In December of 2024, I brought Astra home after falling in love with her quickly over a weekend at a dog show. Since she came home, we have had a very non-traditional journey. Astra has severe behavioral issues that she has been struggling with for the entire time I have had her in my possession, and we had physical health issues that began rather quickly as well, culminating in a $6,000 hospitalization at UC Davis at the end of February, less than three months after I brought her home. She was diagnosed with IBD in the months following the appointment. She was almost hospitalized again at the beginning of June for a very unique presentation of kennel cough that led to her developing tonsillitis.

Most recently, I made an appointment with the veterinary behaviorists at UC Davis to seek counsel about Astra's increasingly severe behavioral struggles. Unfortunately, the medications have not been working as we had hoped, and the team regards her overall prognosis as poor. I have considered seeking a second opinion with a different veterinary behaviorist, but to say my resources are tapped out is an understatement.

Since taking possession of her at the beginning of December 2024, Astra has racked up $10,000 just in medical bills. This does not account for her purchase price, money spent on necessary behavior training, etc. We have been fortunate to receive approximately $7,200 reimbursed from Astra's insurance. However, her ongoing expenses have made it nigh impossible for me to work on paying down our outstanding balance from her hospitalization and other health issues.

I am reaching out to my community to ask for assistance with paying off the current balance of my CareCredit card. This will enable me to potentially seek a second opinion with another veterinary behaviorist, begin saving up for her upcoming spay (which was estimated at approximately $3,000), and take a load off of my shoulders. I am a low income person, and if I had a crystal ball to see the financial burden that Astra would end up placing on me, I would have done many things differently. However, I am committed to being the best guardian I possibly can be for her.