Atlas is a 5 month old Labrador Retriever in Castle Pines, CO, who needs $10,200 for Balloon Valvuloplasty.

Writing this is harder than I ever expected, because asking for help has never come easily to me. But today, I’m asking on behalf of a little life that has already meant more to me than words can capture.

When we brought Atlas home at just eight weeks old, we knew there was a strong chance he had a congenital heart condition called Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia. A sibling of his has the same condition, and caring for that dog for the past year and a half has taught me what it truly means to love and commit to a special-needs puppy. I understood the challenges, the uncertainty, and the potential heartbreak of having two dogs with potentially shortened lifespans — but we chose Atlas anyway, without hesitation. No matter how his story might unfold, loving him and giving him a home was never a question.

From the beginning, my goal has always been simple: to give these pups the absolute best life possible, no matter how long or short that life may be.

On December 15th, when Atlas was just over five months old, we met with a cardiologist expecting confirmation of what we already suspected. After completing the echocardiogram, she confirmed the Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia diagnosis. While difficult, we felt prepared — it was something we knew could be managed with medication and diet as this had already been our new normal for over a year with our other pup.
Unfortunately after giving us that diagnosis she paused, looked at us, and said there was also “something else.”

Atlas was also diagnosed with Cor Triatriatum Dexter, an extremely rare congenital heart defect that affects only about 0.3% of dogs with heart disease. This condition means a membrane is dividing the right atrium of his heart, restricting normal blood flow. Without treatment, pressure would continue to build, leading to painful fluid accumulation in his abdomen and chest. Over time, this would mean repeated fluid draining just to keep him comfortable — or ultimately making the devastating decision to let him go to spare him from suffering.

The hopeful part of this story is that there is a treatment. Specialists at Colorado State University have recommended a balloon valvuloplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that can break through the membrane and restore proper blood flow. If successful, it would give Atlas the chance to live a comfortable, semi-active life without the pain and complications this condition would otherwise cause.

We fully intended to take responsibility for Atlas’s care. However, the rarity of this diagnosis and the highly specialized nature of the procedure have made this far more overwhelming than we could have anticipated. The hardest part is knowing that without this surgery, the future isn’t uncertain — it’s unfair to a puppy who is otherwise happy, playful, and just beginning to experience the world.

Atlas doesn’t know he’s sick. He knows toys, belly rubs, naps, playing with his sisters, and the kind of whole-body wagging joy that fills every room he enters. Knowing there is a real chance to help him makes it impossible for me not to try.