Thank you for making Rylo’s Happy Tail possible! ❤️
August 29th, 2024
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager
When asked by her coworker if she wanted a puppy, Mandy’s heart said yes before her brain could think. Rylo was a sweet mutt you could easily mistake for a real-life Snoopy. He made such an impression on Mandy and her husband that they brought Lucy home a year later, and their foster dogs weren’t far behind. Life got too hectic to continue fostering once their son Waylon was born, but big brother and sister Rylo and Lucy were always there to help.
Mandy and her husband decided she would stay home with Waylon while he was so young, drawing on their savings when his paycheck alone didn’t cover the gaps in their budget. It worked for their family, but as Waylon got bigger their savings got smaller, and soon they were maxing out their credit cards to get by. Finding a job was tough for Mandy after staying home for years, and to make matters worse, she had injured her back and now had a hard time standing or sitting for too long. On top of it all, they recently needed to spend thousands on car repairs. Trying to get caught up was exhausting, but when she watched Waylon with Rylo and Lucy – the two best friends he’d known his entire life – she had every reason to keep going.
Rylo was never without love to give or a belly to rub, and he didn’t know the meaning of subtlety. No guest came and went without paying him the attention he deserved (politely demanded). One day Mandy’s friend was giving him a good scritchin’ while he begged on his hind legs. When he rolled on his back for more scritches, he accidentally rolled onto his tail, leaving a bump that wouldn’t go away. The whole family watched with concern as Rylo acted less and less like himself; even three-year-old Waylon recognized that his buddy was suffering. Two different veterinarians diagnosed him with a hernia, and both agreed he would need costly surgery to repair it.
Mandy wasn’t going to give up on him now. She found a more affordable surgeon, was approved for a line of credit, started a fundraiser, applied for assistance, and her husband worked overtime for a bigger paycheck. They were days away from his scheduled surgery and only a few hundred short of the cost when she applied for a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant, not knowing she would soon be approved because an On-Call Angel was ready to help her family. Mandy was still worried when she dropped Rylo off for his surgery – but she didn’t have to worry about paying the bill.
His surgery day came and went. Mandy couldn’t tell who was happier: Rylo for feeling better, or the family for having their first boy and big brother home and healthy.
“Rylo is doing well! He just had his follow-up visit and they said he’s healing nicely. We’ve been very diligent with his recovery instructions. He’s been trying to play a lot and it is hard to keep him resting when he’s so happy and energetic! But it’s so heartwarming to see him enjoying life again.
“This has been very tough for our family. Rylo means the world to us. He is my child, and my husband feels the same. We would be devastated without him. Lucy and him are a bonded pair and I’m afraid she’d get depressed without him, as would I. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster with my husband working so much overtime and I’ve been so busy with fundraising on my phone, calls to the vet, sleep deprivation, you name it. I’m so grateful that RedRover was able to help make it all worth it. My prayers were answered. Thank you so so so much for making this possible for us! ❤️”
We love sharing Happy Tails like Mandy and Rylo’s with you, the amazing people who make them possible! Thank you for keeping pets and families healthy and happy together.
