Our sweet puppy Rufus is only 7 months old, and already he has been through more than most dogs go through in a lifetime. At first, we discovered Rufus had problems with his back knees ( bilateral luxating patellas) which already meant he would need surgery. But as we began preparing him for that, further tests revealed something even more serious: an internal liver shunt.

A liver shunt is a serious condition where blood bypasses the liver, preventing it from properly filtering toxins. With an internal shunt, the surgery is much more complex than an external one. Not every surgeon is able to perform it, and without it, Rufus’s time with us would be heartbreakingly short. Dogs with untreated shunts can quickly begin experiencing seizures, disorientation, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, and worsening neurological symptoms. The surgery for the liver shunt is about 9,000+ and the surgery for his legs is 7,000+

With surgery, Rufus has the chance to live a semi-normal, happy life, to run, play, and just be the loving puppy he is meant to be. Without it, his future is very uncertain.

This year has already been a hard one for our family. Both my dad and grandfather have faced serious health problems, which has left us in a complicated financial situation. The cost of Rufus’s surgeries, especially given how rare and specialized this procedure is, is overwhelming.

But Rufus means the world to us. We truly believe that God sent him into our lives for a reason, and we are determined to do everything possible to give him the chance he deserves. We just can’t do it alone.

We are humbly asking for your support to help us cover Rufus’s surgery costs and give him the healthy, happy life every puppy deserves. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. Even if you can’t give, simply sharing Rufus’s story helps more than you know.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us fight for Rufus.