As of 2JAN26 between OCVetMed &AVSG, his bills have exceeded $15,000.

Ahijah is my 7-year-old Shiloh Shepherd and trained service dog. He supports me every day with neurological impairments related to chronic concussions from football, including absence seizures, cognitive fog, and post-concussive instability. Ahijah is specially trained to provide early alerts and physical intervention when my neurological function degrades, helping keep me safe and grounded. He is truly my partner in daily life for a brain accepted into UPMC's Brain Bank to study CTE.

Recently, while I was recovering from a three-level lumbar laminectomy, Ahijah’s mobility was affected by his genetic hip dysplasia—a condition that was not disclosed when I purchased him from a breeder. Without his normal exercise routine, his dysplasia and anatomy led to a severe fecal impaction caused by prostate compression. This quickly became life-threatening, requiring emergency intervention. After ultrasound and CT imaging confirmed the obstruction, Ahijah was hospitalized for multiple days in emergency and ICU veterinary care. The medical costs have now far exceeded what I had set aside for emergencies, and he remains under active treatment as we work to stabilize him and bring him home.

We have exhausted our emergency pet health funds, and the scale of this emergency care is such that, without help, it may require financial measures that will affect me for years—just to keep my service dog by my side. I want to be fully transparent: I run a nonprofit dog park charity. If any funds raised exceed Ahijah’s medical needs, they will be donated directly to the Dog Park to support dogs and owners in our community for a park that greets ~2,000 visitors weekly. Any support, shares, or kindness are deeply appreciated. Ahijah is not just my dog. He is my medical support, my safety net, and my partner in daily life.