By Carmella Calling
An eight-year-old boy went viral after selling his collection of Pokémon cards for his puppy’s surgery, prompting many to offer donations to the cause.
His furry friend named Bruce was diagnosed with canine parvovirus— a contagious virus that is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with an infected dog or contaminated object such as feces.
Bryson Kliemann, a die-hard fan of the anime series Pokémon, spent four years collecting his cards. And despite it being his greatest possession, he did not hesitate to sell these hoping to save his 4-month-old dog’s life.
In exchange, he was able to raise $700.
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Poorly pup
Kimberly Woodruff, Bryson’s mother, said in an interview that it was strange to notice that the puppy was not playful and moving.
“He wasn’t coming out of his crate. He wasn’t eating,” Woodruff shared.
Bruce was immediately rushed to Southwest Virginia Veterinary Services where he was diagnosed with Parvo and offered a costly treatment plan.
The family could not afford the treatment so Bryson decided to set up a table outside their home along with a wooden sign that read “Pokémon 4 Sale.” However, no customers came.
GoFundMe campaign and Pokémon reaches out
Bryson’s mother decided to create a GoFundMe campaign and began sharing it on Facebook. The story moved people and donations rose to more than $15,000.
It also caught the attention of Pokémon HQ in Washington, and the company sent Bryson a collection of rare cards along with a letter of appreciation.
“Hey Bryson, we were so inspired by your story about selling your cards for your dog’s recovery, these are some cards to help you replace the ones you had to sell,” the company wrote in the letter.
Following that, Woodruff shared an update on the fundraiser page: “Bruce is now home with his family. He is doing great but still in recovery.”
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