Each year on January 9th, Pippa celebrates her birthday with an adventure. She traipses through the snowy mountains of Vermont at daybreak, and dons a party hat for her candle-lit peanut butter cake.

“It was the most perfect day,” Kendra effused between silencing an IV fluid pump and cooing a distressed feline. She was catching me up on the day off she took for Pippa’s birthday.

On February 27th, for her own birthday, Kendra worked a 12-hour shift in the ICU.

Kendra and Pippa share a bond that transcends words. Their story is one of companionship, loyalty, and unwavering devotion—a testament to the profound connection between a human and their beloved canine companion.

Kendra, an accomplished ICU nurse, tirelessly devotes herself to her patients at Vermont's sole 24/7 emergency animal hospital. She has earned the admiration of her coworkers since her 2,700-mile move from Boise, Idaho, in 2022, accompanied by her fiance, Dylan; her cat, Beans, and her cherished dog, Pippa.

Last month, while admiring a recent photo of Pippa, Kendra noticed a new subcutaneous mass atop her head. This ensued a frenzy of diagnostics- radiographs, a CT scan, and an incisional biopsy. But these tests only confirmed our worst fears: Pippa had cancer, specifically, suspected multilobular osteochrondrosarcoma.

Pippa’s next adventure will be an appointment at Maine Veterinary Medical Center, where she will consult with veterinary specialists on a possible same-day craniectomy -- or in other words, a surgical procedure that removes a part of the skull.

Although Kendra has devoted her life to veterinary medicine, it is crucial to recognize the financial burden veterinary care can impose on any owner. Despite her expertise and commitment, the expenses associated with high-level care remain a reality for many owners.

It is with a heavy heart and a plea for support that we ask you to consider donating to Pippa’s care. The treatment plan outlined by Pippa’s veterinary team is essential to her recovery, but the financial burden will be overwhelming.

As much as the entire BEVS staff wishes we could shoulder this expense on our own, the reality is the costs will be enormous. That is why we're turning to our community for support. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in Pippa’s journey to recovery.

Your generosity will directly contribute to covering the cost of Pippa’s medical treatments, medications, and any necessary procedures. More importantly, your kindness will give Pippa a fighting chance to overcome this diagnosis.

Kendra and Pippa’s journey is far from over. We all know one thing for certain- no matter what the future holds, they will face it together, one adventure at a time.