Help My Service Dog Luka Live a Long Life

Meet My Service Animal, Luka

When I show off pictures of my Doberman pinscher Luka, people often tell me they can see the love she has in her eyes. In truth, her eyes were the first thing I noticed when I rescued her, and I've been in love ever since.

A few months ago, I noticed that Luka was walking a little funny. After $4,000 in vet bills and an MRI, our vet told me she has intervertebral disc or "Wobblers" disease, a condition commonly seen in Dobermans. In short, one of the discs between the vertebrae in her spine has slipped and is pressing into her spinal cord, affecting her movement and putting her at risk of paralysis or even death, which will require a surgery of up to $12,000. (See quote documents for the surgical procedure at the end.) Luka is already having trouble walking. She can't sleep in the bed with me because she needs to avoid jumping and walking up steps, and I need to hold her up to keep her from falling over when I take her outside to go to the bathroom. A few days ago, when I took her out after her dinner, she couldn't make it all the way around the yard on her own, and I had to carry her back inside (all 80 pounds of her).

Luka means the world to me, so I intend to make this surgery happen no matter what the cost. I hope sharing our story will help me give her the care she needs.

Luka and I were brought together when I rescued her in 2015. When I brought her home, she was terrified, easily startled, and distrustful of people. I don't know much about her life before I rescued her, other than she changed homes several times and was horribly mistreated. Her past left lasting scars on her. She has burn marks on her sides, where our veterinarian can only assume her previous owner put his cigarettes out on her. But after everything she'd been through, I made her a promise that first night I brought her home, as I was washing all the dirt out of her fur: "You'll never have to find another home again."

At the time, I had no idea how much Luka would do to save me, too.

When I rescued Luka, I was in therapy being treated for PTSD after I was sexually assaulted. I am also autistic, and while I am proud of this, navigating the world as an autistic individual can be incredibly alienating and disabling. I was fearful of men and of people, and I often woke up in the middle of the night screaming. I no longer felt safe, not even in my own bed. Then Luka came.

Despite her obvious anxiety around people, Luka wanted to sleep in my bed with me. If I touched her, she would yelp and run away, but whenever I woke up crying, I would find her by my side again. Gradually, she started sleeping closer to me, and soon I was falling asleep with a big warm dog in my arms every night. The nightmares didn't go away, but I wasn't afraid to fall asleep anymore.

Luka is now a completely different dog, too. She still has anxiety and can be a bit goofy and neurotic, but she's opened up to people and life so much more. I see the excited wiggle in her walk when she greets me, when before she would only cower in the corner. She used to be afraid to touch her food bowl, looking up at me with those dewy eyes and running away to hide, but now she inhales food more enthusiastically than any dog I've ever seen. She loves nothing more than to curl up next to me and doze while I study or play video games, and she gets jealous when I give other people attention. (She knows she's mine, and I'm hers.)

Before too long, I registered Luka as my Emotional Support Animal (now Psychiatric Service Animal), and it is thanks to her that my life with autism and cPTSD is possible. She even comes to therapy with me, and my therapist adores her! Sometimes, I have to be her Emotional Support Human. I like to think we helped each other get through a difficult point in our lives. We both came from traumatic situations and were fearful of people because of it. There have been numerous times when she has quite literally saved my life--so now when it comes to her quality of life, there is nothing I won't do for her. It's a unique bond, and I know we'll be there for each other for as long as she stays with me.

Luka is nine years old now, and I know we still have a lot of time ahead of us. While I'm putting away every cent I can for her surgery--working extra, doing art commissions, donating blood plasma, and even selling my belongings--I know we need help. It would mean the world to both me and Luka if you can help her get through this, so we can stay together and continue to help each other through life, as we always have since we found each other.

With love,

Mika and Luka <3

DOCUMENTATION:

Luka is currently being treated by a veterinary neurosurgeon. On February 11, 2021, we traveled for her first consultation and MRI, which alone cost $4,000. On February 15, 2021, I received a quote for the surgical procedure, which will cost up to $11,560. Below are our quotes for the procedure: