Help Kita Walk Again
Nikita(Kita) is a 6 1/2 year old Siberian Husky, who looks forward to her daily walks. She loves walking where there is water and woods. She enjoys chasing other wildlife, walking in the water and digging big holes! Her favorite time of the year is winter and all the snow it brings!
Nikita has been no stranger to the veterinarian. The day after I brought her home from the breeder she had her first vet visit, not because it was a new puppy visit, but because she had extreme loose stool and was vomitting. To make a long story short Nikita ended up at VCA Colonial Animal Hospital, after about a year of constant illness, in which no one could figure out. Well they saved her life. After spending 8 days they diagnosed Lyme, Anaplasmosis and Meningitis, as well as her being Auto Immune Deficient. After 4 years we finally had her on the up and up knowing she will be taking prednisone the rest of her life, and will make yearly trips to Colonial for her checkups. In December 2023 we found a mass on her tail and scheduled surgery at the end of January to have it removed. About the middle of January I had Kita on her walk, she was so happy because it snowed alot and she loves the snow. We were walking and she was sticking her face in the snow, then she started to Sprint and all of a sudden she just laid down. I kept trying to get her up and even tried coaxing with a treat but she wouldn't budge. She had to be carried to the car and into the house. Her diagnosis was a torn ACL. Our vet warned us that she will probably tear the other one within 6 months. Kita is overweight, mainly because of the prednisone, so I was worried she would tear the other. I kept her on bedrest through her surgery on her tail and by April her tail was healing well and her leg seemed to be better. I started walking her a little at a time and one Saturday I took her to her favorite park and she was so happy. She walked in the water, and tried to run a little. I thought that maybe her knee had built up scar tissue, knowing that wasn't a fix, but I just could not afford $6-$8000 at this time. Having exhausted all credit options Care Credit included, I was somewhat relieved that maybe she would be okay. The next day I took Kita to the park and she was walking then all of a sudden she laid down. My heart sank and I had the most devastated feeling, which turned out to be true. Yes, she tore her other ACL.
This news was devastating and I knew already that I would not be able to afford surgery for her. I have searched for grants, payment plans everything and there is nothing. I did have an organization donate a wheelchair for her, in which she refuses to use. Kita deserves to walk again, to go on her walks and enjoy her life. She was just feeling good and cleared of any ailment. Nikita is the best dog there is. She was there for me at my lowest times and helped me get through those dreadful days. Kita has been so sad since her latest injury and I can't even get her to go outside and just "people watch" which is another favorite of hers. Before her ACL injuries I could never get her in the house. This breaks my heart so now it is my turn to try to do everything possible to help her and give her, her life back. This means I need to make arrangements for surgery. Therefore I am trying to raise money to help my girl. If you can not donate please just share this on your page. Thank you for reading Nikita's story.
