The Spirit of Shaker

All companion animals are special. Some are extra special. Pete ’72 and Michelle Gerukos’ golden retriever, Shaker, was one of a kind.

By Clare Fusselman '21

September 7, 2021

Michelle and Pete Gerukos ’72 have always had a deep love for animals—especially their dog, Shaker.

Michelle and Pete Gerukos ’72 have always had a deep love for animals—especially their dogs. So, when their beloved golden retriever, Shaker, was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, the couple wanted to ensure he would receive the best possible care.

They found that care, and much more, at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). Grateful for the level of compassion they received, the couple made a gift in Shaker’s memory to the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Small Animal Hospital.  

Shaking Things Up 

Life with Shaker was exciting from day one. Before the bubbly golden retriever came into their lives, the Gerukoses had four previous dogs, but none made such a profound impact as Shaker. “Before we got Shaker, we weren’t sure we even wanted another dog,” Michelle said. “I was confident that no other animal could possibly leave such a mark on our hearts as our past dogs.” 

As Shaker grew, he never lost his unique puppy persona. And with his favorite activities rooted in mischief, he kept the couple on their toes.

A Disheartening Diagnosis 

In 2015, right before Shaker turned 9 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. 

To honor Shaker, the Gerukoses chose to name an exam room in the Small Animal Hospital, "Shaker's Exam Room."

“Shaker’s diagnosis was heartbreaking,” Michelle recalled. “He was part of our family, and we didn’t want to see him suffer.” 

As he began treatments, Shaker developed fluid build-up in his chest and abdomen. In 2016, with the cause of the fluid still unknown, Shaker was referred by his local veterinarian to Texas A&M’s VMTH.  

Peter and Michelle met with Dr. Audrey Cook, an associate professor of internal medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Small Animal Hospital, who told the couple that Shaker’s condition wasn’t caused by cancer but by an idiopathic disease that resulted in fluid around his heart.  

With the cause of the fluid now known, the VMTH team began to tackle Shaker’s illness. He underwent surgery and was kept for treatment at the Small Animal Hospital for eight days. While he was being treated in College Station, Pete and Michelle drove from Houston every day to visit. “We were only allowed to stay 20 minutes each day, but seeing him wag his tail every time he saw us made the drive worth it,” Pete said. 

However, after Shaker was released to return home, the fluid persisted and his condition continued to leave local veterinarians puzzled. Though he lived for almost another year, in 2017, Pete and Michelle lost their beloved family companion.

Honoring Shaker 

Gratefulness translates itself in many different ways. For the Gerukoses, gratefulness means giving. Looking back at the care Shaker received, they knew they wanted to memorialize Shaker’s memory while also paying tribute to the care he received from Aggie veterinarians, both at Texas A&M and elsewhere during his life.  

The couple hopes the exam room in Shaker's honor will bring comfort and confidence to others that they are receiving care from one of the best veterinary facilities in the nation.

As a result, the couple chose to honor Shaker with an exam room in the Small Animal Hospital. To them, “Shaker’s Exam Room,” which was dedicated on Nov. 4, 2017, serves as a living memorial to the pet they loved so much. The couple hopes this exam room will bring comfort and confidence to others that they are receiving care from one of the best veterinary facilities in the nation. Their gift also provided funds to remodel a space in the hospital for the C-Arm imaging machine that helped doctors confirm Shaker’s diagnosis.  

“We hope that by sharing Shaker’s story, we inspire others to be confident in the exceptional care being provided by the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital,” Peter said. “This gift has given me an even deeper connection to Texas A&M, and because of that, I now think of Shaker as my Aggie dog.”  

A gift in memory or in honor of a spouse, parent, sibling, relative, friend or pet is a generous and thoughtful way to recognize a loved one while also supporting Texas A&M University. Many individuals even use honorary or memorial gifts as a way to celebrate important life milestones, such as birthdays, graduations or anniversaries. Honorary and memorial gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation can be tailored to fit the interests and values of your loved one, making it a true extension of that person’s life and accomplishments. Discover the different ways that your gift can create a living legacy for someone who has made an undeniable difference in your life. 

Honor Your Loved One

 

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