$5 FRIDAY FOR MERLIN

Merlin is scheduled for surgery today!

Merlin and Bea are still in PEI at AVC. We’re all ready for them to get back home, but first, Merlin needs surgery on his arm/shoulder.

One of the main muscles and its tendon in Merlin’s left shoulder/arm has a lot of scarring that has resulted in his muscle wasting and tension pulling and straining his shoulder.

The problem runs up into his neck, which now solves the mystery of why he tilts his head so much and why he cries and wails any time he gets needles on that side.

He’s had a lot of needles during his recovery since arriving, and we learned quickly to avoid his left side for needles.

He never makes a fuss about needles on the right side, but it wasn’t until his second trip to AVC and considerable investigation that we came to understand why his behaviour is so different from one side of his neck to the other.

Yesterday, one of his doctors sent me this photo of his “salad” handpicked by Hannah, the student looking after him. I suspect Hannah is now his favourite person at AVC 😉

Please send well wishes to Merlin today as he undergoes anesthesia (which is always extra worrisome with goats), and send strength to Bea as she waits for her buddy to return from the operating room.

On $5 Fridays, like today, we fundraise for a very specific expense, typically medical expenses like surgeries or the mobility braces that got Rosie walking again.

As of last Friday, Merlin’s hospital stay expenses were around $400.

His surgery is estimated at $800, plus a little more for aftercare, and the total for his hospital stay, diagnostics, surgery, and recovery is estimated at between $1500 and $2000.

It’s no secret that as a charity, we run purely on donations! We occasionally get grants for projects (like fencing), and this year we received 12 weeks of pay for a single summer student. Beyond that, care, recovery, and rescue are only possible through fundraisers like this and the small handful of monthly sponsors who help cover some feed, bedding, and basic/routine veterinary costs.

For complete clarity, Merlin’s surgery and hospital stay aren’t currently covered by monthly sponsors or any donations.

To help Merlin, please consider participating in our $5 Friday fundraiser by making a tax-deductible donation:

❤ https://donorbox.org/5formerlin

Donations can also be made on our website, via e-transfer (hello), or on CanadaHelps.