Help Bear Beat Cancer: Support His Surgery

This is my soul dog, Bear.

We recently found out that he has three sarcomas around his right ankle and he needs surgery to remove them urgently.

Bear and I have been through a lot together. We met while I was searching for a PTSD service/therapy dog my junior year of college. In walked Bear—a living, breathing hug on four legs. We went everywhere together. He gave me the courage to move across the country for grad school. He was there every step of the way when I received my own cancer diagnosis, and he continues to show up for me now that I'm going through further treatment for immunological disorders. Now I'm rallying for him during the hardest point of his life.

On August 21st, Bear suddenly developed several lumps and swelling around his right ankle (hock joint). An urgent care appointment with his vet confirmed the masses are malignant sarcomas. The vet referred us to a surgeon at Purdue University's Small Animal Hospital, and his consultation is on September 10th. The vet advised me that his treatment will need to move quickly, but not to lose hope about his prognosis. The consultation will cost $260 and his surgery plus imaging, tests, and post-op care will likely be $5000. We are trying to finance part of this amount, but we need your help to cover the rest of his costs. Any donation of any size makes a difference and means the absolute world to us.

Bear is a fiercely loyal and happy dog. He loves to spend his days squirrel and people watching, cuddling with his human, and redecorating the house with the stuffing of beloved toys. His feelings can be hurt by a mean thought across the room. His snores shake the house every night, his endlessly happy tail wags have toppled side tables, and his favorite part of the day is brushing "his teefies" with his chicken toothpaste. Everyone who knows him has said he's the happiest, kindest boy they've ever met.

If he does not get this surgery, the cancer will metastasize, the masses around his ankle will continue to grow or rupture, and we will have to say goodbye to my sweet boy.

I've always worked and attended school full-time until graduating with my master's degree last year, but my extensive medical treatment has left me unable to work now. This is more than my family and I can handle on our own. Your help will save his life. Even a $5 donation can give this precious boy many more loving, happy days with his family. Bear has been with me every step of the way through my medical journey, and now we're going to do everything possible to help him through this.

Please donate and share so we can reach as many people as possible to support Bear. Thank you so much for loving him and walking this journey with us.