Family's Anniversary Puppy Receives Heart Surgery

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A four-month-old puppy is alive and well thanks to the help of WCCO viewers.

Bitsy, a 40th anniversary present from Tim Theisen to his wife, had a heart murmur. The puppy needed life-saving surgery that her owners couldn't afford.

So, their granddaughter, 13-year-old Jayda Sauter, started an online fundraising campaign to pay for it.

"They've always been here and they just deserve it," Sauter, from Coon Rapids, said. "They need something like Bitsy in their life."

Just 20 minutes after Bitsy's story aired on T.V. in October, Sauter met her goal of $3,000.

"I didn't think it would happen so soon," Sauter said. "I thought it would take maybe a couple months to happen, not a night."

Sauter told her grandparents about her fundraising efforts before the story aired so they could watch together.

"It brought my grandpa to tears," she said.

Bitsy had her surgery two weeks ago.

The doctor told the family she might have lived just one more week without it.

"Words can't express how much we're thankful for this," Theisen said. "It means a lot to my wife."

Today, the two-and-half-pound puppy has a scar but is doing well.

With every beat of Bitsy's heart, it's Theisen's grandchildren, like Sauter, he is most grateful for.

"They mean the world to us, they all do," he said.

Bitsy had her stitches taken out on Tuesday and the veterinarian told the family her heart murmur is gone.

The family has created a website to help follow Bitsy's recovery.