Shaman Surgery Fundraiser

Hi. My name is Robin Ruel. Two years ago I reached out to the Salt Spring community for help to cover extensive and expensive knee surgery for my affectionate and often high-energy husky/lab, Shaman. You were kind and generous, and I am still very grateful for the more than $1000 I received to offset his then-$5800 surgery.

I was told by Dr. Sukhiani, the surgeon at Vancouver Island Veterinary Surgery, that dogs receiving a TPLO (tibial-plateau-leveling oseotomy) are 50-80% likely to need the operation on the second knee over time; but I wasn't worried about that. Shaman and I would take good care.

His December 2020 surgery and recovery went well, and after many months of careful rehab, he was strong enough to hit the trails again off-leash.

He hit two before tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

July 2021, at Eleanor Point in the South End, he spent the afternoon exploring along the shore and running along the grassy terrain overlooking the water. He was SO happy! I had been cautious with him all day, but as we walked back to the road along the flat dirt path of Eagles Way I felt peaceful and happy. Our boy was well.

For REAL: he stumbled and tore the ligament in his good knee as he was running toward the car.

I am reaching out now because it has been over a year since his injury, and it feels unfair to him to put his surgery off any longer. The thing is, I just don't have the money. I had hoped to have some money to set aside, to secure a Petcard loan, or receive financial aid through charitable pet organizations, but none of these efforts have yielded results.

By way of super-quick background, I am a solo single mother raising a 12 year-old and a 14 year-old. Plus Shaman, and a cat. I work six days a week. We are doing okay. Just not, at the moment, $7000-surgery okay.

Shaman's spirits are still high, and he is a sweet, happy boy. But limping constantly and often bearing no weight on his left leg whatsoever, he needs this surgery. I have set a date with Vancouver Island Veterinary Surgery for November. (I set this date in the summer, actually, and prayed something would "come together." Here we are today.)

The procedure, again a TPLO, is $6200 before tax. I am asking for $7000 to please cover the full amount of the surgery with tax. Shaman will need five or six pre- and post-op vet appointments for bloodwork, check-ups and Cartrophen injections, and I am prepared to cover these appointments myself. But the surgery I cannot afford without some miraculous assistance.

So here I hand it off to you, with humble gratitude for anything and everything you are able to provide.

Thank you,

Robin and Shaman (and our family)