STOP CANCER FUREVER PLEDGE

I will pledge to stop cancer in our beautiful Goldens.

We hate hemangiosarcoma. We lost both our beautiful GOLDEN RETRIEVER LIFETIME STUDY HEROES to it in 2022 and 2024. Angel Hero 1133 Ruby and Angel Hero Gus 2497 were my first but not my last Goldens. I pray every day that the same fate doesn’t befall my Golden Supporter puppy, Hudson.

My first Golden became very anxious in his 10th year, wanting to go out at night a few times. I would get annoyed because he did not have to go to the bathroom, and I would find him in the backyard lying down in the grass. Now, looking back, I know he was in pain due to lymphoma. He was gone within 6 months. I gladly support getting rid of this terrible disease.

My first Golden became very anxious in his 10th year, wanting to go out at night a few times. I would get annoyed because he did not have to go to the bathroom, and I would find him in the backyard lying down in the grass. Now, looking back, I know he was in pain due to lymphoma. He was gone within 6 months. I gladly support getting rid of this terrible disease.

My first Golden became very anxious in his 10th year, wanting to go out at night a few times. I would get annoyed because he did not have to go to the bathroom, and I would find him in the backyard lying down in the grass. Now, looking back, I know he was in pain due to lymphoma. He was gone within 6 months. I gladly support getting rid of this terrible disease.

My Nikon was diagnosed at just 3 years old with oral squamous cell carcinoma. He was born in my home to my very first foster mom cat. When I received the diagnosis, I didn’t believe it- No way at just 3 years old. No pet owner, and no animal, should have to go through that. I pledge to do what I can to help find a cure.

I pledge because....

First, I did not set out to get a show dog. That just kinda happened. As a child, we always had a dog. I watched Westminster every year and those handlers were like movie stars to me. I thought it was so far out of reach. I would go to dog shows near where I lived from time to time but I never knew what was going on. I just loved seeing all the dogs!
My dog trainer friend, Kate Bullock, knew I was looking for a puppy. She hooked me up with Sara Hamilton-Moran who had one boy available. As I said, I had always had females. But I wanted a pup and this seemed to fit. Brodie was born on the same day as my current Golden (Miss Maggie who was 7 years old at the time) and I thought this was fate. He was the best puppy. He was smart and learned everything quickly.
Around 3 months old, Sara asked if I would take him to see Marsha and John York as she thought he was show quality. And if they said yes, would I consider showing him. I was like, wow, of course I would. Little did I know what I was getting into and the amount of money I would spend but that is another story. Well, Marsha and John said yes, you should show him.
Enter Lisa Gallizo. She looked at him and said, yes, she would take him on. I know in the beginning she was cussing to herself as I had no clue what I was doing. I did not know you needed to make sure he was bathed and blown and completely dry. He looked dry to me!! Well, trust me, when you think he is dry, blow him another half hour or hour. The bathing and blow would last about 4 hours. Brodie at the end of these sessions was like NO WAY! I don’t wanna get on the table anymore. I tried to buy the right products and well, we made it work and I did learn. Took a while but I did learn. Lisa taught me the ropes and all with the show world as did folks from Lenape GRC and Garden State GRC.
Brodie finished his Championship quickly with both majors at Specialty shows. I had not planned to Special him but the next show was my club show and I had to work it so why not. It was a horribly cold rainy torrential downpour day. And guess what, he took Breed! 5 points towards his GCH. Well, I could not quit now. The GCH took longer to attain but we did it.
Brodie became a Hero when I enrolled him in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study at 6 months. This was another of his great accomplishments and I hope he helps in solving some of the cancers our dogs succumb to and I hope they learn prevention or early diagnosis from all his samples and his last gift from the necropsy.
Step in my awesome veterinarian Dr Michael Engler. He was with us every step of the way doing his part for the study. Always there for me and only a text or message away no matter day or time. It was Dr Mike who found the tumor on his spleen at his study visit in Jun of 2023. He felt the horrible mass when he found the mass and we both cried. When it came back as Hemangiosarcoma, we were propelled to the next step….chemo. They said without it I would have maybe 2 months, with chemo I might see 6 months. I had insurance and I was not ready to let this boy go. For those who do not know, the chemo is about 20-25K. It’s a lot, even with insurance and the process is intense. Hard for folks who work full time as well. But I work for a great company, group and manager who worked with me in the time I needed to be away. Dr Engler was with me thru it all. His support was never ending. As I said, I messaged him a lot and he would meet me on his day off at a park or anywhere just to check out what I was worried about. He moved practices and was over an hour away but I would not have anyone else care for my boy. He is the absolute best!
Another person I need to thank is his ophthalmologist, Dr Nikki Scherrer. She also was at a moment’s notice for Brodie. She met us several times on off hours at the clinic and even one weekend told me to come to her house to treat him. They cared about him and knew I was doing the best I could for him.
The last 2 months were challenging at our house. First the week before Thanksgiving, Brodie was in pain when I gave him his eye drops. Emergency visit to Dr Scherrer and sure enough, he had an eye ulcer. We started treating that. Then the pressure in that eye skyrocketed to 60. Because I knew he was in pain, we went to see Dr Scherrer at her home. We added more drops and pain meds and scheduled an injection in his eye. She used propofol as he could not go under sedation. Then he developed a mass near his ball area. Dr Engler said he would do a local and laser it off. This mass ended up being high grade mast cell. So I knew we were on borrowed time. Last time he saw either vet, he was happy, wagging his tail and his normal self. But dang cancer gets you! Brodie was “off” on Saturday night but I figured it was the snow as not much fun when you can’t see. Sunday morning, he could not stand on his own. Scott got him out to the door and near the water bowl. He ate breakfast but did not go out all day Sunday which was snowmageden at our house. I could not take the chance trying to travel in that. I talked with Dr Mike and he said bring him in the morning. I don’t think any of us thought he would make it thru the night but he did. Let’s just say that I did not have sleep. We made the dreaded trip Monday morning on horrible roads. Dr Mike performed the necropsy and let me know that he had a mass in the liver which had ruptured and several on his lungs. I know we did the best for him and there just was no way out of this one but oh what I would not give for one more day. I know most of you can relate.

Caleb collapsed on our walk on a Tuesday morning. He was nearly fifteen. A kind neighbor helped me get him home. He lay quietly on the kitchen floor until about two-thirty that afternoon, when I began doing a therapy session with a patient. Caleb had worked with me every day i my therapy practice from the time he was three. Shortly after the session began, I ehard a scratch at the door. There was Caleb, ready for work! Caleb worked with me until that Friday, when he could not leave the kitchen, his favorite spot in the house. At five twenty that day he took his last breath. My vet, who came to the house to pick up his body ,did an ultrasound when she got him to the hospital and told me Caleb had died from hemangiosarcoma. I miss him every day, as do my other dogs. I will fight against animal cancer for as long as I live, to honor Caleb's courage and his love and dedication to his work.

My wife and I have had 7 Goldens of our own and fostered dozens more for a rescue. Morgan was our first and everyone loved him and he loved everyone. Out of 7 Goldens, we've had six who passed from cancer. Each was our best friend and tears may come when thinking about them today...Cancer Sucks...

I never want another animal to suffer from
Pancreatic cancer like my baby girl did

I lost my beloved Andy to hemangiosarcoma last September…I must admit,I’d never heard of this cancer.
He appeared to be in perfect health…one morning he wouldn’t eat his breakfast,I thought maybe he’d
eaten some bad pizza he ingested on a walk…the second day I took him to the vet,they ran tests,they came back horrible.
The local vet said I should take him to the emergency vet,he died on the way…2 days sick and he was gone.
but,I was with him when he left

I lost my beloved golden, Mighty Quinn on May 5, 2025. He didn't show any symptoms, but we visited the vet after he threw up his dinner twice. She ran a few tests and diagnosed him with cancer on April 8. We began working with a holistic provider, but by the beginning of May he had stopped eating. He still wanted to be near his golden sister, Xena, and me, all the time. We knew it was nearing the end and didn't want him to collapse and suffer. She provided at-home euthanasia. What really hurt was that he was only 6 1/2 years old. His sister will be turning 6 next week and I also now have another golden puppy, Rowan, who is 6 months old. I always called Quinn my "old soul" and will miss him always. He was the "bestest boy." Please continue to research this devastating disease and find a cure!

Tater was my best friend. He accompanied me everywhere. He touched my soul like no other dog has. He was Hero #359 in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. He was still qualifying and earning titles in AKC Agility at 13 years 11 months old. He died of Hemangiosarcoma 14 days shy of 14 years old. Tater was such a loving compassionate dog. He left a huge gaping hole in my heart and will be forever missed.

I never want another single cat to have to face squamous cell carcinoma like my sweet girl, Gizmo did.

Our golden retriever Sam lost his battle with lymphoma last October, 17 months after his diagnosis. Strong and dignified until the very end, he battled this disease with grace and a never ending sense of purpose - to be the best friend to all who met him. He is sorely missed, and I hope that the MAF’s research continues to provide answers for a future that is cancer-free for all our loving fur babies!