Rosie’s Dad:
“I just wanted to say thank you for helping me and Rosie. I am so thankful to you and the organization for enabling me to end the suffering of my only companion for the last five years. I know it has probably been said many times before, but she was such an amazing animal, and I swear she was more human than canine.

We have only recently been stuck here next to this mountain in a patch of woods. Despite being 15 years old, with one eye turned white from cataracts and the other getting cloudy, she saved both our lives twice. One time, a rattlesnake was coiled near our makeshift trash can. I did not see it, and it did not rattle before striking twice. Rosie jumped in front of me as I walked over, causing me to stop and look down.

The other time, I was distracted on my phone while Rosie was lying outside the van. In five years, she had only barked four times. That day, she suddenly jumped up and barked, pacing back and forth in short bursts. I scooped her up to calm her and saw nothing at first. Then a wolf walked out of the high grass just seven feet in front of us. We locked eyes for about ten seconds. I backed up to the van, put Rosie in the back, grabbed my machete, and ran toward it yelling. It only moved when I got within six feet, then turned and ran up the mountain. I have no doubt it would have attacked her, and maybe me too, if she had not barked a warning.

So I cannot stress enough my gratitude for easing the pain of the best dog ever when I was unable to. It is a blessing I hope to pay forward to your organization or someone in a similar position.”