Support a Breast Cancer Warrior for a Special Service Dog

Hello the house! For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Katrina Lovelady and I am a Breast Cancer Warrior

I have recently undergone a whirlwind year and a half of chemo, mastectomy, radiation, and reconstruction. While I am currently clear as of my latest MRI, I am having residual struggles. I had previously been diagnosed with ME/CFS, which I had been able to live in control of. That has definitely flared to life, and I am dealing with CRF and POTS symptoms, ugly side effects from my hormone therapy medications to prevent recurrence, and the biggie of radiation fibrosis in my right lung. Radiation treatment was very difficult for me due to my temporary implant, so I had many more daily scans than usual that caused extra scar tissue.

I have researched getting a service dog to not only help me with mobility issues of low walking steadiness and dizziness but also for tasking of retrieving items for me. The big tasks would also include alerting for the medication side effects, which can flare suddenly, but also the heart rate variability and POTS symptoms of dizziness and greying out.

Most SD organizations provide you with a dog and training, but you have to travel to them for short-term training and vetting, and the dog ultimately belongs to them and can be removed for many reasons. I have found an amazing trainer and breeder of Cane Corsos right in my neck of the woods that I can do long-term work with. Laura of Meraki K-9 had agreed to work with me and help me find one of her pups that will be appropriate. She knows exactly what I need as she has raised several service dogs for herself for similar tasks. Usually, I’m an adopt-don’t-shop gal for our family pets, but since this is very specialized, it seems this is the fitting option. She has 2 pups born a couple of weeks ago that might work, but we won’t know for a few weeks until they can be temperament tested. If not, she has future litters, and the universe will provide the right dog at the right time. This is too important to force into place.

This process of raising, training, and bonding with the pup will likely take a couple of years, working a little at a time. The puppy and first set of 8 weeks of training will be close to $6,000, and more 8-week sessions will be about $1,800 each. By the time it is all said and done in about 2 years, this may be close to $10,000. I firmly believe the universe has provided appropriately during this entire cancer journey and will continue to do so with the aftermath.

The support I have received from family, friends, and friends who are family is what has gotten me through this. The thoughts, prayers, good vibes, juju, and LOVE are what has helped me the most.

I appreciate any way anyone wants to support me further and humbly receive the generosity, big or small.