Doggy Defense Fund

To explain the gravity this dog has on me would take ages… But let me try.

I have had Appa since December 2021.

I got him after a tragic loss of my rescue Bailey whom I had and trained past her abusive past.

Appa was 6 weeks old when I got him, now he’s 3 years old. We have traveled multiple cities and states together, along with him accompanying me on 2 separate state moves this year!

In our original community of Albuquerque New Mexico he is known for his loving demeanor, going brewery and patio hopping with me, being a dispensary regular, a great hiking and camping co-pilot, car ride master, foster support to many an animal who’s ever met him, a warm hug when a stranger needs it, just in every way a bright spot to anyone who has met him.

It has not always been an easy journey with him, and we have constantly beat the odds of whatever life has thrown at us and one devotion has never changed. Appa is my boy and will forever be my boy. I have spent countless hours training him for public access behaviors and service tasks though with our current predicament I don’t feel comfortable using the title of Service Dog on him, he is my emotional anchor.

He flew with me to Oklahoma in May, Moved to Arizona with me in April (after many road trips to Arizona together) moved to Oklahoma with me this August, and has been my companion through some of the worst my life has had.

Unfortunately our old home was not well taken care of by our landlord and our fence was in shambles.

We had tried to fix it to the best of our ability while trying to move into our new home (I’m also currently 6 months pregnant) and Appa had escaped the yard on a few occasions.

In his nature (he’s a Great Pyrenees known for their Livestock and property protection traits) he thought he was protecting his property and people though he was coming off with less than usual behavior for himself. Loud barking, body language that was not welcoming, nipping towards people near our property. To the point it made our neighborhood feel uneasy and the authorities were involved.

Due to this situation the officer charged him with menacing behavior and required the city to take him (I didn’t know your dog could get arrested for not even biting someone, nonetheless they had every right to enter my home without a warrant to obtain him). When I brought him out on his leash, this boy in his typical self wanted to kindly introduce himself to the same officer he was not welcoming towards before we got home. He jumped into the animal control van (with hesitation) by himself, something hardly any dog would do.

He has been in their possession going on a month now, and I finally heard our court date is on December 2nd to see what our steps are to get him home.

In the time he is at the shelter though, they require $20 a DAY to have him there. That is way above my means right now as an expecting mama in February after we just moved to the home we will welcome our little girl into.

These funds are directly in relation to paying the fees to get him out of the shelter and back home in his mamas loving arms.

I don’t know if they will charge me more depending on the process of getting him back after court but I do know I can’t do it alone.

If anyone has any ability to donate and help, it would mean the world to me.

He is in nature meant to protect his home and I feel awful about the impression he gave to our old neighborhood as this dog has never shown aggression in any other way, towards person, animal, or child.

He is literally such a Goober, the biggest furry lover bear to ever exist and this mama is hurting for her baby home already!

Our new home has a solid fence, lovely neighbors who are very much dog people, and I stay home full time now!

I will forever be indebted for any help I get towards getting him home, I really won’t be able to do this without support from the community’s that know and love him.

Please know I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t desperate. At first they told me it would be 4-6 months before court was assigned so the relief I have that it’s only going to be ~60 days is amazing, but still a challenge even my savings can’t withstand right now.

If you have any other questions or are curious to know more about Appa & our story please feel free to reach out. This boy is my world, he is MY dog and literally an extension of my soul. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through there right now, considering we experienced our first tornadoes while living here this last week while he’s in the shelter, I can imagine we will have a long road to rebuilding confidence and security between us when he is home and that’s a task I’d happily take on for my boy.

I can’t visit him at the shelter, they won’t allow me to see him for his wellbeing of seeing me there and leaving again without him causing him more potential trauma.

If you read this far, thank you. For any donation, big or small, thank you! For I’m truly lost on options without the help of the community’s that know him & our bond so well.

God Bless and Happy Holidays.