We’ve all heard inspiring stories of dogs saving lives, inspiring people, and doing downright amazing things, and this is one of those stories. This Shiba Inu who was severely burned in a house fire is now paying it forward by becoming a service dog who comforts burn victims.
This is such an incredible and heartwarming story!
Taka is a Shiba Inu who nearly died in a house fire, but survived and later began comforting other burn victims
When 8-year-old Taka’s house caught fire on October 23, 2018, the poor pooch was caught inside the porch and trapped behind the screen door with the fire raging out of control.
The family did everything they could to try and say him, but the entire home was engulfed in flames so they couldn’t get to their beloved dog in time to rescue him from the fire.
That’s when Taka’s instinct to survive took over and he found a way to escape, running down the street horribly burnt
It was a miracle that Takes escaped, but the frightened dog took off and they had no idea where he ran to. The family was distraught, but luckily one of their neighbors came across the burnt pup and immediately rushed him to Care More Animal Hospital, in Martinez, Georgia.
Veterinarian, Emily Martin, received Taka when he got to the animal clinic in horrible condition from the extensive burns all over his face and body.
“He had burns around his eyes, his mouth, his ears, his belly. We really didn’t know how severe his injuries were initially, just because we had to worry about inhalation burns.” She recounted to The Dodo.
When Taka began having trouble breathing, he was transferred to the University of Georgia clinic and hooked up to an oxygen machine
After two days he was brought back to Care More but was then transferred to VCA Veterinary Specialists in Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent over a month recovering.
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Taka’s story pulled heartstrings all over their community, so the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital, reached out to help with the skin grafts he needed.
Taka spent months in the intensive care unit, before a technician from Care More, Crystal Lesley, adopted him and his road to helping burn victims began
Thanks to all the people and hospitals that helped, Taka went from burn victim to burn survivor, and soon would be helping other burn victims.
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His new mom, Crystal, realized that Taka was a natural at making people smile and thought it would be wonderful if the resilient pooch could help other people who are going through the same thing he went through.
“Of course he has the scars to show for it and he can relate to a lot of the people there so I think it’s going to benefit both him and the patients there.” Said Crystal.
Crystal contacted the local burn center, and Taka began his certification to become a therapy dog for other burn victims
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Taka received his Canine Good Citizen certification last July and is now comforting patients at the burn center with his loving nature and miraculous story. Crystal also thought she would document Taka’s journey, so she created a Facebook page where people can follow his story.
This is such an inspiring story, to see Taka still smiling and helping people after everything he’s been through is beyond incredible.
To see more on Taka’s journey, just watch the video below!
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