Anakin Needs Your Help!

Meet Anakin. He is the sweetest boy, eager to please and generous with his love. Anakin wants to bury his head in your lap and entice you to scratch his ears. He is a goofy, gentle giant who loves to swim and is happiest when he’s roaming freely outdoors. This beautiful dog is my best friend, the first living thing I’ve had the pleasure to call my own.

Tonight, on Anakin’s 6th birthday, he developed GDV. This sudden, life-threatening condition almost always requires surgery and is common in deep-chested dogs like Akitas and German Shepherds (the makeup of our pup). We also found out during the diagnostic that Anakin has a progressive heart disease that increases the risk of his surgery. While neither of these things is inherently fatal, Anakin’s medical situation is definitely risky and complicated. He has always been a healthy and happy dog, and we are shocked and saddened that this happened in the span of hours on what has otherwise been a day of celebration. Luckily, the surgery has an 80% success rate.

I never thought I would create a non-school-related fundraiser, but here I am, with desperation and hope in my heart. I am a public high school science teacher in San Diego, and Scott is a federal wildland firefighter. What we lack in liquid funds we make up for in heart, civic-mindedness, and compassion for the communities we belong to. We are Anakin’s community. He is our world.

Any support would be so appreciated, even if what you’re able to spare is positive energy in Anakin’s direction (and for me and Scott, as well). From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for sharing in Anakin’s story, and promise to update you as we know more.