This is our Honey ✨

I’m Sophie, and I’m lucky enough to be Honey’s mama. I’ve created this page to ask for help for my best friend, my soulmate, and the most gentle, loving little soul I have ever known.

Honey has been with me since she was an 8 week old puppy. For nine years she has filled mine and her family’s life with joy, comfort, laughter, and unconditional love in its purest form. She truly is one in a million and is so affectionate, intelligent, endlessly gentle, and quietly brave in ways that amaze everyone who knows and loves her.

Despite everything that she has faced she still loves her walks, big sticks, her teddies (especially giraffe and piggy), her home cooked diet, and being with the family who love and adore her beyond measure. If you met her today, you wouldn’t think she was living with a life threatening illness and that’s exactly why I’m still fighting so hard for her.

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Honey’s journey so far

In July 2024, Honey was suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with an aggressive nasal tumour that we later found out was a rare type of sarcoma. It completely broke our hearts.

Since then, she has bravely undergone treatment here in the UK. These treatments have helped her stay comfortable and enjoy life, but sadly the tumour hasn’t been fully controllable with the options available to us here, and are becoming exhausted.

Nasal tumours in dogs are usually locally aggressive but rarely metastasise (spread to other areas in the body). Luckily, neither has Honey’s tumour. However, as they grow locally they can cause severe bleeding episodes, pain, breathing and eating difficulties, and even seizures - all of which would drastically affect her quality of life. That is what I am desperately trying to prevent.

Despite everything, she has amazed us with her extraordinary resilience and remains bright, happy, affectionate, playful, and full of life. She eats well, sleeps peacefully, is maintaining a good weight, and spreads happiness and joy to everyone she meets.

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A time-sensitive opportunity

Recently, I was given hope by Dr Clayton Watkins, a highly experienced veterinary surgeon in Utah, USA, who believes Honey may be a candidate for a specialised surgery that is not available in the UK.

This procedure aims to remove all visible tumour tissue, followed by internal radiation to treat the remaining cancer cells. The hope is that this approach will help us achieve long term tumour control and in some of his previous cases has even been curative.

This surgery is time critical as her tumour is growing and will slowly impact her quality of life until we can hopefully get her to the US for the surgery.

This is definitely not about putting her through endless treatments. It is about trying to give her access to the most advanced and hopeful option she has while she is still strong and stable enough to tolerate it and is enjoying her life. It’s a real chance to protect and hopefully improve her quality of life.

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Why I’m asking for help

The cost of travelling to the US, surgery, and recovery is far beyond what I can manage alone.

I am a paediatric nurse and left my NHS role to care for Honey after her diagnosis. I now work flexible agency shifts to maintain some income, but at this stage have exhausted all of my savings, her yearly insurance allowance and have obtained as much credit as I can to fund her care this far.

Asking for help like this doesn’t come easily to me. I am a very private person, and it does feel far outside of my comfort zone but ultimately this is about trying to fight for the best chance for my bestest friend and it doesn’t feel right that financial constraints could be the reason that she is unable to access the best possible care.

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How the funds will be used

• In-cabin (the safest option for her) flights for Honey and I

• Specialist surgery and hospital care in the US

• Follow-up care once we return home to the UK

If, for any reason, Honey becomes unable to travel, every penny raised will go towards her ongoing care here in the UK and any unused funds will be donated to the amazing International Aid for the Protection & Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) who offer a lifeline to thousand's of animals all over the world.

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From the bottom of my heart

Honey is not “just a dog” she is mine and her family's whole heart. She has fought so bravely, and deserves every possible chance to stay well and happy.

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount or share Honey’s story, it would mean more than I could ever express and I am eternally grateful!

Thank you so much for reading about my beautiful girl and for helping us hold onto hope ✨

Sophie, Honey and her family x