When Esmari Taylor’s dog suddenly fell ill, her world changed in an instant. What followed was a journey of heartbreak, compassion and ultimately, hope. With the support of her veterinarian, and later, the Farley Foundation, Esmari discovered how monthly giving helps pets get veterinary care, ensuring that no one has to face the impossible choice between financial strain and a beloved companion’s care.
A heartbreaking diagnosis
When Esmari Taylor’s beloved miniature schnauzer, Rummins, suddenly became very sick at the start of the pandemic, her world turned upside down.
“It was a terribly hard time in general,” she recalls. “The clinic had strict COVID rules, so I couldn’t go in with him. I had to hand my very sick little guy over at the door and just… wait. I couldn’t comfort him. I couldn’t see him. All I could do was trust that the voice on the other end of the phone would take good care of him.”
Rummins was diagnosed with a liver tumour and referred to a specialist. Surgery was too risky, and chemotherapy seemed like the best option. But within a week of treatment, Rummins fully lost his sight. The playful, lively companion who had filled Esmari’s life with so much joy became very sick and withdrawn.
“We were devastated,” she says. “He went from being this active, engaged little guy, and a massive part of our life, to a very sick, traumatized and depressed dog. It broke my heart.”
Finding strength through veterinary support
Through it all, Esmari’s veterinarian was there, calling daily, listening and reassuring her. “She became an enormous support for me and took incredibly good care of us all — especially Rummins.”
During one of those tearful phone calls, they talked about how difficult it must be for families who want to save their pets but simply can’t afford the costs. “I thought about what that must feel like for both the families and the veterinarians, to be in that impossible position,” says Esmari.
A year later, when Rummins’ health declined further, Esmari made the painful decision to let him go. A few days later, she opened her mailbox and found a letter from the Farley Foundation. Her veterinarian had donated in Rummins’ name.
“It was an incredibly kind and meaningful gesture,” says Esmari. “And it brought me back to that conversation we’d had months before. That’s when I realized how I could help; help families who love their pets just as much as I loved Rummins, but who might be facing impossible choices. I signed up as a monthly donor that same day.”
“I believe our pets make us better people,” she says. “They love us unconditionally, and for many people, they’re everything. Losing Rummins was probably the worst thing that had ever happened to me. To this day, I miss him.”
How monthly giving helps pets get veterinary care
The thought of someone losing their companion simply because they can’t afford care is, for Esmari, unthinkable. “Giving monthly to the Farley Foundation lets me be part of something bigger, something that changes lives.”
After saying goodbye to Rummins, Esmari’s heart found a new way to heal, with a new furry family member, Sammy. “We rescued him as much as he rescued us,” she says. “He helped heal our broken hearts and is now very much the centre of attention in our household.”
For Esmari, the Farley Foundation represents hope for families facing impossible choices. Her monthly contributions help ensure pets and their people stay together when financial barriers threaten to tear them apart. To anyone thinking about becoming a monthly donor, she says,“Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can have a life-changing effect for someone else.”