Help Biggie the Notorious D.O.G. fight lymphoma this summer!

Please help Biggie the Notorious D.O.G. fight lymphoma!

Hi friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

We never thought we’d be here, asking for help—but here we are, with heavy hearts and hopeful spirits.

For the past 7 years, Biggie has been the love and light of my husband and I’s lives. Since we are unable to have children, we treat Biggie as if he was our son. It’s just me, my husband, Biggie, and his adopted sister “Sugar,” a black cat. (It’s not lost on us that she bears the same name as incarcerated music producer, Sugar “Suge” Knight, who is believed to have put the hit out on late rapper, Biggie the Notorious B.I.G.)

We believe Biggie was either a stubborn horse or a grumpy old man in a previous life. He enjoys long walks, car rides, sunbathing, and naps. He could care less about toys or the company of others. If you leave a plate of human food next to him, he won’t touch it. He loves pizza crust, naan, and blueberry bagels. He hates peanut butter. The only things that garner his attention are rabbits, squirrels, and turkeys…Biggie HATES turkeys.

From the moment we saw Biggie at Manassas Animal Shelter, we knew he belonged with us. Not because he showered us with love and affection - it was actually the opposite: he seemed pretty underwhelmed by our arrival and remained indifferent as he endured our efforts to get to know him. They said Biggie had been at the shelter for over 6 months, watching every other dog come and go. They suspected he had escaped an abusive home or dog fighting facility as his tail had been poorly cropped and he showed little interest or trust in humans. Biggie was brought in by Animal Control, who had been receiving phone calls for months about a dog wandering alone in the woods in the dead of winter. When they finally caught him, they came armed, anticipating the 100-lb bully would attack them. Instead, Biggie lackadaisically surrendered by wandering up to them and plopping his butt on one of their shoes.

If Biggie survived all of that in his first 1-2 years of life, he can survive this.

A few weeks ago, we took Biggie to the vet for a suspected U.T.I. We were blindsided and heartbroken to discover he has Stage 4 terminal lymphoma. Our oncologist, Dr. Heather Wilson at the Oncology Center, said without chemo, Biggie would not live to see summer. But with a series of chemotherapy treatments, Biggie could have more time (12+ months), a better quality of life, and even a chance at remission.

Obviously, we have chosen to give chemotherapy a shot. But it’s expensive—we’re looking at a minimum of $10,000 out of pocket for 4 months of chemo. Since we’re first time fur parents, we didn’t get pet insurance, and now it’s too late because Biggie has already been diagnosed. The $10,000 includes exams, treatments, medication, lab work, x-rays and ultrasounds, follow-up care, misc. clinic fees and more. Paying an average of $800 cash per week for the next 16 weeks is more than we can handle alone. We’re doing everything we can—digging into savings, adjusting our budgets—but we still need help to close the gap. And we are holding out on the power of community, compassion, and love.

If this cranky curmudgeon has ever made you smile, or if you simply believe that every animal deserves a fighting chance, we ask you to consider donating. Any amount—$5, $20, whatever you can manage—makes a real difference. If you can’t give financially right now (we get it), please share this with others who might be able to help.

We promise to keep you updated on every step of Biggie’s journey. With your support, we believe he can get through this. We’ve seen Biggie’s resiliency and strength—we just need the support to match it.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

With love and hope,

Amie, Zack, Biggie, and Suge Knight (kind of)