Dolly Parton was just one day away from giving birth and from losing her life. She was at a rural kill shelter, out of time and next on the euthanasia list when we stepped in. The very next day, she delivered her babies safely in foster care. She was calm. Gentle. Grateful.

Dolly Parton has raised all of her babies, watched them all go off to their forever homes—and now it’s her turn. Well, almost. There’s just one thing standing in the way of her happy ending: heartworms.

Dolly Parton is heartworm positive, and without treatment her big ol’ heart—the one that loved her babies so well, will slowly give out.

The disease is slow and cruel. She might look fine now, but everyday those worms grow and strain her heart until it just can’t keep going. This mama gave everything, and now it’s time for us to give back. She didn’t stop loving when life got hard—and we won’t stop fighting for her until she’s singing her own happily ever after.