He works as a therapy dog at a local burn center ❤️️
About three and a half years ago, Taka suffered severe burns after being trapped in a house fire, barely making it out alive. He was then taken to Care More Animal Hospital in Martinez, Georgia, where the dedicated team saved his life. Thanks to their prompt intervention, Taka survived and began his recovery journey.
Due to the extent of Taka’s injuries, his family decided to surrender him to the veterinary practice so he could receive the best care possible. This decision allowed Taka to slowly adjust to his new life. Since then, the hospital team has become his devoted guardians on his path to recovery.
“Taka went through an extended recovery process after his burns,” shared Crystal Lesley, a team member at Care More Animal Hospital and Taka’s adoptive mom, in an interview with The Dodo. “It was a gradual journey. The initial phase took around 4 to 6 weeks. Even after that, he still had two areas that weren’t healing, so the JMS Burn Center contacted me, offering their assistance.”
Taka’s life has transformed entirely since the fire. His vision is now severely limited, and he has almost no depth perception, making navigation challenging. While his burns have healed, they were so intense that the fur in those areas never grew back. Given all he’s endured, he’s understandably sensitive to changes in his environment. To help him feel secure and at ease, his family maintains a consistent daily routine.
Despite these challenges, Taka’s resilience shines through—none of it has slowed him down.
“[He] is the strongest, bravest little fighter you will ever meet,” Lesley said. “He is an extremely feisty dog and nothing gets him down. He loves life!
Once Taka recovered, Lesley realized his story could inspire others, so she trained him as a therapy dog and began taking him to a local burn center to visit and comfort patients. He quickly grew to love this role, and patients who shared similar experiences found great comfort in meeting him.
The Burn Unit patients adore Taka,” Lesley said. “They love petting him, taking pictures, and hearing his story. He really lifts their spirits.” Taka even became the hero of a new coloring book released by the burn center and got to help distribute copies to children—a task he seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
Since the pandemic, Taka’s therapy visits have decreased, and now, as he’s getting older, he tires more easily. Lesley has been careful not to overcommit him, but he still brings joy through occasional visits and online interactions. At the vet hospital where Lesley works, he also comforts other injured dogs, continuing to touch lives wherever he goes.
Taka has been through so much, but he’s never let it get him down, and his family is still in awe of him every single day.
“When you have a bad day or start feeling bad about your life, look at Taka,” Lesley said. “He is the epitome of strength … He has changed my life greatly. He is my inspiration.”
You can follow Taka on Instagram and Facebook.
