My name is vesna and I am fundraising for my dog Raven who needs a 13,000 spinal surgery in Minnesota.

Good morning friends,

5 years ago I saw a Facebook post for a dog who was looking to be adopted. Because I had a senior Dane at the time I didn’t think it was right time to add a new family member. But fast forward to a few weeks my senior Great Dane died and I couldn’t get this Great Dane named Anna out of my head. So after reeling from the loss of my heart dog and her sister I decided I would put in an application for her. I was told that she was aggressive and she had terrible skin issues. I let the rescue know that after having an aggressive dog that this was not a deal breaker. I ended up bringing her home. We struggled to get her skin issues under control but after months of different meds and slot of medicated baths we turned a corner. She gets cytopoint injections every 6-8 weeks and has for the last 4 years.

Raven has been my best friend since my heart dog left me. Shes been my constant shadow and companion everyday for the last 5 years. Shes the dog that came after all the heartbreak and gave me a reason to keep going.

A few months ago I noticed she was having issues dragging her back paws, trouble jumping up on the bed and in the car. I didn’t think much of it. I just thought it was arthritis. Fast forward to September and her symptoms had worsened. She was having trouble walking, imagine a drunk person. She was stumbling while just walking, having trouble with stairs so I would always be behind her to help assist her. I also noticed she was having accidents in the house. I took her to the vet on September 6/2025. I was not ready for the news my vet would give me. She told me that Raven had degenerative myelopathy and I would be lucky if she made it to the spring. We did X-rays and I had them read by a radiologist. I was advised to have her be on strict bed rest for the next 3 weeks to see if there would be any improvement. We waited three weeks and I had her rechecked. No improvement in her symptoms.

My vet said the next step would be to refer her to the neurologist for a consult. She is booked December 1/25 in Calgary. Watching my dog struggle with day to day things was extremely hard so I asked that my vet refer us to the university of Minnesota neurology department to get the consult done sooner. We were seen October 27/25 and she had an MRI done on Oct 28/25.

The good news is she’s not dying from degenerative myelopathy but the bad news is she has bulging discs between L6/L7 and needs spinal surgery(laminectomy) to shave/decompress the spine. The neurologist said she was a good surgical candidate.

The reason I have created this go fund me is I am a short $2000 ish dollars.

I have attached the estimate and I have booked her for November 20/25 to have the surgery.

If you are in position to donate to my rescue dogs surgery I would be forever grateful. If you are unable to donate I understand as well. Life is really costing alot these days.

I really appreciate any help.I just want my beautiful dog to enjoy the last years of her life not in pain and I would prefer that she does not become paralyzed.