Zara was born on May 13, 2018. The day we met and took Zara home still feels like it was yesterday. Sometimes I wish it was yesterday. She wasn’t sure what to think. She was a little shy and afraid of us at first, but once in the car, she cuddled up the whole ride home. Those cuddles, love, loyalty, trust and sense of family/friendship have been with us since that moment. Some people may not understand, but she’s more than a dog to us.

Everyone says they have the best dog, but we know we do. When she was a puppy, she was a blessing that hadn’t revealed itself yet. We didn’t know at the time, having been our first puppy, how easy we had it. She was such an easy pup. Whether it was teaching her tricks, commands, or basic communication, or training her to go to the bathroom, she was always calm and strong, and she never did anything wrong. Zara never chewed a thing and she only barks when the doorbell rings or if she feels her family needs to be protected.

Zara loves playing hockey in the basement. Hockey sticks out, and passing a ball back and forth would have Zara out cold as a puppy. It no longer plays her out, but anytime you mention the word “hockey” her ears are straight up just like they are for the words “treats” and “walk.”

Fast forward 6 years, we’ve hiked to the tops of mountains and walked hundreds of miles of rivers together. We’ve planted trees and watched them grow in the backyard. We’ve shared laughter when we do something silly and she’s been there to hold me up and warm our hearts when the hardships of life present themselves. She’s bonded with both of our families and has become such a special fixture in all of our lives.

Unfortunately, in July 2024, we found a lump on Zara’s nose. We immediately booked a vet appointment, did an exam, and tests and got her on some antibiotics for culture in the nose. No changes. We come back and do another round of different antibiotics. No changes. This leads the vet to now suspect that the lump could be something else. We start discussing cancer and tumours. We were referred to a specialist in October and had a meeting with them. The next steps were to get a CT scan and rhinoscopy to finally try and diagnose Zara, but what we didn’t expect was the cost it would be to get to that step. At this point, we had already spent hundreds of dollars on vet appointments and medication. After meeting with the specialist, they quoted us prices ranging from $6,000-$9,000 for us to get a diagnosis. This is when we realized that we may lose our beloved family member. It hurts. It pains us because Zara is something we would do anything for but unfortunately, we cannot afford it. She is our best friend.

We didn’t think of this option (GoFundMe) until January. Three months after our specialist appointment and a week since our last vet appointment. Her lump has changed and the vet said it seems it’s becoming more aggressive. We want Zara to be able to climb another mountain with us this summer and explore those rivers with us again! We just want to give her the chance to continue living the best life possible.

This is why we are asking for help. If you can donate even a small amount, we would greatly appreciate it. This would assist us in paying for Zara's diagnosing and medical expenses to come. If not, please share Zara’s story, and we will be forever grateful. Your kindness will help save a beautiful life. Thank you.