Meet Copper, a devoted four-year-old Doberman who thinks the world of his family. When his owner, Jennifer Jayne, first welcomed him into their home, she expected him to be just a regular family dog. However, Copper soon showed just how smart and caring he truly is.
One evening in 2016, Copper suddenly dashed to the bedroom of Jennifer’s son, Connor, and began barking urgently at the door. Sensing something was wrong, Jennifer hurried to check. To her surprise and fear, she found Connor having a seizure. Terrified, she quickly called for an ambulance.
Following this incident, Jennifer decided to have Copper registered as a service and emotional support dog. From that day on, Copper became Connor’s full-time guardian.
Connor faces many challenges, including nocturnal seizures, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, and a chronic headache disorder. Whenever Connor is about to have an anxiety attack, Copper presses against him like a weighted blanket, which helps soothe and calm him down.
In 2017, Copper started having health problems of his own. He began limping badly, prompting Jennifer to take him to the vet. The veterinarian suspected that Copper might have Wobbler’s Disease. To confirm, Copper needed MRIs, and afterward, he would require laser therapy to ease the pain in his spine. The cost was overwhelming, and Jennifer knew she needed assistance to afford his treatment. She set up a GoFundMe page to share Copper’s story with others.
Then, Connor did something that touched everyone’s hearts. He decided to hold a garage sale to sell most of his toys, saying that helping Copper was more important to him than keeping them.
Copper and Connor’s touching story moved many people, and soon Jennifer raised over $14,000 on her GoFundMe page. She mentioned that any money left after Copper’s treatment would go toward helping other dogs like him.
“Your donations have helped make this therapy possible! It is very expensive and without your generosity we would not have the options we do so we thank you, so very much,” Jennifer wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Jennifer took Copper for his MRIs and received hopeful news. The vet believed there was a good chance he didn’t have Wobbler’s Disease. Instead, the problem seemed to be in his spine and muscles. Because of that, the vets thought that extensive laser therapy and rehabilitation could help heal him.
Copper recently began his laser therapy sessions. Jennifer shared a video on Copper’s Facebook page, showing the brave dog receiving his first treatment.
He was severely malnourished, with his body wasting away. His matted hair had accumulated not only urine, but also feces, leaving him with painful open wounds.
Connor is staying by Copper’s side throughout his treatment. The two even wear matching goggles during Copper’s laser therapy!
Connor and Copper are doing an amazing job of looking after each other—it’s clear that they share an incredible and unbreakable bond. If you’d like to learn more about Copper’s journey, check out his Facebook page.
Toledo, United States.
