Puppy Up!

On Saturday Jonathon and I represented our rescue at Arkanas' second annual Puppy Up! cancer walk.  A rescue friend of mine hosted this event and I am so glad that she invited us to participate.     2 Million Dogs Foundation is the organization. (2milliondogs.org)  It's mission is discovering the common links between canine and human cancers through comparative oncology research.  This entire program was founded by one man, Luke Robinson, who walked with his two dogs, 2000 miles, from Austin to Boston.  There are now Puppy Up! walks hosted all over the country. 

Dogs get cancer the same as humans do.  They get breast, bone, lung, skin and other cancers.  It makes sense since they live along side us, exposed to all of the same environmental factors that we are.  The difference is that it develops much more quickly in dogs than it does in humans.  Think how much more quickly a dog ages...years vs. decades.  Therefore, treatment research results are known much more quickly.  Obviously, all research is done on pets with pre-existing cancers and this is by no means animal testing.  In fact, many dogs who would not otherwise have access to any kind of treatments, like shelter dogs or dogs with families unable to take on the expense, are part of the studies.  This foundation is partnered with medical research teams from Harvard, MIT, and other big time medical facilities.  They have recently funded a large study on breast cancer.  It will be done on mammary tumors removed from shelter dogs during their spay surgeries.  Those dogs will be free of their tumors and the medical research team will have unlimited cancer specimens to work with.   It's a win, win. 

Ironically, I received the email from our director asking if I would run the booth for our rescue the day after Jax was diagnosed with his cancer.  But cancer had touched my life long before that.  Several people in my life have battled cancer, some a long time ago, and some are still fighting today.  I don't think a person exists that has not been affected in some way or another by this terrible disease.  Unfortunately, it doesn't discriminate, not even by species.  I think it's amazing that Mr. Robinson has created this awesome foundation out of his two passions in life, his dogs, and finding a cure.

The reason for the event was serious, but it was really a great and uplifting time!  My only complaint was that it could have been 20 degrees cooler.  85 in November...no thank you.  There were many cancer survivors, both human and canine, participating in the walk.  Some walked in teams and some walked in memory of loved ones passed.  There was a silent auction (a weakness of mine) and lots of vendors and other rescue organizations.  We got some good exposure for a couple of our rescue dogs and got our name out there in the community.  Most importantly, the event raised almost $8000 for cancer research!  It was a good day. 

I assumed that Winston would have fun at the event, but I also assumed that he would be a little crazy and overly excited.  I was wrong.  I didn't even pull out the thunder shirt.  He was perfect.  He was very friendly, yet polite, and a total ham.  He wanted to meet every person and play with every dog, big or small.  I was extremely proud of him.  He was also the only one of us that actually walked in the walk.  Two little girls that were there with their mom asked me if they could walk him.  It was so sweet and they had a great time.  They took a million pictures of him.  Sadly they were not in the market to adopt! 

This is baby Pearl, a foster in our rescue who spent the day with us.  She is 12 weeks old and Deaf. Could she be any cuter?

The crew!

This is how Winston and Pearl spent most of the day!  He was SO good with her.

Must have been toward the end of the day.  They look tired!

 

"Earl" from the Pug rescue next to us. 

Jax, chillin as usual. 

 

Winston with his biggest fans before they started the walk.

 

 

Jax and I with 2 Million Dogs founder, Luke Robinson and his dog, Murphy.