Hello everyone,

As you probably know, we originally created this fund to help our friend Mike bring his dog, Matty to the U.S. from London so they could be together while Mike undergoes treatment for an aggressive form of stage 3 colon cancer.

As we dug deeper into the requirements for international pet transport, we uncovered a series of restrictions and potential safety concerns that (unfortunately) have made this option a non-viable one.

Redoubling Our Efforts

Our top priority remains unchanged: to support Mike as best we can during treatment. His doctor recently shared how important a calm, peaceful mind is when it comes to postiive health outcomes (beating cancer). So we’ve come up with a few big ticket items to take off Mike’s list of concerns. Not surprisingly, Matty's care came up first.

Helping With Matty’s Care

Now that Matty is set to stay in the UK, we are going to manage his care and raise funds necessary to making sure he is well cared for until Mike can return to London. Taking over Matty’s care involves: finding a friendly and safe place for boarding, making sure the people looking after him are trustworhty, adherence to a daily care regimen including plenty of exercise and socialization, and lastly, Vet visits as needed.

Use of Funds

Contributions will be used to cover the cost of Matty’s care and any unforeseen expenses over the next six months. Funds may also be used to pay some portion of unexpected medical costs incurred by Mike during and after treatment. All remaining funds will be donated to The American Cancer Society.

Please consider making a contribution of any amount. Each donation makes a huge difference to Mike and Matty and the rest of us too!

Thank you to everyone for your support - whether through your donations or simply by sharing this post.

Lastly, remember to share this with your loved ones and remind them to be diligent about their health! ❤️

ORIGINAL POST (4/21/26)

While traveling abroad, Mike rescued the most amazing dog who he later named Matty. Matty and Mike were inseparable from that day forward.

During his return to the US to get his visa approved, Mike became very ill, and doctors have since diagnosed him with advanced-stage colon cancer for which he will undergo six months of treatment. He has a big hill to climb to get better.

If you know Mike, you know how much he loves dogs. He has spent a large part of his life caring for and loving on dogs wherever he goes (probably even some of your dogs – I know mine got his fair share!) so I think the best way to help Mike heal and have success in his treatment is to bring Matty here from the UK to be by his side.

There is one catch...getting a 23 kg dog from the UK to the US will be costly. We've laid out the process and estimated costs below. I am asking for your help to meet our goal and get Matty here as soon as possible. If you feel moved to contribute, it is deeply appreciated. Funds raised will go toward Matty’s travel and care. The American Cancer Society will receive any remaining amount.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this, for the concern, the messages and those good vibes. Your support means a lot to Mike. Please share this to remind loved ones to be diligent about their health!

Warm regards from the team!