Junebug, is my happy, roly-poly and adored,  7 year old American Staffordshire Terrier. She's the love of my life and she has cancer. She's been my constant shadow since I adopted her from a local rescue group (shout out to Pet Rescue of Mercer) when she was a year old. In that short year, Junebug, who was originally named Diamond by her abusive owners, had suffered much and experienced more neglect than man's best friend ever should. Her delicate ears were callously cropped to almost nothing in an effort to make her appear more menacing. She was beaten. Physically and emotionally abused, in a  misguided attempt to "toughen her" up and make her aggressive.

But the truth is, that the very people entrusted to be her guardians and love and protect her, failed miserably in their efforts. Despite everything she'd been through, they could not break her spirit or harden her heart. Junebug, you see, is a sheep in wolf's clothing. The antithesis of everything that given her background, she ought to be.  She's gentle, sensitive, happy, affectionate, trustworthy, a big ol' mush and I could go on. After losing my first dog to cancer at only 3 years old, she waddled into my life and mended my heart when it needed it most and now she needs me.

Early in January, Junebug's biopsy results came back showing that she had mandibular osteosarcoma. In simple terms, she has bone cancer of the lower jaw. The x-rays showed that the tumor was spreading and after speaking to an oncologist I was informed that her only chance of survival would be radical surgery that would involve removing most of her lower jaw and give her a 62% chance of survival (possibly more!). I was crushed. A second (young) dog with cancer and the timing couldn't have been worse. In September, after 12 years with my company, I was laid off and financially it's been a struggle. The following month a close family member was diagnosed with cancer and on the heels of that came Junebug's diagnosis. Despite the financial and emotional hurdles of having to carry a mortgage, bills and the care of two additional rescue pets alone, there was never a question in my mind as to how to proceed. With money I didn't have, I scheduled one appointment after the next and now two weeks post-surgery, I've easily amassed over $7,000 in vet bills with impending bills to come. She's healing well but will need follow-up chest x-rays every 3 months for a year and then every 6 months thereafter. I'm hoping by then I'll be back on my feet.

This squishy, pygmy-hippopotamus-lookin' little pitbull has many more years to live but she is in the fight of her life. She saved my life when I was in a very dark place and now with your help, maybe I can do the same for her. Thank you in advance for your support and any assistance you might be able give! Junebug and I are eternally grateful.