Pasha came off the euthanasia list at Dekalb County Animal Services, and one year later I want to finally get her the training she needs. After a month of fostering Pasha, I learned her triggers and how much support she needs to feel safe in the world. Pasha is my dog, and while she is wonderful with other dogs when she is properly introduced, she carries a deep fear of new people. She is also reactive around barriers, leashes, and unfamiliar people and dogs.

Before I brought her home, animal control picked Pasha up after a call from the short-term rental home where she was staying. She had been tied to the front porch and was lunging and biting people. After a couple of months at the shelter, she was placed on the urgent list for kennel stress and handling sensitivities. Her past helps explain why she needs such careful, structured support now.

After a few months, I did get two adoption inquiries. I gave both a chance, but neither home was able to meet Pasha's needs. By that point, I loved Pasha very much already, and I adopted her because I believed she would be unsafe being handed off to most of the public.

Right now, daily life revolves around managing that reactivity as carefully as possible. I avoid high-traffic places, and Pasha is muzzled whenever we leave the house, even on late-night neighborhood walks. If she gets triggered, she can redirect onto my other dogs and even me, so safety has to come first for everyone.

At home, inside her safety bubble, Pasha is extremely cuddly. She sleeps next to me every night, and over the past couple of months she is slowly learning that my boyfriend is safe. Seeing that side of her is why this means so much to me. I know how much progress is possible for her with the right help.

I am raising funds to get Pasha the training she needs for a better future.

For the board and train program, then subsequent private and group lessons, my estimated cost is $3,000-$4,000. Anything you can give will really help make a difference for Pasha’s future. This support would help give her structure, training, and a stronger foundation for moving forward.

Any donation, no matter the amount, would truly help make a difference for Pasha's future. If you are not able to give, sharing this fundraiser would also mean a lot to us. Thank you for supporting Pasha and helping me give her the chance to grow and thrive.