Merliny is so stressed being away from home at the veterinary hospital in PEI. The feeling is mutual, sweet guy. We’ll get you home as soon as we can!

Currently, Merlin and Beatrice are still at Atlantic Veterinary College – AVC. Rosie, Josie, and Maple are back home (updates coming soon).

Although Bea has finished her diagnostics, and we have a plan for her moving forward, she’s staying at AVC to keep Merlin company.

With Bea, AVC found that mild arthritis is what’s bothering her after romping around in the pasture, causing her to hold up her leg.

Thankfully, no surgery for her this time! Bea also got good news about the previous surgery, which healed up well. Bea had two large abscesses when she arrived, starved and severely neglected. Behind one of the abscesses was a large "hole" in her abdomen that created a hernia. She had that repaired last year at AVC.

Merlin, on the other hand, may be going in for surgery after the weekend.

Merlin was brought to AVC because of mobility concerns, which we thought stemmed from the claw that he had been assessed for at AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital previously. It’s been a long road for Merlin, and he’s been working his way back to health over the last couple of years after surviving criminal neglect, cruelty, and a lot of complications as a result.

After his assessments, the team at AVC found that his claw has been doing really well since his last visit, but his left bicep muscle (in his front leg/shoulder) has basically seized up and has been wasting away over time.

His muscle and its tendon have become scarred, tight, and painful, and that tension is pulling on and straining his shoulder, which is a big part of why he’s not moving comfortably on that side. The problem has even reached his neck, causing further problems and discomfort.

On Monday, he may have a "bicep release" surgery, which is exactly what it sounds like: the surgeon makes a cut to the biceps tendon where it’s scarred and stuck, which releases the constant pull and takes pressure off the shoulder joint.

Merlin and Bea’s current hospital stay bill is about $400 rightnow. Josie and Rosie’s total was $949.80. To ensure they all get the care they need and proceed with Merlin’s surgery (est. $1500-2000), please visit hello, or donations can be made on the CanadaHelps website.

We’ll keep you posted between animal care and a lot of worried caretakers!