On October 23, 2018, tragedy struck a Georgia family when their home caught fire. Though the children made it out safely, their nine-year-old Shiba Inu, Taka, was trapped inside. As the porch collapsed, Taka fell through and somehow managed to escape, still on fire, to a neighbor’s house.

The neighbors quickly contacted Dr. Crystal Lesley, a veterinarian at Care More Animal Hospital. “He was still smoking when they found him,” Lesley recalled. “We had never encountered a burn victim this severe. We were terrified he wouldn’t make it.”

Taka was in such intense pain that he had to be sedated for examination. Despite the odds, Lesley was determined to save him.

❤️ Community Rallies for Taka

After Taka’s story was shared on the clinic’s Facebook page, it went viral. Donations poured in to help with his treatment. But just days into recovery, Taka’s pain worsened, prompting Lesley to rush him to South Carolina Veterinary Specialists.

“He and I laid on the floor crying together,” she said. Taka remained there for six weeks. Lesley visited on weekends, never giving up.

When he returned, she cared for him daily changing bandages and tending to his wounds. It was then they discovered Taka couldn’t blink, a condition that threatened his long-term comfort and eye health.

A nurse at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center stepped in. Moved by his journey, the burn center offered to perform skin grafts and reconstructive surgery for free. Taka can now blink again, thanks to their generosity.

🏡 A Forever Home and a New Purpose

Due to the high level of care Taka needed, his original family made the difficult decision to surrender him to the clinic. Lesley, who had been fostering him throughout his recovery, realized she couldn’t let him go.

She adopted him, and soon afterward, a nurse at the burn center suggested Taka visit burned children to comfort them a perfect match, given his sweet and silly nature.

🐕 Training to Be a Therapy Dog

To work with young burn victims, Taka needed his Therapy Dog certification. Lesley partnered with trainer Mandy Foster, and Taka took to training enthusiastically. The toughest challenge? Learning to “stay” in public. But he eventually mastered it.

On July 26, Taka passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, a major milestone. “I’m so proud of him,” Lesley said. “Just thinking back to how far he’s come is so emotional.”

Now, they’re preparing to visit burn victims and share hope where it’s needed most.

🐾 Want Your Dog to Become a Therapy Dog?

It all begins with Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training. Look for a CGC class or evaluator near you and see if your dog has the heart and temperament to help others just like Taka.