Support Mazzy's Second Chance at Life!

Hi I'm Brenna.

And this is Mazzy ♥︎.

(Mazzy the Minx)

Mazzy is an extraordinary creature; a big goofball and a big lover who has been given a second shot at life! She just needs a whole lot of love (and training) so she can be ready to thrive with her furever family ♥️.

I decided to foster Mazzy at the end of November, on her final day on death row at a kill shelter (SEAACA in Downey, which euthanizes dogs if they're not adopted within a few months.) Mazzy would have been killed that day if I didn't come for her. Instead, she walked out of the cold, lonely outdoor kennel and into my arms in my tiny home in Topanga, CA.

I had reached out to as many rescue organizations as humanly possible to see if they could support me in fostering her, but those who got back to me at all said they were at capacity.

So I picked Mazzy up myself and decided to care for her in my home (a studio guesthouse), out of pocket and out of love, until we find her perfect home.

It’s been a beautiful, heart expanding, challenging journey and has shown me so much about myself, my courage, and my edges. Something about this creature has cracked me wide open ♥️.

(Mazzy the Lover)

Mazzy is such a character! She is BIG LOVE and BIG ENERGY! She loves to snuggle, RUN, and play.

She also has a past and has some anxiety that can show up in certain protection / aggression triggers (particularly when on leash or behind a barrier or fence.) She was found as a stray in Bell Gardens before being brought to the shelter. The rest of her story is a mystery (I wish she spoke English and could tell us everything!)

The LAST thing we want is for Mazzy to enter back into the shelter system and risk her being put back on the euth list.

So I’m committed to helping her integrate into her new life. I’m making sure we make the best of her second chance ♥︎.

Mazzy is around 2 years old. She is playful with dogs and humans when off-leash in safe environments but is easily triggered on-leash and is hyper protective of barriers. While it’s clear she doesn't have much previous training, she’s extremely loyal, intelligent, and eager to learn. With the right immersive training protocol (and continued love rehabilitation), Mazzy is totally capable of being an all-around great dog.

We’ve done a few sessions with trainers and have really started to see progress. But we need persistence, and we want to set her up to thrive with her forever family when we find them. I would LOVE to work with local trainers on a regular and consistent basis, which is where we are seeking support.

(Mazzy the Adventurer)

Between training, vet visits, food, leashes, collars, harnesses, toys, treats (you should see how fast she takes down a giant bone), occasional dog walker / boarding fees, energy and TIME…..Mazzy has already been quite an expensive mission.

After the shelter, Mazzy needed more vaccinations, some vet testing, parasite medication, and so many little extra things that have all added up. She is due for a follow-up visit, and now is the time to really take her training journey seriously.

Most pet fosters foster through a rescue organization which helps with bills and finding a home. In this case, it’s all come from me! Incidentally, during a season I’ve had major cutbacks in work, which has created extra time for me to give to Mazzy, but also a limited budget.

This beautiful beast has been MY LIFE for the past 2 months. It's been a labor of love to say the least, but she’s also given me so much love and so many lessons in return.

(Mazzy the Goofball)

While she is worth every minute and every penny I’ve spent on her, I could use some financial support to get Mazzy the training support she really needs to live the life of a happy, healthy, social, adventurous doggo.

I would LOVE to start doing training sessions once or twice a week as well as invest in some pack hikes (long group hikes with other dogs) and doggy daycare sessions so she can continue to learn doggy social skills in safe environments. Two crucial next steps in her training are also learning to work with an E-collar and a crate on a regular basis.

(Mazzy the Goofball pt deux)

THE COST BREAKDOWN:

♥︎ A reliable and safe E-Collar is $250

(This is an electric training collar with a remote with a sound setting and a vibrate setting. The shock stimulation setting is only used in emergency situations. (*** see note at the bottom for more on this.)

♥︎ A good crate (and the fixin's) are around $150

♥︎ Regular training for the next few months will be around $1800

UPDATE: While on a hike with Mazzy, we met a local couple who does dog training at a much more affordable rate than I have found yet! They come to our house and work with daily issues, and can help Mazzy and I as we adjust to using the crate and training collar. They are amazing and we are so grateful we serendipitously connected with them ♥︎

♥︎ Pack hikes are $60/hike

♥︎ Doggy Daycare will be $40/day when she is ready (we were currently quoted $105/day - $40 + an extra $65 for 1:1 attention as she integrates her social doggy anxiety.)

As long as Mazzy is local, she can keep coming back to the daycare / training session to spend time with humans and doggies she knows which would be great!

♥︎ Her upcoming vet visit will be $70-$165

(depending whether she needs another round of medication.)

Considering all I’ve already spent in the last 2 months, and with the intention to embark (pun intended) on a structured protocol on this next step of our journey together, I am hoping to raise $2.5k to invest in the BEST care and training for Mazzy. This doesn’t include her basic needs like foods, treats, toys, daily care, snuggles and hikes, which I will continue to cover myself.

If I was in a more financially abundant moment, I would invest in Mazzy's training all on my own. But I have already given her more of my time and energy than I knew I was capable of and we really are so grateful for the support!

If I was in her shoes (paws), I'd hope someone cared enough to do the same for me ♥︎.

(Mazzy the Model)

Mazzy and I have developed quite a deep bond, but I know there is a different home that is more ideal for her needs.

My IDEAL situation would be finding a local family for Mazzy, so I can stay in her life to some capacity, but she has access to more space, a big yard, and maybe another doggy sibling!

I will continue to do everything I can to set her up to live out a beautiful life with a family who can offer her lots of love, adventure, and space to run, play and be the sweet, zany creature she is ♥︎.

I just need a little help $$$.

Anything you are inspired donate is SO appreciated, even if just a few dollars.

Please share Mazzy's story (this link) with any doggy lovers or rescue organizations that may want to support, or anyone who may be searching for their perfect, wild four-legged companion.

I’m so grateful to be surrounded by community, and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with the gorgeous, quirky, spunky, wild, wise creature who is Mazzy ♥︎.

(Mazzy the Rockstar)

***A note about E-collars and crates.

I am such a believer in freedom for all beings and cruelty-free training so there is a part of me that initially was against using an E-collar and a crate.

As I have come to understand dog training on a deeper level, and gotten to know Mazzy and understand her breed (Shepherd/Malinois, likely), her level of drive and her triggers, I see that these tools will actually support her immensely.

They’ll help her learn to self regulate, and help break her fear-reaction patterns so she can be happier and less anxious. This extra lesson in discipline will create more freedom in the long run! What we want is to eventually trust Mazzy as a safe and friendly dog out anywhere in the world, not just with special attention or in a controlled environment, so she can flourish in her perfect home ♥︎.

P.S. I know there is a lot going on in the world and one pup’s journey may not seem like the most pressing issue. In my world, however, saving Mazzy has been the center of my universe for the last couple months, and I’m willing to do anything I can to help her live a beautiful life, even get out of my comfort zone and ask for support!