UPDATE - July 10, 2025

Happy 9th Adoption Day, Bear!

Hi everyone,

Emma here with a good news update on this very special day.

Happy 9 Years of Bear! On this day, 9 years ago, my sweet boy and I made it official. I know that he and I would not be here today without the incredible support of so many of you—even before this cancer diagnosis. The support and donations over the last two months have been absolutely incredible, and I'm SO grateful for your help in Bear's fight.

Great News: Bear has now completed his initial treatment for oral melanoma! He's in good spirits and appears to be in good health despite his diagnosis. With your generous support, we've been able to raise enough to cover 1/2 of his initial treatment costs—thank you so much, we truly couldn't have done it without you!

The Medical Update: While there's no talk of remission, we are thrilled to report that the cancer appears to have not spread. The timeline right now looks like a booster shot every 4 months, costing roughly $2,000 each, until further notice.

Final Push: I'll be leaving the fundraiser open until the end of day tomorrow, July 11. Absolutely no pressure, but if you're able to send one final push or adoption day birthday gift, it'll make such a difference for me and this little guy as we move into the ongoing care phase.

What This Means: Every single donation has directly contributed to Bear completing his treatment and giving us hope for more time together. Whether you contributed the cost of a coffee or much more, you're part of Bear's extended family and his continued fight.

Bear is currently celebrating his adoption day the way he loves best—hiking Lynn Valley and frolicking in the water, while demanding as many butt scratches as two hands can possibly give. Thank you for helping make this possible.

With endless gratitude and hope,

Emma (and the birthday boy, Bear)

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Hi everyone,

I'm Emma, better known as Bear's mom. If you're reading this, you've likely been blessed by Bear's fluffy, calm (and maybe stinky) presence over the past 9 years.

Bear's Diagnosis: Just weeks before my graduate thesis defense, what started as routine surgery to remove some benign bumps turned into devastating news. A new vet I was seeing at Kerrisdale Vet Hospital was the first to properly investigate the gum growth I'd been mentioning to other vets for months. The biopsy confirmed our worst fears: Bear has malignant oral melanoma.

In dogs, this cancer is typically fatal. However, there's hope - a specialized oral melanoma vaccine that's proven to extend quality of life by up to 6 months compared to no treatment.

The Good News: Bear is currently in excellent health despite his diagnosis. His lab results are strong, he's still his usual self, and both the internal medicine team and our vets are optimistic about his response to treatment. He appears unbothered by his condition and still demands his daily butt scratches.

The Challenge: The treatment isn't cheap. Here's what we're looking at:

• 4 initial vaccine injections over 8 weeks: ~$6,400

• Additional boosters if successful: ~$1,600 each

• Regular labs and checkups: ~$2,000

• Total by September 2025: approximately $10,000

Why I'm Asking: I adopted Bear when I was 24 and I've been his primary and often sole provider ever since. Over the last few years, between grad school and some personal legal challenges, resources have been tight. My family wants to help, but this is a substantial amount for anyone.

I've struggled with asking for help publicly. I know everyone faces their own challenges, and there are countless worthy causes competing for support. I also know that pet ownership comes with the promise of significant expenses and eventual heartbreak.

But Bear has touched so many lives over these 9 years together. If he's ever brought you joy - whether through a cuddle, a laugh, or just his goofy presence - I'm hoping you might consider helping extend his time with us.

How You Can Help Even the cost of a coffee cup makes a difference. Every dollar gets us closer to giving Bear the best possible chance at more quality time together.

July 10th marks 9 years with my fluffy mystery boy. Help me give him the gift of more birthdays to come. Thank you for considering a donation, and thank you for being part of Bear's extended family.

With gratitude, Emma (and Bear)