Atlas is a one-year-old French Bulldog in Spokane, WA, who needs $2,000 for urgent heart surgery.

Vanessa R. tells Waggle that Atlas is a true bundle of joy.

"My husband surprised me with the most amazing gift of this little puppy during a challenging time with my own health. This puppy brought me so much joy during such a difficult time, and I was able to smile again. He captures the smiles of strangers walking by and brings comfort to my clients in the community, who are struggling with their mental health," Vanessa, a mental health therapist, says.

Atlas is working to be ADA certified and goes everywhere Vanessa goes. "He is a quick learner and alerts me to changes in my body chemistry," she says. "There isn't anywhere I go that he doesn't go. There isn't one place we go that he doesn't make everyone smile."

But recently, Vanessa got terrible news: Atlas was diagnosed with pulmonic stenosis in his heart. His pulmonary valve is too small, and he needs urgent surgery to fix it.

"We took him to Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine's vet tech program, who found that his heart rate was 180 beats per minute. The normal rate is 40-50. The surgery requires that they insert a balloon and open the valve on his left chamber to allow the pressure to reduce to a healthy heart rate. He is currently on medication as I work steadily to raise the $8000 required for his surgery," Vanessa says.

Quickly coming up with thousands of dollars is difficult for so many families in these tough economic times.

"This was an unexpected expense as we have been faced with my own medical expenses, and I am just opening up a business as a mental health therapist. My husband has been working extended hours to assist with the surgery, and we are pulling all resources together that we can," Vanessa says.

If Atlas does not have the surgery, his future will be bleak. And that would be heartbreaking as the pup makes such a difference in his world.

"Atlas has many friends. He has become popular in our community," Vanessa says. "When clients are hesitant to seek mental health services, they can be greeted by this gentle soul and gain some laughs and snuggles while they are in my office. He loves greeting people and snuggling up with them when they are in a vulnerable emotional space."