CANCER is the number one cause of death in dogs. One out of every three dogs will get cancer and 50% of those will die.
I used to think my dogs were okay until my beloved Bailey died of cancer at only eight years old. He was a golden retriever and his death tore me apart. I still miss him every day and now I look at my other three goldens and wonder which one is next. Am I being pessimistic? No. Goldens are one of the hardest hit breeds, with 75% of them dying of cancer.
But goldens are not alone in this battle for their lives. With one out of every three dogs getting cancer, all breeds of dog are at risk - mine, yours, everyones. But I assure you it is not all bad news, there is hope! We have never been closer to finding a cure for cancer in dogs, but we need everyone's help to accomplish that goal. Here's how we are going to find the cure.
We all must work together, and if we do we will reach our goal and find the cure for cancer in dogs. Our organization is the National Canine Cancer Foundation and through our 'We are the cure' campaign we have set a goal of raising $250 million dollars for cancer research in dogs.
But we cannot do it without your help. You, all of us, are the cure for cancer. I ask you to go to our website at www.wearethecure.org. Check us out and once you see that our heart and passion is for fighting cancer in dogs, we ask you to donate $10 or more.
Ten dollars does not buy much these days, maybe three gallons of gas, or lunch at a fast food restaurant. So you might wonder how $10 can do much for canine cancer research either, but if we all work together, yours, mine, every dog owner's and dog lover's $10 will make the difference.
I know you may be part of another non-profit organization, but all I can say is that cancer in dogs is a worldwide problem and we need a worldwide solution. Any person, or organization in any country dealing with dogs has felt the devastating effects of cancer.
If all of us give $10 we will surpass our goal of $250 million and we will find the cure. And for your $10 donation, you will receive a very nice Pink Paw car magnet showing your support for canine cancer research.
Now, there is one more thing I ask of you. Please tell all your friends about our organization and pass on our website address to them.
The National Canine Cancer Foundation (NCCF), a nationwide, contribution funded, not-for-profit corporation, has committed to its contributors that funds will go directly to the scientist studying cancer in dogs. To achieve this the foundation focuses its funding on translational, investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed proposals. This process ensures that scientists propose projects that they believe are ready to be tackled with the available knowledge and techniques, rather than working on projects designed by administrators who are far removed from the front lines of research. This intellectual freedom encourages discovery in areas that scientists believe are most likely to solve the problems of cancer.
The purpose of the foundation's research grant program is to encourage and provide grant support for basic, pre-clinical and clinical research in high impact and innovative cancer research, which is intended to develop innovative approaches to a cure, treatment, diagnosis or prevention of cancers in dogs. The program fosters collaboration between basic and clinical scientists with the intent of enhancing the transfer of basic research findings to clinical usefulness and eventually new treatments and ultimately cures for cancer in dogs. - Gary D. Nice is president/CEO of the National Canine Cancer Foundation Inc., 5437 E Sweetwater Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85254, 1-866-262-0542.
