Operation Save Darwin
Donation protected
Darwin's entire life has been dedicated to service - to be a seeing eye dog for the blind. Born into the Guide Dogs of America program, he was fostered for 18 months with his volunteer puppy raisers before 6 months of formal Guide Dog training....
...and July 29th, 2017 he graduated from guide dog school and was partnered with a blind woman living in southern California!
For over a year he gave her the independence to go to the store, doctor’s appointments and braille school without the assistance of an aid.
Now Darwin needs our help!
Four months past his 3rd birthday a small lump was discovered on his abdomen. After seeing the veterinarian, it was determined that this growth must be immediately surgically removed, and tested further. After further testing, they concluded that it was a High Grade/Stage 3 Mast Cell tumor. Given his young age (3 years), and the high grading of the tumor, his only hope is immediate chemotherapy treatment.
Without treatment, Darwin will not survive past a few months. With aggressive chemotherapy treatment - a combination of injection and oral - his survival turns from months to potentially years, and ideally that miracle of remission we all hope for.
***Please note that side effects for dogs are milder and generally last for a shorter period of time than for humans receiving chemotherapy, so we have been assured that outside of a rare adverse effect, he will be mostly comfortable and living his life to the fullest. This is where we are asking for help.
The tests, surgeries, and treatments are not cheap. Guide Dogs of America is no longer able to offer any assistance, so Darwin has been taken back into the care of us - his volunteer puppy raisers, who served as his parents for the majority of his life. This was obviously unexpected and a massive financial undertaking.
Just to begin the initial round of diagnostics - just to be seen - will cost an estimated $3000. The chemotherapy begins at $1000/month. This does not include all of the additional medication, blood work, exams, potential surgeries, and office visit fees. The overall funding goal was determined alongside the veterinarian, based on their recommendations.
While Darwin’s life has been special and full of adventure, there are certain limitations for guide dogs. For example, Darwin has never even been to a dog park. We are asking for time. Time to let him run and play and just be a dog for a while. He has dedicated literally his entire life to being a service dog and he deserves more than what he has left.
Darwin has positively touched so many lives, and dedicated his whole life to service. Now it is he that needs our help, and we are looking to family, friends, and even strangers for anything at all that you can contribute. Gratitude is too weak a word for the appreciation we have for any and all donations. Please help us give our boy a fighting chance!
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for whatever you can manage.
Sincerely,
Team Darwin
#operationsavedarwin
...and July 29th, 2017 he graduated from guide dog school and was partnered with a blind woman living in southern California!
For over a year he gave her the independence to go to the store, doctor’s appointments and braille school without the assistance of an aid.
Now Darwin needs our help!
Four months past his 3rd birthday a small lump was discovered on his abdomen. After seeing the veterinarian, it was determined that this growth must be immediately surgically removed, and tested further. After further testing, they concluded that it was a High Grade/Stage 3 Mast Cell tumor. Given his young age (3 years), and the high grading of the tumor, his only hope is immediate chemotherapy treatment.
Without treatment, Darwin will not survive past a few months. With aggressive chemotherapy treatment - a combination of injection and oral - his survival turns from months to potentially years, and ideally that miracle of remission we all hope for.
***Please note that side effects for dogs are milder and generally last for a shorter period of time than for humans receiving chemotherapy, so we have been assured that outside of a rare adverse effect, he will be mostly comfortable and living his life to the fullest. This is where we are asking for help.
The tests, surgeries, and treatments are not cheap. Guide Dogs of America is no longer able to offer any assistance, so Darwin has been taken back into the care of us - his volunteer puppy raisers, who served as his parents for the majority of his life. This was obviously unexpected and a massive financial undertaking.
Just to begin the initial round of diagnostics - just to be seen - will cost an estimated $3000. The chemotherapy begins at $1000/month. This does not include all of the additional medication, blood work, exams, potential surgeries, and office visit fees. The overall funding goal was determined alongside the veterinarian, based on their recommendations.
While Darwin’s life has been special and full of adventure, there are certain limitations for guide dogs. For example, Darwin has never even been to a dog park. We are asking for time. Time to let him run and play and just be a dog for a while. He has dedicated literally his entire life to being a service dog and he deserves more than what he has left.
Darwin has positively touched so many lives, and dedicated his whole life to service. Now it is he that needs our help, and we are looking to family, friends, and even strangers for anything at all that you can contribute. Gratitude is too weak a word for the appreciation we have for any and all donations. Please help us give our boy a fighting chance!
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for whatever you can manage.
Sincerely,
Team Darwin
#operationsavedarwin
Co-organizers (2)
Josh Gallner
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Katie Alexander
Co-organizer