Cancer Touches Everyone—Especially Dogs
4 to 6 MILLION dogs die from cancer each year
For me…
- My two springer spaniels, Cassie (from a brain tumor and leukemia) and Kaylee (from osteosarcoma).
- My neighbor just died from stomach cancer last month.
- My dad died from nasopharyngeal cancer.
- My husband, sister in-law, and brother in-law have had skin cancer.
Statistics report that 36 children EACH DAY are diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer does indeed touch everyone—and most of us feel helpless.
Has cancer touched you?
Walk for Canine Cancer Research
Cancer in dogs is very similar to people, since we share about 85% of the same genes. Comparative oncology uses pet dogs for clinical trials of cancer treatments that may work to cure some forms of cancer or create palliative care for both people and dogs.
Often cancer drug studies use mice, which don’t normally get cancer. Researchers have to give the mice cancer first before they can test the drugs. Many drugs that work during research studies using mice may not work with people.
Puppy Up Raises Funds for Cancer Studies using Comparative Oncology
In 2008, Luke Robinson, walked his two dogs on a 2,300 mile cross-country trek. As Luke walked, he shared his story of Malcolm, his Great Pyrenees whom he lost to cancer, as he talked to the residents of towns he passed through. He formed a grassroots movement to raise funds for canine cancer research. His goal is to get 2 million dogs to walk simultaneously across the U.S. to raise funds to fight cancer. The Puppy Up Foundation formed from this grassroots movement.
Help Support
Several Chicagoans who blog about pets and belong to BlogPaws (Sandra Townsend – Dolly the Doxie, and Kristen Avery – The Daily Pip) will join Buffy and me on September 16th for Puppy Up Chicago.
To learn about the use of pet dogs in comparative oncology studies, read my review of Heal The Vital Role of Dogs in the Search for Cancer Cures by Arlene Weintraub.
Above all – please help to support cancer research with Puppy Up.
This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop. Please read the other blogs and comment.
My heart goes out to you, your friends, family members, and fur family members who have been touched by cancer. Thank you for sharing information about Puppy Up in the fight against cancer. I’m going to check out your links to learn more.
I am looking forward to the walk on the 16th! My dogs have not been touched by cancer, but I lost two cats to cancer and my human family has been touched by it as well.
I love this idea! I work as a veterinarian and deal with cancer on an almost daily basis. One of my good friends just finished her PhD in cancer research and will be working on canine cancer research soon (she just has a two years of veterinary school left). I have never heard of Puppy Up before, but will have to look into now. Thank you for sharing.
Cancer is one of the most feared, hated and dreaded words in all of the English language, for good reason. I lost my first mastiff to osteosarcoma and our labrador had an aggressive mast cell tumor which fortunately he survived after surgery. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in big dogs, with 8 of the 9 dogs most commonly affected by cancer are big dogs. It is a wonderful thing you and Buffy and the other folks with the Puppy Up campaign are doing. Thank you! Great post!
JD had a mast cell tumor but that was treated successfully. Eventually, though he died what was thought a brain or spinal cord cancer. Cancer sucks.
There is way too much cancer in this world, both in people and pets. I’ve had a lot of it in my family, but thankfully never in my pets (Knock on Wood!!) This is a really great initiative, much needed. Thanks for sharing.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
What a wonderful cause to support, and good luck on your fundraising walk! My father died from liver cancer 34 years ago, and my husband’s sister had/has cancer but seems to be doing well. None of my dogs have ever been affected by this horrible disease but 2 of my cats died of it. Thanks for raising awareness of Puppy Up, I had never heard of this organisation. Let us know how your walk goes!!
It’s sad that cancer really is something that touches everyone’s life at one point or another. My dad is a cancer survivor and I had a pet rabbit who passed from cancer when he was just 2 years old. Good luck with your fundraising!