Running for Ruger: Donate to Help Pets in Need

Running for Ruger.

My name is Kristin Degnan and I’m running my first marathon in honor of my soul dog, Ruger, who crossed the rainbow bridge July 3, 2025. Ruger was an Australian Shepherd. I got him when I was 21 and we literally grew up together. He was, by far, the best dog I could have asked for. Ruger was smart, gentle, funny, loyal, patient, and sweet. He was my shadow, my best friend, and my adventure buddy for 11.5 wonderful years.

Ruger collapsed after a play session on July 1, 2025 and I rushed him to an emergency vet in Lynchburg, VA where they quickly pinpointed the issue. He had a significant amount of fluid around his heart that was preventing his heart from expanding normally. We went straight to Virginia Tech for an emergency cardiology consult. There, a dedicated team diagnosed the cause as a large mass on his right atrium, which was identified as angiosarcoma. In a matter of hours I went from living with my happy and healthy senior dog (who had just had recent blood work done and passed with flying colors), to my best friend having only days or weeks left to live as his body fought against this aggressive cancer. I chose to have the cardiology team remove the fluid from around his heart to make sure he was comfortable, so I could have a little bit of time to take him home, spoil him, and say goodbye to my best friend. He peacefully crossed the rainbow bridge 2 days later and I am now preparing to run the VA Beach Shamrock marathon in March of 2026 to honor Ruger and all the miles we walked/ran/traveled together.

To honor Ruger’s life, I am raising money to donate to 4 different animal causes.

1) Lake Forest Animal Hospital was Ruger’s regular veterinarian who took great care of him during his golden years. I will donate 1/4 of funds raised to their Angel fund, to help owners who can’t afford their animal’s vet care.

2) Lynchburg Animal Emergency Clinic was the facility that pinpointed the fluid around his heart as the issue and referred us to VT specialists. I will donate 1/4 of funds raised to their Angel fund, to help owners who need assistance affording their emergency, because no decisions should have to be made based solely on finances.

3) Virginia Tech Small Animal Clinic is where I was able to take Ruger to get a consult with a great cardiology team, who performed a procedure in middle of the night to make sure Ruger was comfortable. I will donate 1/4 of funds raised to their Angel fund, to help owners who can’t afford their emergency or specialty consultation, again, because no decisions should have to be made based solely on finances.

4) Last but not least, Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter is a non-profit that is near and dear to my heart. I volunteer with this organization to help train and evaluate dogs who are in the shelter, looking for their forever homes. Ruger was kind enough to share me with these dogs, and I will donate 1/4 of the funds raised to this organization to help cover the medical costs for these pups who deserve a chance at finding their soul person and forever homes.

Ruger was my dog, but he was also a dog’s dog. He loved every dog he met and I would love to help make other dogs’ lives just a little bit better, with these funds raised in honor of my best friend.

My ultimate goal is to raise $2,620 per cause, in honor of the 26.2 miles I am running.

Please consider donating in honor of Ruger, in honor of your healthy pet that hopefully never needs emergency care, or in memory of your soul dog/rainbow pets.

Any amount helps! If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this go fund me for more exposure, or follow Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter on Facebook or Instagram to help these pets get exposure and find their forever homes. Thank you for the love and support!