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Hello everyone. My name is Keegan and I have a beautiful black lab named Sergeant Snap, USMC, Retired. Sergeant Snap and his family have fallen on some hard times thanks to cancer. Snap is 10.5 years of age and also a retired United States Marine Corps working dog. His specialty is known as IDD, or Improvised Explosive Device Detection Dog. Snap and I deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from October 2010 to May 2011. During that time Snap did very well to keep not only me, but my marine brothers safe. He searched for miles upon miles and for hours upon hours. He was a true marvel to watch as are most military working dogs. Not to mention Snap added some sanity and some serious morale boost to our little patrol base of eight Marines, one Navy Corpsman and six Afghanistan National Army soldiers.
Snap had already gone on a deployment to Iraq prior to our deployment together. He returned to Afghanistan in 2012. Needless to say, Snap has served his time for this country. A little less than half of his life at this point in time to put it into perspective. This deployment was his last as I adopted my best friend in September of 2012. Snap and I have lived in St. Louis together since and what a blessing it has been to have him around. He has always been my guiding light during dark times and reminds me every day how lucky I am to still be around to even tell this story.
Snap and our family have been battling an aggressive melanoma on his eyelid over the last month. We have lymphatic fluid analysis coming next week. We were hopeful and feeling confident with just being able to excise the tumor as his lung x-rays and blood panels have all been clear. However, at about 6:50 AM on January 23, 2017 Snap was found staring at the wall and breathing rapidly and shallowly. I also noticed he seemed extremely lethargic to the point of being wobbly as he was walking. Then upon starting his favorite morning routine, breakfast, he showed no interest in eating but instead looked up at me and forced out a tail wag. This is not Snap behavior. I took him to the emergency Veterinary clinic and they began immediate examination. About an hour later, we were notified that he likely had a sarcoma on his heart and that there was fluid accumulating inside the pericardium. Snap then had an ultrasound of his heart to confirm the prediction and a pericardiocentesis to drain some of the fluid and alleviate some of his discomfort. After getting the results from the ultrasound, I was devastated. The prediction of a tumor on his heart was correct and this drastically altered our plan of care for Snap.
Snap will now need chemotherapy in order to combat this cancer as surgery does not yield a favorable percentage for success given his age and where the tumor is located. The doctors say that pinpointing a remaining lifespan is difficult once cancer is involved but that with chemotherapy the average expectancy is six months. I look at it this way, if I can finish up this semester and get Snap through the summer when I am working a more flexible schedule, I can spend all the time in the world with him and make sure we finish crossing things off of his bucket list. If I get more time than that obviously that would be wonderful as long as he feels good. If I get less, then I will never be able to say I didn't try. He has saved me in so many ways, I owe him everything imaginable. Since I am currently a full-time physical therapy student at Maryville University, I have little money to throw around. I had never thought to do anything like this before, but if it is for Snap then I believe it is warranted. The chemotherapy and other associated costs like echocardiograms is outside of anything I can afford on my own, but without it I will always regret not having tried everything I could to buy him more time and continue to do everything I can to repay him for all of the unconditional happiness that he has given me over the years. He spent nearly half of his life serving the United States, I only spent four years of mine. $200 or so dollars of this goal is aside for cremation fees for when the time comes. I intend to keep his urn until it is my time to go and have it buried with me inside my casket. Until then, here are some pictures of Snap and his family and friends.

Snap in October, 2010. Days prior to us leaving for Afghanistan. He's so handsome!

Snap's Marine brethren Sergeant Chaney sending Snap his condolensces and best wishes.

Sometime during our deployment to Afghanistan Oct 2010 - May 2011.

On patrol near the Helmand River. Had Snap leashed up to give him a break as we had likely been going for quite awhile.

Snap and his not-so-little-anymore brother Cash in summer 2016.

Snap tolerating his younger brother Cash again on the way to Chicago. Cash always liked to be as close to Snap as possible, and Snap usually allowed him.

Snap and I getting ready to nap shortly before deployment Oct, 2010.

He was happy to see me. September 2010.

Last but not least, my favorite picture of the two of us. Truly man's best friend. He was telling me that everything was going to be okay. It was. Thank you Sergeant Snap for everything you did and continue to do for me. I love you so much buddy!
Hello everyone. My name is Keegan and I have a beautiful black lab named Sergeant Snap, USMC, Retired. Sergeant Snap and his family have fallen on some hard times thanks to cancer. Snap is 10.5 years of age and also a retired United States Marine Corps working dog. His specialty is known as IDD, or Improvised Explosive Device Detection Dog. Snap and I deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from October 2010 to May 2011. During that time Snap did very well to keep not only me, but my marine brothers safe. He searched for miles upon miles and for hours upon hours. He was a true marvel to watch as are most military working dogs. Not to mention Snap added some sanity and some serious morale boost to our little patrol base of eight Marines, one Navy Corpsman and six Afghanistan National Army soldiers.
Snap had already gone on a deployment to Iraq prior to our deployment together. He returned to Afghanistan in 2012. Needless to say, Snap has served his time for this country. A little less than half of his life at this point in time to put it into perspective. This deployment was his last as I adopted my best friend in September of 2012. Snap and I have lived in St. Louis together since and what a blessing it has been to have him around. He has always been my guiding light during dark times and reminds me every day how lucky I am to still be around to even tell this story.
Snap and our family have been battling an aggressive melanoma on his eyelid over the last month. We have lymphatic fluid analysis coming next week. We were hopeful and feeling confident with just being able to excise the tumor as his lung x-rays and blood panels have all been clear. However, at about 6:50 AM on January 23, 2017 Snap was found staring at the wall and breathing rapidly and shallowly. I also noticed he seemed extremely lethargic to the point of being wobbly as he was walking. Then upon starting his favorite morning routine, breakfast, he showed no interest in eating but instead looked up at me and forced out a tail wag. This is not Snap behavior. I took him to the emergency Veterinary clinic and they began immediate examination. About an hour later, we were notified that he likely had a sarcoma on his heart and that there was fluid accumulating inside the pericardium. Snap then had an ultrasound of his heart to confirm the prediction and a pericardiocentesis to drain some of the fluid and alleviate some of his discomfort. After getting the results from the ultrasound, I was devastated. The prediction of a tumor on his heart was correct and this drastically altered our plan of care for Snap.
Snap will now need chemotherapy in order to combat this cancer as surgery does not yield a favorable percentage for success given his age and where the tumor is located. The doctors say that pinpointing a remaining lifespan is difficult once cancer is involved but that with chemotherapy the average expectancy is six months. I look at it this way, if I can finish up this semester and get Snap through the summer when I am working a more flexible schedule, I can spend all the time in the world with him and make sure we finish crossing things off of his bucket list. If I get more time than that obviously that would be wonderful as long as he feels good. If I get less, then I will never be able to say I didn't try. He has saved me in so many ways, I owe him everything imaginable. Since I am currently a full-time physical therapy student at Maryville University, I have little money to throw around. I had never thought to do anything like this before, but if it is for Snap then I believe it is warranted. The chemotherapy and other associated costs like echocardiograms is outside of anything I can afford on my own, but without it I will always regret not having tried everything I could to buy him more time and continue to do everything I can to repay him for all of the unconditional happiness that he has given me over the years. He spent nearly half of his life serving the United States, I only spent four years of mine. $200 or so dollars of this goal is aside for cremation fees for when the time comes. I intend to keep his urn until it is my time to go and have it buried with me inside my casket. Until then, here are some pictures of Snap and his family and friends.
Snap in October, 2010. Days prior to us leaving for Afghanistan. He's so handsome!
Snap's Marine brethren Sergeant Chaney sending Snap his condolensces and best wishes.
Sometime during our deployment to Afghanistan Oct 2010 - May 2011.
On patrol near the Helmand River. Had Snap leashed up to give him a break as we had likely been going for quite awhile.
Snap and his not-so-little-anymore brother Cash in summer 2016.
Snap tolerating his younger brother Cash again on the way to Chicago. Cash always liked to be as close to Snap as possible, and Snap usually allowed him.
Snap and I getting ready to nap shortly before deployment Oct, 2010.
He was happy to see me. September 2010.
Last but not least, my favorite picture of the two of us. Truly man's best friend. He was telling me that everything was going to be okay. It was. Thank you Sergeant Snap for everything you did and continue to do for me. I love you so much buddy!