When Brittany read Sailor’s story in the summer of 2015, she immediately felt a connection to the lonely, pitiful pooch.
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Sailor had been rescued from a neglectful living situation in Mexico. He was dirty, matted, covered in fleas, and had suffered a wound to his left rear leg. A severe infection had developed in the wound due to lack of care and medical attention. Unfortunately, Sailor’s leg could not be saved. He underwent amputation surgery shortly after his rescue.
After weeks of attempting to bring Sailor from Mexico to Texas, Brittany was finally able to adopt him on August 12, 2015.
The two share a connection that most of us could never comprehend. Brittany suffers from a disease called Neurofibromatosis that causes severe pain, tumor growth on the nerves, brain, and spine, high blood pressure, anxiety, and other debilitating symptoms.
From the moment Sailor and Brittany rescued one another, the dog just seemed to understand Brittany’s needs. He is her constant companion, staying vigilantly by her side. His presence has already helped to regulate Brittany’s blood pressure and allow her to remain calm in situations that previously induced panic attacks.
Brittany is only 24 years old, and as she ages and goes through hormonal changes, her condition may worsen. She believes he has what it takes to not only calm her during an attack, but also to sense an oncoming episode and warn her ahead of time. After initially hoping to train Sailor as her medical alert service dog, she’s decided not to potentially put added stress on his three legs.
She does still hope to equip Sailor with a custom made prosthetic limb. Although he gets around easily as a “tri-pawd,” the strain on his remaining three limbs could eventually catch up to him. Sailor loves to run and play and never lets his disability slow him down. Brittany wants to ensure that he never has to suffer from the wounds of his past again.
A GoFundMe page has been created in order to help Brittany raise the funds necessary to set an alternative plan in motion. That is, to train Sailor as a therapy dog who visits disabled and sick children.
Her top priority is to have Sailor fitted for his prosthetic limb. Once this goal is reached they will begin a three-tiered training program at a highly rated obedience center, in addition to his therapy dog training classes.
Any support is appreciated, even if it’s just a few kind words of encouragement! Follow Brittany and Sailor on Instagram to see photos and updates of their journey, and feel free to share their story! If you would like to contribute financially to their campaign, you can make a secure donation on their GoFundMe page.
Featured Image via Im.A.Little.Tripawd/Instagram
