cancer costs for emotional support dog
Donation protected
in short: I'm Anthony. Apple is my 10-year old pit bull best friend and emotional support animal. Her medical bills have well exceeded what I can afford on a graduate student salary living in one of the most expensive areas in the U.S while I finish school. I need help.
I noticed a mass growing above her vulva in January 2021. My family vet wasn't concerned, so I went to a second vet for a biopsy and they diagnosed her with a soft tissue sarcoma (skin cancer). In February, a specialist performed the surgery due to the sensitive location and the size (around a golf ball). By September she had three more tumors removed. And as we were set to begin radiation therapy this month, her CT scan revealed a thyroid tumor that requires immediate removal.
As someone who deals with chronic depression and anxiety, I adopted Apple to make life a bit more livable/tolerable/enjoyable. So I depleted savings and maxed out credit cards because I love her and she's worth the cost.
I've spent $19,814.03 since January. Even with maxing out my pet insurance policy reimbursements, my out-of-pocket total is $12,314.03. And we still have at least $20,000 left of procedures ahead of us while I continue to make $34,000/year. I'm applying to grants, but that's not enough.
As someone who deals with chronic depression and anxiety, I adopted Apple to make life a bit more livable/tolerable/enjoyable. So I depleted savings and maxed out credit cards because I love her and she's worth the cost.
I've spent $19,814.03 since January. Even with maxing out my pet insurance policy reimbursements, my out-of-pocket total is $12,314.03. And we still have at least $20,000 left of procedures ahead of us while I continue to make $34,000/year. I'm applying to grants, but that's not enough.
Whether you know us as AntAndApple on Instagram or when I was on Twitter as anthoknees, we'd love your help. Below you'll find answers to questions you might have. Whether you donate or not, please do consider sharing (our custom link is gofundme.com/antandapple ). Thank you.
1. Where's the money go?
See screenshots at the bottom of the page, a full breakdown (including dates) at the live google doc, and a short breakdown here:
- $7,500—Thyroid surgery; completed in October for ~$5k
- $12,000—Radiation therapy; completed in November for ~$10k ($8.5k after a $1.5k grant)
- $1,500—Oncology recheck; estimate based on vet's previous quote; can't schedule it until after recovery
- $10,000—Future planning, specifically if she needs another round of radiation therapy.
- $3,000—Estimate based on GoFundMe processing fees: 2.9% fee and $0.30/donation.
- $1,000—This $1k and any funds unused on her cancer treatment will go toward routine care, insurance, food, snacks, and toys.
2. GoFundMe requires at least $5 donations, can I send less somewhere else?
Yes, every bit counts: CashApp ( ); Venmo ( ); PayPal ()
3. Now for the long part: why donate?
That's up to you! But I can tell you a little bit more about what she means to me.
I had been planning on adopting a dog for a while, but my schedule was not conducive for taking care of a dog until 2019. So I planned ahead, getting a dog-friendly apartment in August 2018 as I looked online and at dog shelters for older pit bulls. I came across a volunteer-run instagram account called rescuealove that had video footage of a dog that volunteers had named Apple. She was silly, happy, and loving, so I sent the instagram account a message with some questions and by January, I took her home with me from the South Los Angeles shelter.
Since then, Apple has conned me into sleeping on the bed, stealing my socks to keep in her mouth, and leaving those socks throughout the apartment. When I eat most dog-safe fruits or vegetables, she gets her own small portion. So chances are, if you see me in public without Apple, it's likely that it's because she isn't allowed where I'm going or it's too hot, otherwise she'd be with me.
I never thought I'd be spending over $10,000 on an animal companion when I adopted Apple, but that's my baby. She's well worth the $20k I've spent and the $30-40k we're facing for her continued care.
Yes, every bit counts: CashApp ( ); Venmo ( ); PayPal ()
3. Now for the long part: why donate?
That's up to you! But I can tell you a little bit more about what she means to me.
I had been planning on adopting a dog for a while, but my schedule was not conducive for taking care of a dog until 2019. So I planned ahead, getting a dog-friendly apartment in August 2018 as I looked online and at dog shelters for older pit bulls. I came across a volunteer-run instagram account called rescuealove that had video footage of a dog that volunteers had named Apple. She was silly, happy, and loving, so I sent the instagram account a message with some questions and by January, I took her home with me from the South Los Angeles shelter.
Since then, Apple has conned me into sleeping on the bed, stealing my socks to keep in her mouth, and leaving those socks throughout the apartment. When I eat most dog-safe fruits or vegetables, she gets her own small portion. So chances are, if you see me in public without Apple, it's likely that it's because she isn't allowed where I'm going or it's too hot, otherwise she'd be with me.
I never thought I'd be spending over $10,000 on an animal companion when I adopted Apple, but that's my baby. She's well worth the $20k I've spent and the $30-40k we're facing for her continued care.
Organizer
Anthony Williams
Organizer
Oakland, CA