Ra is a 10-year-old mixed breed in Van Nuys, CA, who needs $2,000 for MRI & Hemilaminectomy.

I found him on the street years ago. He was bleeding and wandering the streets alone. He had been bitten, so I believe that someone either tried to use him to fight other dogs and then dumped him after realizing he wasn’t a fighter; or someone used him as a bait dog and somehow he escaped. When I found him, he walked right up to me without any hesitation or fear, and we have been together since.

He is extremely affectionate and he loves everyone, all humans, dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, everyone! He loves to cuddle and to receive affection. He is extremely intelligent. He learned in one day how to ring a door bell to alert me when he wants to go outside. When he meets a smaller dog, he instinctually will lay down so that he is not taller than the other dog. He loves belly rubs!

He is EXTREMELY gentle. When he is offered anything to eat from one's hand, he takes it VERY GENTLY; he does that naturally/intuitively and didn't have to be taught that. When he sleeps, he is a loud snorer :) He loves to sit in one's lap, and he thinks he is a small lap dog trapped in the body of big dog. He loves to sleep in the bed, but it doesn't always work out well because he snores! :)

He rear legs suddenly stopped working. They are paralyzed. I took him to Access Specialty Animal Hospital San Fernando in Woodland Hills and they conducted x-rays and blood work and everything was normal. I paid $1,100 for those tests and also medications, which I had to borrow because I have extremely limited income. The next step is to perform an MRI ($3,000) and then surgery ($10,000).

I have very little income. I can't even afford treatment for my own medical issues, one of which is a painful sciatic nerve/back issue which has become even worse now because I have to pick him up 6 times a day to change his diapers. He weighs almost 80 pounds, half my weight.