Hi, my name is Corie, and my husband Brian and I are reaching out for support for our beloved dog, River.

River is our 6-year-old German Shepherd, full of energy, goofy charm, and unconditional love. He’s the kind of dog who wins your heart instantly—and gives his whole heart back without hesitation.

A few months ago, River began limping, stumbling, and showing clear discomfort in his back legs. After visiting the vet and orthopedic surgeon, we learned he has arthritis in both hind knees as well as a torn (or partially torn) ligament. The vets strongly recommended surgery, reassuring us that “knees can be fixed” and that, with treatment, River has every chance of returning to his happy, active life.

The recommended procedure is a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) on both knees. This surgery will stabilize his joints and allow him to move freely again. The estimate for the surgeries is over $10,800—a cost that is overwhelming for us, but one we are determined to meet for River’s sake.

UPDATE: We may have found a vet in Oceanside, WA, who will perform the surgery $4200/knee. We are yet to see the vet and therefore this is a ballpark estimate, but this is really hopeful! Bringing the cost down by over $2000.

Brian and I are in a season of growth in both our personal and professional lives. I recently celebrated my one-year anniversary of moving to the U.S. after 18 months of immigration limbo, and I’m now pursuing my Master’s in Counselling Psychology, with the dream of providing accessible mental health support in our community. Brian is in his second year of owning and operating EcoClean Pressure Washing, a local exterior cleaning business, where I now work alongside him. We’re learning, growing, and pushing ourselves daily—but this unexpected expense is more than we can manage alone.

We’re people who have always believed in working harder to make it through challenges. But this time, we’re trying something new: leaning into community, and asking for help.

If you’re able to contribute—whether financially or by sharing our story—we would be so deeply grateful. Every bit of support brings us closer to giving River the pain-free, joy-filled life he deserves.

Thank you for helping our boy walk, run, and play again ❤️

Corie and Brian