Sass & Mia of Blue Man Dog need a hand

For those who don't know, our founder director (and lead foster, trainer, organizer, accountant, therapist, backup foster, driver, and angel), Mia Gyzander, has been a key figure in the LA Rescue community for over a decade. She has helped so many, and often for free -- for the sake of the dogs. She has shepherded owners, fosters, and other rescuers through the most challenging cases of fear, aggression, anxiety, insecurity, biting, leash reactivity, neurosis ... you name it. She spent years bringing the most difficult dogs into her home and rehabilitating them where others had given up. We've met multiple dogs that other trainers or vets recommended for euthanasia as "lost causes", who were rehabilitated with Mia and successfully placed into forever homes. When even she felt that a foster dog was not suitable for safely adopting out -- she kept them herself. She still cares for 2 such dogs right now, loved as her own, with their emotional and physical needs met.

In founding Blue Man Dog, Mia wanted to focus specifically on rehabilitating dogs with behavior issues (and on seniors - we love seniors). Her tenacity, talent, patience in educating others, and above all, compassion keep Blue Man Dog afloat, leaving us all wondering how a single person can make such a resounding impact.

Despite all of this (or perhaps because those who give the most ask the least), Mia would never ask for help. However, the rest of the BMD team decided that we wanted you (adopters, clients, friends, rescue community members, compassionate dog-lovers), to have a chance to help Mia herself, personally.

Earlier this year, her own dog Sass' health took a turn for the worse. With a combination of organ issues that the doctors could not definitively address due to conflicting treatments, they shuttled back and forth 14+ times to the ER, with hours in the parking lots, sleepless nights, multiple hospitalizations each running $1500+ a night, along with medications, food, injections, supplements, treatments and feeding tube.


Some might question this choice, but true to her understanding and connection to animals, she was right to do it. Sass made a recovery shocking all of us. He's put on weight and has been frolicking around like the little muppet he is! In the process, however, nearly all of her personal emergency funds set aside for dogs and for herself were depleted. Sass's care continues to incur costs. The bill to date is around $18,000. 

Please note that Blue Man Dog rescue funds are not related to Mia's personal accounts whatsoever, so this platform is specifically for Mia to rebuild a safety net for both her and the dogs in her care. Please consider helping out for someone who has paid it forward a million times over. Thank you.