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Girl Goes Online To Save Grandparents' Anniversary Puppy

UPDATE: Thanks to our viewers' generosity, it only took 30 minutes for this family to make their goal and raise the funds needed for Bitsy's surgery. Jayda's family says the incredible support brought them to tears.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 13-year-old girl is asking for help to save the puppy that was a gift from her grandfather to her grandmother on their wedding anniversary.

When Jayda Sauter's grandparents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, their gift to each other was something special -- a 9-week-old Papillion-Chihuahua mix they named Bitsy.

"When my grandpa said yes, my grandma was probably the happiest lady on earth," Jayda Sauter said. "I think Bitsy means a lot to my grandma and grandpa."

But about two weeks ago, they found out little one-pound Bitsy has a big problem. A valve pumps too much blood into one side of her heart.

"Jayda's grandma said that if it doesn't get fixed within 6 to 12 months that it will enlarge the heart and then Bitsy will actually end up dying from that," Jayda's stepmother Clarissa Sauter said.

The surgery to fix the heart condition costs $3,000, a price tag Jayda's grandparents can't afford. So she decided to raise the money as a surprise.

"My grandma she's always been, I guess, there for me," she said. "She's always helped out our family whenever we needed it."

Jayda started a GoFundMe page called Bitsy's Beating Heart, where people can donate to save Bitsy. She's already raised more than $600.

"Of course I'm proud of her, we're all proud of her. It's pretty cool. I don't think I would have done that at 13," Clarissa Sauter said.

Jayda says the little dog with a big heart means everything to her family.

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