Virginia boy sells Pokémon cards to pay vet bills after puppy falls sick

LEBANON, Va. — A Virginia boy is warming hearts across the country for his efforts to save the life of his four-legged best friend.

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According to The Washington Post and WCYB-TV, Bryson Kliemann, 8, of Lebanon, was saddened last month when he learned that his puppy, Bruce, had contracted parvo. Treating the potentially deadly virus would cost about $700 – money his family didn’t have, the news outlets reported.

After Bryson overheard his parents discussing their financial concerns, he had an idea: He could raise money by selling cards from his Pokémon collection, according to the Post.

Bryson’s mother, Kimberly Woodruff, told the newspaper that she was at school on May 4 when her husband texted her a photo of her son selling the cards on the side of the road. She was stunned, WCYB reported.

“I cried,” Woodruff told the Post.

While some people bought cards from Bryson, others flooded his stand with donations of money and their own Pokémon collections, Woodruff said.

“He sold some cards, but before I could even notice a dent in his collection, people had already dropped off so many more,” she told the Post.

That same day, Woodruff created a GoFundMe campaign for Bruce’s treatment. The fundraiser went viral, quickly drawing more than enough money to pay the dog’s vet bills, the news outlets reported. As of Wednesday morning, the family had received more than $17,700 in donations.

Woodruff said she is using the extra money to help other pet owners in need and has covered three families’ bills so far, according to the Post.

Although Bruce is still being treated, he is feeling much better and has returned “to his puppy self,” Woodruff added.

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