Dakota is a 9 year old Mix-Breed in Washington, DC, who needs $8,975 for Pacemaker Surgery.

Dakota, or Koda, came into my life when I was 19 and he was 4 months old. He had been abused and was terrified of people, but with time, patience, and love, he learned he was finally safe. For almost 10 years, he’s been my best friend, my soul dog, and my constant through every chapter of life. He shares our home with his sister, Mischa, and I truly can’t imagine life without him.

Koda went in for what was supposed to be a routine dental cleaning, but he almost didn’t make it home to us. The anesthesia revealed a second degree AV block in heart. This means his heart is only beating 1/2 the time it tries to. His cardiologist at CVCA let us know that he now has a risk of sudden death and that pacemaker surgery could save his life.

Koda has the gentlest soul. After surviving abuse, he learned to trust and love again. He carries his red panda plushy around and is only a fan of cuddling his toys instead of chewing them. He loves kids, all animals, and anyone willing to give him a cuddle. He’s protective of his mommy, and never misses a chance to howl when a fire truck passes. He’s my little fox, he loves to sleep like a donut!

Koda’s diagnosis was completely unexpected. I have exhausted every resource to cover his care, but the cost of his lifesaving surgery is beyond what I can afford alone. He means everything to me, I can’t imagine life without him.