I'm creating this fundraiser on behalf of my good friends, Emma & Wyatt, and their beloved dog, Loki.

Loki has been in their lives for nearly 8 years as an essential family member, and has helped them through many difficult times, bringing joy, laughter, and beautiful companionship into their lives every day. Their bond and devotion to him is immense and boundless, and the unexpected news of Loki's cancer diagnosis was earth-shattering when he is at an otherwise young and healthy age, still acting completely happy and himself.

After several months and multiple vets investigating the cause of lameness on his back leg, Loki was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a very aggressive form of bone cancer requiring rapid and intense treatment. Before Emma and Wyatt could fully wrap their head around how this diagnosis might shorten his future and quality of life, they had to immediately schedule and put Loki through a very intense amputation surgery of his leg. This is typically the first recommended step to not only stop progression of cancer metastasis, but also relieve the pain associated with it in a part of the body that is normally weight-bearing and constantly being used.

Loki has been incredibly resilient since his surgery thanks to the tender loving care of his parents, but as they work on his rehabilitation and new life as a tri-paw'd dog, he now begins other forms of treatment that will continue to be hard on his body. Loki will be going through chemotherapy for several months, and there is an additional positive outlook in having him participate in the Yale clinical trial for the EGFR/HER2 vaccine, a promising new therapy that triggers the immune system to target cancer cells, allowing some dogs to be completely cancer free for an extended period of time. Without treatment, an osteosarcoma diagnosis can give an estimated survival rate of 6-12 months, but with amputation, chemotherapy, and vaccine treatments, Loki could become cancer free and have several more good years ahead of him.

There was no question that Emma & Wyatt would do everything possible not only to minimize Loki's pain and suffering with this diagnosis, but also find whatever options they could in extending his life and maintaining his quality of life with them. He has already proved himself to be strong, brave, and resilient in healing from surgery and moving around the world with three legs, and he continues to show his bright, playful, and sweet personality with all that life has thrown at him, and with every recurring vet visit he has had to do and will continue to have to do. The burden of this diagnosis and treatment is very high, and while we cannot fully alleviate the emotional strain of Emma & Wyatt going through this with Loki, we can come together and help alleviate some of the immense financial burden associated in hopes they can fully focus on being strong for him.

Loki's amputation surgery alone was $8,000, and as he goes through chemotherapy treatment every 3 weeks for the next 4-5 months, he will have to have repeated x-rays under sedation to check for cancer metastasis. In order to participate in the Yale vaccine clinical trial, which will give Loki the absolute best prognosis at longer life, he will need to travel with them to Ventura for additional diagnostics to begin the 3-vaccine series, which they will continue while working with their local vet oncologist in Berkeley.

Anyone who knows Emma or Wyatt knows just how important Loki is to them and how wonderful of a life they have given him since his rescue as a very young dog. I hope we can all come together to help them through this, both with emotional support and by helping ease some of the difficulties of these decisions going forward. We are incredibly grateful for any amount of help you can offer.