Chip was brought into my family when I was a lonely, depressed 14 year old girl who couldn’t figure out if she wanted friends or hated them. I’d come home from school everyday, and we’d walk around Cambridge Springs for hours. We’d sit on the front porch during thunderstorms and when it was freezing out, huddled together under a blanket. If I sat next to him and didn’t immediately wrap my arm around him, he’d nudge underneath my arm until I did. We’d spin around in the snow and he’d jump up to catch snowflakes. He loves cats and rabbits, and he likes to watch birds. He is my best friend, and I honestly believe that he has saved my life. Now it’s time for me to try to return the favor.

Chip is almost 13 years old now, and he’s been slowing down and struggling with stairs and jumping. After consulting with our vet, what we originally thought was arthritis causing his struggles turned out to be an enlarged spleen due to a potentially malignant mass. This mass is causing his spleen to press onto his stomach and intestines, causing a severely decreased appetite and 8 pounds of weight loss in less than 2 months, and possibly causing compression on his spine, resulting in his arthritis symptoms.

If Chip does not undergo an explorative surgery in which his spleen will be removed and tested for malignancy, his spleen will rupture and he will pass away from internal bleeding. Unfortunately, this procedure will cost up to $10,000, but it’s the only thing that can save his life.

Chip has lived in Cambridge Springs his entire life. He walks up to the school with me sometimes to pick up my nieces and nephews. We walk down to the fairgrounds so he can check out the new playground. We used to take a break from our walk in the gazebo at Marcy Park before dogs were no longer allowed. He’s walked in the Firemen’s Festival Pet Parade with my niece 5 times (as Uncle Sam, a UPS delivery man, a ninja turtle, a shark attacking a surfer, and a cute nurse!) If you live in Cambridge Springs, then you’ve probably either met or seen Chip.

This surgery and removal of Chip’s spleen doesn’t guarantee that he’ll live, as there’s a 65%-70% chance that the mass is malignant and has already spread, but there is a 30% chance that it’s not. That makes this surgery his best chance!