Winnie Needs Leg Surgery

My name is Emily Shepley - this is my rescue dog Winnie who is requiring surgery on her knee at only a year old.

Winnie was born in a junkyard on the island of Carriacou, Grenada. At 3 days old she was found by a non profit animal hospital and brought in to their care along with 20 other puppies, and 2 moms.

I am a registered vet technician and volunteered at Carriacou Animal Hospital: where I fell in love with Winnie (then named Gem). I first saw her when I first volunteered in March of 2024 - then Carriacou was struck by a category 5 hurricane Beryl. This devastated the island but luckily the animal hospital seeked refuge on one of the mountains and kept the puppies safe. I then volunteered again in January of this year - all puppies had been adopted but Winnie, and one of her sisters. I worried if she were to be adopted on the island that she would not survive out on the streets.

I fell in love with her and brought her home: originally hoping I could foster her and find her a loving home… but as time went on - she became my soul dog and I wouldn’t know what to do without her.

As she adapted to living here, she has had to learn how to play and how to run freely as she was tied up on the island. She is a bouncy, awkward, playful, loving girl, who was just given a rough start at life.

she then began limping. I noticed her hind legs were deformed: likely due to malnutrition or the restrictive space available while she grew in those first few months of life. I went forward with radiographs, and bloodwork - which show she has arthritis already in her ankles, bowed legs, and a grade 3/4 luxating patella that requires surgery.

She is currently limping most of the days - I am using pain medication sparingly as needed due to her being so young and it being harsh on their liver enzymes.

the surgery will cost me $5400 upfront, and that does not include the 10wk recovery, follow up sedated x-rays, and pain meds to follow.

I completely understand tough times recently with everything going on in the world - I’m hoping any contribution can help me provide a happy, stress-free and pain-free life for Winnie.