Hi there. My name’s Marco and this is my boy, Mason. I’ve been Mason’s best friend since he was born. When his wind-up swing tires out, I go under it and move it back and forth so he won’t cry. Right now, I’m teaching Mason how to walk by letting him lean on me a bit when he stands up. I walk really slow and he kinda follows along. His leg muscles and his balance are getting better every day, as you can see.

The family Mason and I are a part of has three other kids and a Mom and a Dad. Since COVID hit, things have been really crazy. Dad couldn’t work because his contracting business got shut down during quarantine and Mom lost her job when she had to stay home with all the kids. Things are now slowly getting better…..Mom just got a job at Amazon, as a matter of fact! So lots of reasons to look ahead with hope.

I hate to even mention this, but while all this stuff was happening at home, my heart murmur really started acting up. I was born with the darn thing. Dad had actually rescued me from the guy who originally owned me…..that fella was going to just let me die from this problem! Heck, I’m only a year and a half old and that guy was just going to give up on me! Right after Dad brought me home here to live with Mason and the gang, the big shutdown occurred and finances went south, so to say. So although I’ve been taking heart meds prescribed by our local vet, my family couldn’t afford the recommended visit to a heart specialist so I could get a real cardio plan in place.

Dad called The Animal Support Project this week when I started bloating again from this darn heart problem. They bought me some more meds and have scheduled me a visit with the heart specialist at Upstate Veterinary Specialties. That visit is going to cost over $600. With 4 little kids and a pile of bills from COVID shutdown, it’s going to be awhile before Mom and Dad can afford this bill. So TASP has offered to pay $600 of it. That’s all they can swing because COVID has been tough on them, too.

TASP said if we posted this photo of Mason and me online, maybe some kind folks would contribute to the bill for my cardio visit. I may be just a year and a half old and maybe I won’t live as long as some other luckier dogs; but if I can just get the medical plan I need to stay alive long enough to teach Mason how to walk and run and play fetch and ride his bike, then that’s all I’d really want out of this life. Well, whatever the future holds, I know one thing: there’s nothing as wonderful as having a family who cares.

Marco has a big heart, but he needs help to keep it ticking!

By The Animal Support Project

Marco has a big heart, but he needs help to keep it ticking!

His is on special heart medication for his murmur, but he needs to see a specialist