About three and a half years ago, Taka was severely burned after being trapped in a house fire, from which he barely escaped. The dog was taken to Care More Animal Hospital in Martinez, Georgia, whose team saved his life. Because the pet's injuries were so serious, his family decided to leave him under the care of a veterinary clinic to help him adapt to his new life.
Very long he was getting better. His treatment was divided into stages. The first one lasted about 6 weeks. After this time, he still had two spots on his body that would not heal, so the JMS Burn Treatment Center contacted me and asked for help. Says Crystal Lesley, a member of the Care More Animal Hospital staff and the mother of the pooch.
Irreversible changes
Now the pooch's life is completely different than before the fire. He no longer sees as well as he used to, and has almost no depth perception, so moving around can be difficult for him. And while his burns healed, they were so severe that the fur in those places never grew back. After all he has been through, the changes could be frightening to him, so you have to stick to a strict routine to keep Taka safe and comfortable. Crystal says.
Fortunately, nothing could slow this pooch down!
He is the strongest and bravest little fighter you will ever meet. He's never angry. He just loves life. – admits Crystal Lesley.
Support for other patients
As the pooch recovered, Lesley thought other people might benefit from meeting Taka and hearing his story. So she decided to train him to be a therapy dog and began taking him to a local burn center so that he could support all the patients there.
Patients love Taka right away
They want him stroke him, take pictures with him and learn his story. He definitely brightens their day. He also became the hero of a new coloring book that was created by the center. When it was released, he walked around and handed it out to the children. He loved it! – says Crystal Lesley.
When the pandemic broke out, Taka wasn't able to do as much therapy work as he used to. He also gets older and gets tired faster, so his mom doesn't want to involve him in too many tasks.
Even so, he still inspires people through occasional visits and even helps comfort other dogs at the vet, where his mother works.
Taka has been through a lot, but still he never let anything stop him
When you are having a bad day, just look at Takah. He is the embodiment of strength … He changed my life a lot. He is my inspiration. – adds Crystal Lesley.
