Jennifer Marion entered Ellen’s radar when word about her caring for sick dogs spread online. The elementary school teacher from Raleigh, North Carolina caught Ellen’s eye because she went above and beyond to cure the sick dogs. Jim Raschella, Marion’s fiance, is an animal lover just like her. They’ve been working together to care for these dogs.
They are also advocates of animal rescue, fostering, and adoption. This is how they found Pearl, a Pit Bull who was poorly treated by her previous owners.
Hearts of gold
Pearl’s previous owners’ treatment was so bad that she lost a litter of puppies because her body lacked nourishment. The awful treatment went on for years until the perfect rescue group found her and gave her another chance in life.
Pearl only managed to heal physically and spiritually when Marion found her. However, months after living with Marion and Raschella, Pearl started to lose a lot of weight. The couple went to several vets, but none could determine what Pearl’s condition was. Determined to find a cure, the couple rushed Pear to the NC State Veterinary Hospital.
The journey to a better life
After conducting tests, the doctors determined that the senior Pit Bull was suffering from Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). The disease was treatable, but costly. The bill ballooned to a whopping $16,000, but the couple still took on the challenge. They were determined to fight for Pearl’s life.
Marion’s students decided to help out by setting up a lemonade stand so they can raise money for the sick dog. The students managed to raise $120, and this is Ellen learned about Marion and Raschella’s story. Ellen invited the couple to the show to learn more about what they are doing for the animals. She then surprised them with a check worth $10,000 and a new lemonade stand.
Credits to That Girl Pearl GoFundMe
