“My Best and Only Friend” – Marley’s Happy Tail
January 12th, 2026
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
“I rescued her from the streets, and she rescued me from the terrible life I was living. I got my act together to take care of her, and she’s my best and only friend.”
Amanda couldn’t imagine what her life would look like without Marley the pitbull – or rather, she couldn’t bring herself to think about the possibility. She found her in the summer of 2020, a tumultuous time for many, and knew immediately that she would need to turn her own life around to give this sweet stray the life that she deserved. It’s never easy to change your life for the better, but for Marley, it was worth it.
They had found a good rhythm over five years together, and could lean on each other to navigate the ups and downs. When all the remote positions with her employer were cut, and Amanda lost her job, Marley was both a reason to keep going in her search for something new, and a reminder to stay present when things felt uncertain. With her cow-patterned coat, pointy ears, and smiling face, there was little in Amanda’s life that Marley didn’t make better.
Their bond was as deep as it was strong, and it was no surprise that Amanda made Marley’s well-being a priority. She had been saving money to have her spayed, but it was slow-going, and she faced many setbacks. In the meantime, she was careful whenever Marley was in heat to keep her safe and away from males. As long as she was being responsible, the need for the spay surgery didn’t seem so urgent. After all, Marley was now six years old, and they had never had a problem. Amanda didn’t know that litters were only one of the things that a spay surgery prevents.
The day they went to the emergency veterinarian, it was because Marley had eaten garlic, and Amanda knew it was toxic for dogs. But when they got there, the veterinarian was concerned by the look of Marley’s stomach and suggested that they perform an ultrasound. Amanda was shocked to learn about pyometra, an infection in the uterus that is often lethal without treatment. Every time Marley had a heat cycle, there was a risk that bacteria could get trapped in her uterus and proliferate. Now, poor Marley had a cyst growing in her uterus that was on the verge of bursting. If it did, she would become septic and might not survive. All they could do for the time being was prescribe antibiotics to help treat the infection until Marley could have surgery.
Unemployed, Amanda didn’t know how soon that could happen or how she would afford it. All she knew was that she didn’t have much time – and she absolutely could not lose Marley. Amanda found the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program and applied. It had been just days since they learned of Marley’s diagnosis, and her surgery was scheduled for the end of the week. Amanda hoped she wasn’t cutting it too close for help, that someone would understand how important it was for her to help Marley right away.
Amanda exhaled for what felt like the first time in days when she learned she had been approved for an Urgent Care grant. Marley seemed to be doing better on the antibiotics, and now she would be able to get her emergency surgery, and everything would be alright. They had navigated yet another of life’s ups and downs together, both of them better – healthier, even – for the love they shared. Amanda’s words of gratitude were not just for RedRover, but for all of our supporters in saving Marley’s life.
“I cannot express to you how much your help means to my family!! Without this surgery today, the veterinarian told us she would have become septic over the weekend and would not have made it. Marley is home and resting now, and her tummy is no longer swollen. You truly helped save my best friend’s life today. Without your help, this would not have been possible. Thank you so much for being there for Marley and me. We are eternally grateful!!”
RedRover Relief Urgent Care grants save lives, and you make these special grants possible with your continued support. Thank you for all the Happy Tails you inspired in 2025, and the many more we will celebrate together this year!
