Ryan Fischer, Lady Gaga's Dogwalker, Sets up GoFundMe After Being Gunned Down

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Ryan Fisher, Lady Gaga's dogwalker who was shot earlier this year, has set up a GoFundMe to fund a "healing" trip since his ordeal.

Fisher is seeking $40,000 to cover travel and living expenses after leaving Hollywood to focus on "strengthening [his] emotional and mental health."

The former dog walker was walking the popstar's two French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, in February when he was shot in the chest in Los Angeles.

The unknown assailants left Fisher for dead and stole the dogs who were returned two days later after Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward.

Fisher spoke about his recovery back in March when he recounted the ordeal from his hospital bed.

However, the shooting prompted him to leave the city and embark on a "sabbatical" to recover from his trauma and currently has "no vehicle, apartment, and having run out of savings and surviving on donations from generous loved ones."

"A few days ago, I said goodbye to Trudy, a quasi-reliable 1991 Ford Falcon rental that drove like a boat in high wind. With just me, Trudy, 3 stuffed animals that resemble dogs I care for very much, and WAY too many personal items, across the US we teetered along for two months," he writes in the lengthy crowdfund description.

Fisher said he was at times "scared lonely and unsupported" and suffered "long bouts of depression and doubt and self-pity."

He explained that he now needs to be "devoted to strengthening my emotional and mental health."

"Having that understanding helped me frame what I need from the rest of this sabbatical: getting a van and exploring this country while seeking out communities that support the process of growing from trauma."

The dog walker said he intends to also spend the funds on "retreat centers, trauma programs, queer healers, creatives and spiritual leaders."

Ryan Fischer
Lady Gaga's former dog walker, Ryan Fischer. Instagram @saintrocque's profile picture saintrocque

He also shared a bizarre artistically styled video of him doing some interpretive dance.

He concluded his campaign with a list of what he needs funding for and thanked those who have supported him.

"I have set up this GoFundMe page in supporting a van purchase, travel expenses and welcome all input on retreats for trauma throughout the country as well as queer spiritual leaders and healers, and how best to highlight and share with you along the way," Fischer said. I love you, and thank you for all the ways you have supported me throughout; I truly can't wait to see how the next step of this journey unfolds for us all."

At the time of publishing, Fisher has received almost $4,000 in donations of his $40,000 target, with 38 people having donated so far since it launched on Monday.

Following the shooting, Lady Gaga posted on her Instagram account, "I continue to love you Ryan Fischer, you risked your life to fight for our family. You're forever a hero."

Newsweek has reached out to Fisher for comment.

Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is seen on July 2, 2021 in New York City. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

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