Send Shelby to Sydney!

Update: First and foremost, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your incredible generosity and support. Your contributions have made a significant impact on Shelby's journey. However, despite our collective efforts, we fell short of reaching our target, and today was scheduled to be Shelby's surgery date. Nevertheless, we have received positive news - the Japanese specialists have agreed to see Shelby in Japan and we are hopeful that with this opportunity, we can still provide Shelby with the care she needs. Currently, we are working on the logistics to ensure Shelby's safe travel and treatment.

Your ongoing support and encouragement mean the world to us, and we remain optimistic about Shelby's future. Thank you once again for standing by us in this challenging time.❤️‍



My name is Christine, and I’m reaching out to you with an urgent plea for help, for someone very dear to us - Shelby.

Over the years, Shelby has touched the hearts of many people with her beautiful and bubbly personality. Unfortunately, her heart is so full of love, it’s now failing her!

Shelby has been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease, specifically Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration with severe regurgitation and she requires urgent, life-saving surgery to prolong her life.

Shelby is more than a furry friend; she’s patiently assisted countless Applied Vocational Training (AVT) students. AVT is a registered training organisation in Perth WA, offering Animal Care, Veterinary Nursing, Equine Care and Behaviour courses. Shelby’s gentle demeanour and wagging tail has provided so much support during student practical training sessions. Now, as Shelby faces her own health challenge, I hope you can rally around her and return the love she's so generously given.

What is Mitral Valve Disease?

The mitral valve prevents backflow and supports the function of the left ventricle (main pumping chamber of the heart). When it fails to close properly, it allows the blood to travel backward into the upper left chamber of the heart (left atrium). Leakage increases blood volume and pressure in the left atrium. If the regurgitation is severe, the increased pressure results in congestive heart failure (fluid build-up in the lungs). Death usually occurs within a year after symptoms of heart failure being diagnosed.

The bright side: There is a surgery available to improve/fix the disease and offer long-term survival (an additional 7 years on average)!

The challenge – and the reason we need your help: It is an extremely specialised surgery, which requires Dr Masami Uechiteam and his team of highly skilled Veterinarians to travel from Japan to Sydney to carry out the surgery and therefore has an approximate cost of $55,000 AUD.

Earlier this month, we received the news that not only is Shelby a good candidate for the breakthrough surgery, but she is one of only three dogs selected to received it in May 2024!

We cannot do this alone. Shelby desperately needs your help. Your contribution, whether big or small, will make an enormous difference in Shelby's life and in the hearts of those who love her.

Please consider donating to Shelby's medical fund and sharing her story with your friends and family. Together, we can give Shelby the chance she deserves to live a full and happy life once more.

With deepest gratitude,

Christine

P.S. We promise to keep you updated on Shelby's progress every step of the way. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.