Mirka Anguiano

Family and friends of Mirka Anguiano are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a catastrophic illness. Mirka has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to visit my campaign.

I am taking an important step toward greater independence, safety, and peace of mind by raising funds to acquire and train a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD). Severe anxiety, hypervigilance, and sleep disturbances have significantly affected my daily life, particularly when I am alone or navigating public spaces.

With guidance from my medical care team, I am pursuing a psychiatric service dog trained to perform specific tasks that help mitigate the effects of my disability. My goal is to build a more stable, independent life with the support of a reliable working partner.

Reaching this goal requires a substantial financial commitment. Through this campaign, I hope to make the cost of acquiring, raising, and professionally training my future service dog more manageable.

Meet My Future Service Dog

I plan to welcome a Rottweiler puppy from Riverview Ranch Rottweilers, a preservation breeder, with the goal of selecting a puppy whose health and temperament are suited to service work.

I have chosen to pursue this breed because I am looking for a dog with the potential to provide grounding through physical contact, work calmly alongside me, and learn reliable disability-mitigating tasks. Individual temperament, health, and suitability will be essential in selecting the right puppy.

My future service dog will need consistent training, professional guidance, and ongoing practice over an extended period. I plan to work with Lost Creek Training Academy in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, toward the skills needed for safe, reliable psychiatric service work.

Planned Psychiatric Service Dog Tasks

Training will focus on specific tasks that support my disability-related needs, including:

• Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) and Grounding: Providing trained, appropriate physical pressure or contact to help interrupt escalating anxiety and support grounding during episodes of distress or dissociation.

• Tactile Interruption: Using trained nudges or other gentle physical cues to interrupt escalating hypervigilance and redirect my attention toward grounding.

• Environmental-Awareness Positioning: Learning handler-focused positioning and movement skills that support my awareness of my surroundings while I navigate toward safety when feeling overwhelmed.

• Public Access Skills: Developing calm behavior, reliable responses to cues, and the ability to remain focused on trained tasks in appropriate public settings.

Each task will be developed with professional guidance, with consideration for the dog’s welfare, physical comfort, and individual abilities. My goal is a dependable service partner who helps me manage difficult situations without relying on the dog to confront or threaten other people.

Why Your Support Matters

Acquiring and training a psychiatric service dog is a significant, multi-year investment. The costs extend beyond purchasing a puppy to include professional instruction, veterinary care, preventative medications, appropriate equipment, and the supplies needed to support a growing dog.

My projected campaign goal is $37,500, allocated as follows.

Projected Campaign Budget

1. Service Dog Acquisition — $4,000

Funds to purchase a carefully selected Rottweiler puppy from Riverview Ranch Rottweilers. Health, temperament, and suitability for the intended work will be important considerations in the selection process.

2. Professional Training Program — $30,000

An estimated two-year training budget for work with Lost Creek Training Academy in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. This allocation is intended to support foundational obedience, appropriate public access skills, and specialized psychiatric task training, including grounding, deep pressure therapy, and other disability-mitigating behaviors.

3. Veterinary Care and Preventative Health — $2,500

An estimated budget for essential veterinary care during the first two years through Midtown Animal Hospital in Gering, Nebraska. Anticipated expenses include puppy vaccinations, wellness examinations, microchipping, heartworm and flea/tick prevention, and spay/neuter surgery when medically and developmentally appropriate.

4. Equipment, Service Gear, and Nutrition — $1,000

Funds for appropriate working equipment, identification patches and gear, training aids, grounding mats, and quality nutrition to support healthy growth and development.

Total Projected Campaign Goal: $37,500

These figures are planning estimates and may change as training needs, veterinary recommendations, and actual vendor costs are confirmed. Funds will be used in accordance with Help Hope Live’s policies and approved expenses.

How Your Support Will Make a Difference

I am committed to putting in the time, effort, and consistency needed to help my future service dog develop the skills required for this role. Professional training will be an important part of that process, alongside daily practice, ongoing veterinary care, and a strong focus on the dog’s well-being.

Help Hope Live provides a nonprofit fundraising framework for people facing significant medical-related expenses. Subject to campaign approval and program requirements, donations are managed through the organization and used for eligible expenses rather than treated as unrestricted personal income. Please consult Help Hope Live for details about donation tax deductibility and approved uses of campaign funds.

Your support will help me work toward a service dog partnership that can make everyday activities more manageable, help me respond to difficult moments, and support my ability to participate in daily life with greater confidence.

Thank You for Being Part of My Journey

I am doing what I can to make this goal possible, but the cost of acquiring and training a service dog is more than I can comfortably manage on my own.

Every contribution, regardless of size, brings me closer to making this journey possible. Sharing my campaign can also make a meaningful difference by helping it reach people who may be willing to support or encourage me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your kindness and encouragement, and for considering being part of this journey toward greater independence, stability, and peace of mind.

Your support means more than helping me bring home a dog. It helps me work toward a future in which I can face daily challenges with additional support, greater confidence, and a trained partner by my side.