MEMPHIS, Tenn. — If you haven’t already, meet Samson.
He’s a 3-year-old Great White Pyrenees, beloved by his owners and furry siblings.
He is also a very busy and wildly popular therapy dog in Memphis.
WREG was told Samson regularly visits Hope House, participates in cancer fundraisers and works with a group called Cause Play that dresses up and visit sick children.
“He loves children. That’s probably his favorite are little kids. He’ll go right up to them and lick their faces,” said Lyndzy Lucchesi, Samson’s owner.
But now, with one lung lobe twisted and a tear in the other, Samson’s has been fighting for his life.
“It basically caused his chest to fill with fluid. They had to pull 5 liters of fluid off his chest. It was pushing his chest, and he wasn’t able to breathe,” she told us.
Samson has already had six surgeries.
Lucchesi and her family have pushed their bank accounts to the max trying to keep up with his vet bills.
“Right now we are at almost $9,000 that we’ve spent,” Lucchesi said.
But even as popular as her pup is, Lucchesi said she never expected the community to rally behind him.
“My friend Lori Ann set up a Go Fund Me, which I’m just completely amazed by,” she said.
In just five days the community has raised almost $3,000 to save Samson.
“I feel like I don’t deserve it, but I know Samson does,” said Lucchesi.
Lucchesi said it has left her humbled and has shown her just how much Memphis loves the dog who loves everyone.
“He can’t go. He has a lot of work to do. I have lots of plans for him. He’s going to make a lot of people happy,” she said.
