“He Means So Much to Me” – Guppy’s Happy Tail
May 4th, 2026
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
Guppy the Yorkie came to Melissa at just four months old. He had not been cared for very well up to that point, but it only endeared her to him. Fourteen years later, her whole life was built around Guppy: his health, his safety, his comfort, their bond.
“He has been my baby for the totality of his life. He means so much to me that I can’t put it into words without tearing up. Since he has leg problems, he is so comfortable riding in my arms that he crosses his front feet. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. He gets warmed-up towels from the dryer two to three times a day. I am menopausal, and he is the only reason the heat is ever over sixty-nine degrees. He also has a heating blanket and a heating pad. There are pillows around my couches. There are rugs all over my floors so that he does not slip. He has little pads on the bottom of his feet so that he does not slip. My entire house is designed to accommodate him and keep him comfortable.”
Melissa knew when she adopted Guppy that Yorkshire Terriers, like many small breeds, had notoriously bad dental health. Over the years, she’d tried countless different toothbrushes, powder supplements, water additives, and more to keep up with his care. But despite her best efforts, his teeth and gums were worsening with age. Many teeth were loose, and he had developed an infection that made his face swell.
She knew he needed dental surgery, but she was afraid that going under anesthesia could be too much for his little body, and he might pass away. After all, a Guppy with stinky breath was better than no Guppy at all. He was in pain, but he was still in good health. She hoped their veterinarian had another way of cleaning his teeth and sparing him any more discomfort.
That’s when she learned about gas anesthesia, as opposed to general anesthesia, a safer option for older dogs like Guppy, from which he would wake up more quickly.
“After that, I begged, borrowed, and sold what I could to be able to take him to appointments with three other veterinarians until I finally found one that would do the surgery with the proper blood pressure and heart rate monitors. His surgery is scheduled very soon, and I don’t have all of the payment yet. Guppy matters more to me than anything else, and he has a lot of spunk left in him.”
Having turned over every literal and figurative couch cushion she could, all Melissa had left was what she could spare from her monthly disability benefits. She was prepared to take him in for surgery and hoped they would release him to her anyway if she didn’t have enough for the bill. She just wanted him to feel better. But before it came to that, and with just one day left before Guppy’s surgery, she applied for a RedRover Relief
Urgent Care grant.
With Guppy safely under anesthesia, Melissa waited anxiously for a call from RedRover. It came not a moment too soon and with good news: they had been approved for a grant. When families in crisis are counting on RedRover, your generous support means we can always say yes.
Guppy woke up from the anesthesia without issue. Relieved, all Melissa had left to worry about was keeping him comfortable while he recovered. His age might have posed complications for his recovery, but something about being so loved and adored gave him the resilience – and energy – of a much younger pup.
“Guppy, aka Gupperstien, has improved so much! He had dental surgery, which wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for all the people who donate to this awesome place. He’s acting like a puppy again. I wanted you to know I’ll never forget the help you gave us. Thank you again!”
If you’ve ever changed your home or lifestyle to accommodate a pet’s needs, you understand Melissa and Guppy’s special bond – so you know how important it is to protect it. Thank you for helping Melissa get Guppy the dental surgery he so urgently needed, and for helping countless families like theirs with your compassion and generosity.
