The last time I was at the vet, I grabbed a flyer for Chase Away K9 Cancer — an effort by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine inspired by one special dog.
Chase was a black Lab who had made quite a name for herself in the hunting and dock jumping arenas. She was an AKC Master Hunter and an Elite Jumper in the DockDogs Big Air competition.
But when Chase was just six years old, she was diagnosed with cancer and quickly passed away in June 2006. Chase’s owner Cera decided to honor Chase’s memory by raising money to support canine cancer research in the hopes of someday finding a cure. She formed a partnership with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation and went to work. The ACVIM is the group that certifies veterinarians in specializations like oncology, neurology, and cardiology.
Chase’s mom approached DockDogs — a group that organizes and runs dock jumping competitions. In short order, people were raising money at DockDogs competitions all around the country. Agility clubs got word of the movement and joined in. Between DockDogs, agility clubs, a donation from the Outdoor Channel, and the help of a private donor, Chase Away K9 Cancer raised more than one hundred thousand dollars in its first year.
Grants were awarded in 2007 and 2008 to support bone cancer (osteosarcoma) and blood cancer (hemangiosarcoma) research. Who knows — the research done on canine cancer may also benefit humans with similar cancers. Some brain tumors in dogs, for example, are very similar to brain tumors in humans.
Learn more about Chase Away K9 Cancer — or make a donation to help support canine cancer research — at www.acvimfoundation.org. According to the ACVIM, one hundred percent of all donations and all net proceeds of merchandise directly support canine cancer research. That’s pretty amazing!