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By Matt Stone, Dogslife Board Chair Dogslife.org, contactus@dogslife.org

in 2020, was told he only had six to eight more months to live. Through everything, Leo, Patrick’s beagle, remained at his side. “Leo nuzzled up close comforting me when I feel too sick to get out of bed and encouraging me to get up and take him on his walk. I am convinced the only reason I will be able to celebrate my 39th birthday is in large part due to my partner and best friend, Leo.”

To many, including these pup parents, a dog is not just a pet, but a cherished member of the family who provides comfort, companionship, and unconditional love. However, as each of these families found out, canine cancer, a very common diagnosis, costs on average between six and eight thousand dollars to treat. Unfortunately, this is a price tag that many families and individuals, including Mary, Christina, Whispy, and Patrick, simply are unable to afford.

Dogslife gives families in this situation somewhere to turn.

Dogslife’s mission is to help families with financial challenges afford critical cancer treatment for their beloved dogs. In just over four years, Dogslife has awarded approximately $500,000 in grants for canine cancer treatment to Texas families. Grant recipients are selected through an application and interview process, which involves the applicant, the dog’s primary veterinarian, and the diagnosing boardcertified veterinary oncologist. Dogslife gathers information about the applicant’s financial situation, as well as information related to his or her dog’s medical history, cancer diagnosis, and treatment recommendation/quoted cost. All applications are reviewed via a standardized review process, and a determination of funding is made. Once a grant is awarded, payments are made directly to the treating veterinary provider(s).

Dogslife was founded in Dallas, but recently expanded to Houston! On June 22nd, Dogslife hosted its inaugural Houston fundraising event, Paws for Applause – a giving dinner and live auction at Hotel Zaza, Museum District. The event raised over $100,000 that will go directly toward saving dogs’ lives!

To learn more about Dogslife, go to dogslife.org or follow @dogslifeorg on Facebook or Instagram.

The most visible impacts of plastic debris are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles mistake plastic waste for prey; most then die of starvation as their stomachs become filled with plastic.

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