CITAZ - My Best Friend Forever
My name is Malaika H Kambon. I am a person with invisible disabilities, and an elder. 
To reach me directly, click on the "Help" button at the top of the page, then click on the "Contact the Organizer" tab to find out how to donate privately, off line and/or to let me know about assistance from an organization or philanthropist willing to help with the following campaign! Offline contribution amounts will still be posted to this page!
The beautiful red furred Staffordshire terrier you see here is my service animal, CITAZ (pronounced 'see-tahs,' (like mamasitas, only no mama) and she is in desperate need of your help.
She was hit by an irresponsible bicyclist roughly 2 years ago, while waiting quietly next to me on the sidewalk. He didn't stop, but continued to roll over her, tearing the tendons in her right back leg. She now has no muscle tone and very little muscle mass in that leg, along with hip dysplasia in the same hip.
Additionally she has 4 growths on her, one of which has begun to rupture, the other of which has grown from a dot no bigger than the end of my little finger to its present dime size, next to a growth that is even larger.
The growths, 4 total; are located in 3 places on her body: one under the left side of her jaw, two on her chest, and one the back of her privates.
We have no money and no car. We mostly have to use taxis, which are expensive and sometimes leave us standing outside when they see CITAZ, even though I always give the dispatcher the destination address and tell him/her that I have a service animal that is a large dog. But even if I rush her to emergency, we will be turned away without help because we have no money.
CITAZ came into my life in 2005. She is a stray rescue. She is licensed as my service animal., has not ever destroyed a thing in our home (except the cable remote when she was about a year and a half old - she was bored :)
She has protected me when I've gone into anaphylactic shock and fallen, and when I was on crutches and someone intruded into our yard.
Her vets at Montclair Veterinary Hospital, everyone who knows her at Happy Hound Day and Playcare, where she gets the best round the clock care, and everyone in our community knows her as a dog that is strong, and courageous, and has a sweet disposition.
She is also very energetic (she thinks she's 3 not nearly 12 :) when she isn't in pain and/or not able to walk well.
She is now almost 12, and can barely walk due to her leg and now due to the nasty lump on the back of her, just over her privates that is the size of a half dollar, getting bigger, and bleeding . It is now as hard as a block of cement.
She cannot run, has difficulty negotiating the stairs in our home, and her back legs tremble so much that it is difficult for her to walk.
We need help. She needs 7500.00 in tests, corrective surgery and therapy
for her leg, and 12-1400.00 to have the 4 lumps on her body aspirated and removed.
CITAZ sleeps on my bed or on her little couch or in one of two of her basket beds; lets me brush her teeth every day, and has the complete run of our home.
I am very worried. She has a heart as big as the sun, and many good strong years remaining. She deserves every bit of everything good that I can give her.
Right now what I can give her most is a plea for support.
Please help us!
Sincerely,
Malaika H and CITAZ Kambon
