Nox is a 7-year-old Doberman in Murrieta, CA, who needs $2,000 for splenectomy with biopsy.

I was in an abusive marriage, and had never been a dog person but my then-spouse wanted a dog. Nox arrived at 8 weeks old on March 28th, 2014...and I fell in LOVE! He has only left my side a handful of times in the past 7 years, and was the catalyst for me to leave the abuse, because I couldn't allow someone to treat a puppy that way.

I am disabled, and trained Nox in many service tasks, including: balance assistance/bracing, alerting/waking if sedated, tactile stimulation to disrupt compulsive or harmful behaviors and to provide reality affirmation, escape assistance, deep pressure therapy, and fear/panic management. He is so smart, loving, and completely in tune with my health and emotional state. I am so lucky to have him.

I have applied for disability and am waiting for that to resolve. I have a room in my friend's apartment in the meantime, no income, and live very simply. 2020/Covid economic issues wiped out what little I had saved for any Nox health needs beyond standard wellness care.

2 weeks ago he started having a host of symptoms, mostly digestive, so I took him to Epic Emergency Clinic. The X-rays found a splenic mass. Following up with his regular vet, Dr. Teresi (Temecula Creek Vet), as the growth could be cancerous or rupture, she recommended a splenectomy asap. I've made the appt with Mountainview Hospital in Lake Elsinore for February 17th.

I have frequent, often very severe, panic attacks. Nox witnessed me having a few panic attacks over the course of a week (he was maybe 4 months old at this point) and during the next one, he came over, pressed his face into me just below my chin, and started taking these loud, slow, deep breaths. He has continued to do it every time, and is able to help me into a calmer state so much more quickly.