Support Wyatt's Cancer Surgery

If you know me and Ross, you definitely know Wyatt.

Wyatt has been a part of our lives for almost a decade now. We adopted him from the Schuyler County Humane Society when he was around three years old. We immediately knew Wyatt was "ours" when he came into the adoption room to greet us and instantly sat down and snuggled up into my lap. He loved “giving hugs” by gently jumping up and wrapping his paws around your hips.

Since then, Wyatt has helped make our family whole. Together, we've adventured across Vermont, moved to Brooklyn and back, and finally settled in Ithaca, where he enjoys hikes along Six Mile Creek. He's become a foster brother to various dogs at the local SPCA, tries very hard to help in the garden, and happily spends his days curled up by our fireplace with his stuffed Lamb Chop.

Unfortunately, last fall, the vet found a lump on Wyatt's ear that — after extensive testing — turned out to be a cancerous mast cell tumor. Mast cell tumors are notoriously invasive and difficult to treat. According to literature from our vet: "Part of the problem is that what appears to be the visible margin of the tumor is rarely the actual margin. (Picture an octopus where the body is part of the tumor you see, but there are invisible tentacles extending out in many directions.) Because it is not possible to see the true tumor margins with the naked eye, excision must be broad and deep, and the tumor may not be located on a part of the body where this is possible."

Wyatt underwent surgery early this afternoon to remove the mass. While the surgeon was able to remove it, we won't know how good the margins were, what grade the tumor was, or if the cancer has spread until we have further testing done. For now, we're just happy to hear that the operation went well. And while Wyatt may look a bit funny ("His ear will sort of look like it's always being blown up by the wind!"), we're just happy it's a step toward having our healthy best friend back.

Because of the nature of the surgery and the location of the tumor, the bill is upward of $4,000. We don't expect to get nearly that amount from this fundraiser, but we are thankful for every dollar that helps keep the cost down. If you're unable to donate, please don't feel bad — we know you're supporting us and Wyatt in other ways.

Thank you for any help you can give. If for any reason we receive more than we need, we will be donating it to the local Tompkins County Humane Society.

-Sarah