Blood donor dog that has saved many canine lives now needs surgery
Norman, a large mastiff from Nanaimo that has been credited in saving the lives of at least 16 dogs with emergency blood donations, is now in need of help himself.
Norman, whose exploits were featured in a CTV News story back in 2017, needs surgery. His owner Jeff King is asking people to give back.
“He’s like my kid,” King says. “He’s like my baby. He’s my big red shadow.”
King noticed Norman limping a couple of weeks ago and took him to the vet. That’s when it was discovered that the 85-kilogram “gentle giant” had torn his cranial cruciate ligament in his left hind knee.
The injury makes the dog’s knee very unstable. It has already become very swollen and arthritic.
“When he walks, it doesn’t bend the normal way, which causes a fair mount of discomfort,” says Ken Langelier, a Veterinarian with VCA Island Animal Hospital in Nanaimo.
The four-and-a-half-year-old mastiff needs a special surgery called a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, which will stabilize the knee.
“If surgery is not performed, it will become more arthritic and probably lead to a lot shorter life span,” adds Langelier.
“Seeing him in pain makes me want to cry,” says King. “It’s heartbreaking. I haven’t slept and worry constantly.”
The surgery cannot be done locally and Norman has to be referred to an animal hospital in Victoria or Vancouver to see a specialist who is approved by the board of certified surgeons.
The procedure will cost King around $8,500, which will include a long recovery process.
“Any help that I can get will make it a lot easier,” says King.
A GoFundMe page has been setup to help cover the cost of the surgery.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.