2004 Annual Walk for Smiling
Blues Raised $2400!!!
The
University of Guelph's Pet Trust, is a fund devoted to providing
financial assistance for the advancement of health, health care, and
quality of life, for companion animals. More than 120 studies into
naturally occurring diseases affecting companion animals, have been
carried out with Pet Trust funds. Pet Trust is overseen by an
independent Board of Trustees, and is administered by the Dean of the
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). To date, Pet Trust funds have been
used for many special projects, including, investigations into common
health problems, the development of new diagnostics and therapeutic
techniques, studies involving the human-animal bond and animal behaviour,
and the upgrading of the Small Animal Clinic's Intensive Care Unit. Receipts
for tax credit purposes, are issued for all contributions to OVC's
programmes, under the University of Guelph's charitable status number.
Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in dogs. This is a truly
frightening thought. In an independent survey conducted by the Golden
Retriever Club of America, it was determined that over sixty per cent of
Goldens die from cancer. As one breeder pointed out, if you have Golden
Retrievers, you have had, have now, or will have a Golden with cancer.
It is a burden that we all share. In loving our dogs, whether pure
breeds or mixed breeds, we want the very best for them, in health, and
in sickness.
Every dollar donated to The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund (known
officially as Pet Trust: In Memory of Blues), supports
OVC's quest to find more and better ways to deal with and understand
this terrible disease. Pet Trust's aim is to spend as much money as
possible each year, so that they are having the maximum impact and doing
the most work possible. We have been told, that in sharing Blues' story,
we have helped to raise awareness of Pet Trust and OVC's fight against
cancer. Thanks to you, we are making a difference.
It has been said, that if we could hang all of our sorrows on pegs, and
were allowed to choose those we liked best, every one of us would take
back their own, for all the rest would seem even more difficult to bear.
Please help us to help our animal companions, and change the punch line
of the cruel joke we call Cancer.
The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund is in loving memory of our beautiful
Blues Man, who taught us the true meaning of being a show dog. He
showed us how to live, love, laugh, and learn.
Please send your donations to:
"Pet Trust Fund: In Memory of Blues" Attention: Andrew Moore; Dean's Office
Ontario Veterinary College
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
N1G 2W1
Please make sure to clearly indicate that your donation is in memory of
Blues. Cheques should be made out to "Pet Trust: In Memory of
Blues". VISA and MasterCard are also accepted, and there is the
additional option of setting up a monthly bank account debit or monthly
credit card charge for up to one year.
If you would like to honour someone and/or a companion animal, by making
a donation to The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund, please send your
donation, along with information about the receiving individual or
family (in whose honour or memory the donation is being made, your name
and address, and the address of the receiving individual or family).
All donations will be acknowledged by a receipt for tax credit purposes
and a very special limited edition card, with inscription.
If you have questions or require more information about Pet Trust,
please contact:
the Smiling Blue Skies Walk for Canine Cancer was held on Sunday, August
10th in Port Carling, Ontario. This was the first annual Paws for a Cause
Walk-A-Thon with all proceeds going to Pet Trust: In Memory of Blues, for
the treatment and research of canine cancer, University of Guelph Pet Trust
Fund, Ontario Veterinary College.
Thanks to so many wonderful people, who came out, with or without dogs, to
participate in this special event, $2820.00 was raised! Special thanks
to Brandilyn Montgomery, because without her, we could not be saying . . .
We hope to see you all out next year, for an even bigger and better Smiling
Blue Skies Walk for Canine Cancer!
This year's
Smiling Blue Skies Walk for Canine Cancer is Saturday, August 14th, 2004, at 1:00 p.m., and the place is the very beautiful Huckleberry Rock Lookout Trail.
Huckleberry Rock, has been well known as a scenic outlook, for over 100 years. Today, tree growth limits the sight, but the view is still magnificent. The rocks in this area, are some of the oldest in the world -- well over one billion years old. The effects of
glaciations, timber harvesting, erosion, and fire, have removed the thin mantle of soil, exposing the surface of the beautiful pink granite rock. The trail is a 2.5 km loop, with moderate hills.
To find the Lookout, take Highway 118 from Bracebridge towards Port Carling.
Turn west onto Milford Bay Road where the parking lot is marked by signs.
Please mark your calendars now, for this very special event. We will be updating Blues' web site, as more information about the walk becomes available.
Our first walk was awesome . . . Let's reach beyond the bluest skies, to the brightest stars, on behalf of the University of Guelph's Pet Trust Programme -- Pet Trust, In Memory of Blues, and take a big bite out of canine cancer!
When Melissa Topper,
a Grade 5 student Orono, Ontario, needed to choose a topic speech
to present to classmates, she decided talk about her friend Toby,
a golden retriever who died of spinal cancer at two years of as
well as Pet Trust's role in advancing animal health. Melissa is
also a financial supporter of Pet Trust. She suggested to her
entrepreneur that they develop an aromatherapy spray dogs. The
spray, called “Toby” after their is sold through veterinary
offices and some Valu stores in Ontario. $1 from the sale bottle
of spray is donated to Pet Trust. Melissa Topper and Toby.
Supporter shares Pet Trust message:
Dr. Mary Waddell and her husband
Tom are long-time Pet Trust supporters. Here, she shares her
personal story about the recent loss of her dog Streak. An excerpt
from this story was also published in the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of
DOGsport magazine.
One of my best friends died recently. It was unexpected and has
been, personally, quite a devastating experience. He was young,
handsome, athletic and lots of fun to be with. He had a
mischievous streak about him. I loved the time we spent together,
and am feeling quite lost without him here by my side. I wasn't
ready to say goodbye. His name was Streak, and he was my seven
year-old golden retriever who has a= strangle-hold on my heart
still. He died from complications from a Hemangiosarcoma that
bled. Streak was our third dog to die from cancer, our second
golden in less than two years to die from a Hemangiosarcoma. Our
first golden with cancer was Riley, who, at 2.5 years of age was
diagnosed with Lymphoma. She was treated at OVC, receiving
chemotherapy, and then radiation as part of a clinical trial. Her
disease went into remission for 21 months before she relapsed and
subsequently died. Our second golden, Sarah, had cancer twice,
once at five years of age, a low grade mast cell tumour that
required surgery, and then at 11 years of age, when she died from
Hemangiosarcoma.
Like many people, we didn't know Pet Trust existed until the
veterinary oncologist told us about a clinical trial funded by Pet
Trust in which Riley was able to participate. I have no doubt in
my mind that Riley's participation in that study exposed her to
treatment that put her cancer into remission for nearly two years,
during which time her quality of life was excellent. It allowed us
additional time with her, and many wonderful memories. There is no
government agency that funds companion animal research. The only
avenue for veterinary researchers at OVC to access much needed
funds to support
this essential work is through Pet Trust. I intended to write this
article seven years ago, after Riley's death. But the pain of her
loss has stayed with me for such a long time. Streak's illness and
death has been equally difficult, but has reminded me of just how
far veterinary medicine has come, and how much more they could do
if they had the financial means to fund research into companion
animal health.
My husband and I have been Pet Trust supporters since our
experience with the clinical trial that Riley participated in
which was funded by Pet Trust. We know from personal experience
that the research funded by Pet Trust, is, in very tangible ways,
benefiting our companion animals. The wellbeing of our companion
animals depends on continued financial support of the type of
research supported by Pet Trust.
- Dr. Mary Waddell
Sponsors for The Smiling Blue Skies Paws for a Cause Walk-A-Thon, included:
Bala Royal Canadian Legion; Cheryl Mortimer and the Township of Muskoka
Lakes; 4M Enterprises; Happy Tails Resort; Heather McLeod and "Scoopies";
IAMS; Jackie Lindsay and "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!"; Jane Matchuk and the West
Muskoka Chamber of Commerce; Jim Eaton and "Pets Quarterly Magazine";
Kathleen Barry and Bow Wow Bakery; Kong Company; Lisa Verkley and Goldwing
Communications; Lorilyne Myke and Cabin Savy and Glen Orchard General Store;
Lutz Brodie and MICA Sportswear; Margaret Ferguson and 5 O'clock Dog; Martin
and Marilyn Weber and "Dogg-on It"; Michele Gagnon and Willow Creek Pet
Gifts; Muskoka Magazine; PABA; Paulmac's Pet Food; PetsMart; Pet Valu; Pets in Motion; Sharon and "Sadie's Choice"; Sarah Baxter and the
Wagtime Pet Gear Company; Shannon Darch and "Animates"; Smiling Blue Skies
Ceramics; Pets in Motion; The Port Carling Lions Club.
Thanks to special people like you, and our wonderful participants and their
sponsors, we are making a difference in the fight against canine cancer, one
paw at a time. Hope to see you next year!.
In 1998, Rochelle Lesser's Golden Retriever, Oliver, was diagnosed with lymphoma. Sadly, the cancer had been discovered at a very late stage of the disease, and he failed to respond to the chemotherapy. So, in the most unselfish of acts, Ollie was allowed to take that final journey to the furry playground of angels.
That is when Rochelle began her own education process, learning that the problem is huge, with one in four developing cancer, and between 50 to 60% of those diagnosed dying of their disease. Similarly, four million new canine cancer diagnoses are made annually, affecting both young and old.
Renowned veterinarian and author, Dr. Marty Becker, writes that “Our pets lend a touch of grace to our lives. They teach us the real meaning of unconditional love and bring out the kindest and most generous impulses of humanity.”
As we endeavor to extend that purest of relationships, we are embracing the latest in cancer treatment regimens. Yet, for many, the costs are beyond their means. And, for assistance dog partners on limited incomes and whose very survival depends on their canine's continued good health, a diagnosis of cancer can translate into a death sentence for their beloved helpers.
The Perseus Foundation, like The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund, through the University of Guelph's Pet Trust Fund (University of Guelph Veterinary Teaching College and Hospital), is bringing awareness to the critical area of canine cancer and of the continuing advances being made in veterinary oncology.
The Perseus Foundation has created a fund to help with treatment costs for assistance dog handlers in the United States and CANADA. It is their hope, to form a nationwide network of participating veterinary oncologists, further providing transportation and lodging for those respective assistance dog teams.
Explore Rochelle's 1500+ selection of dog inspired apparel, journals, cards, housewares, and gifts. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the proceeds, will fund cancer treatment for service dogs diagnosed with cancer.
ALL ARTIST WORKS AND SERVICES HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THIS CAUSE, including selected designs and photographs from Suzi Beber, including some that are showcased on The Smiling Blue Skies web site, as well as special designs donated for this very special cause. Come see Miracles with Paws, Awakening the Soul, Knowlish the Whippet, and Mr. Shmoosh Face, and help us to help those who depend on their beloved service dogs.
Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in dogs. This is a truly
frightening thought. In an independent survey conducted by the Golden
Retriever Club of America, it was determined that over sixty per cent of
Goldens die from cancer. As one breeder pointed out, if you have Golden
Retrievers, you have had, have now, or will have a Golden with cancer.
It is a burden that we all share. In loving our dogs, whether pure
breeds or mixed breeds, we want the very best for them, in health, and
in sickness.
