Pet Cancer Awareness Day

Here I go again, singing the praises of the Blue Buffalo Company…

They have joined forces with Petco in order to raise awareness of the #1 disease related cause of death in our beloved pets.  For the past six years, The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research (BBFCR) has sponsored a Pet Cancer Awareness Day to help educate pet parents about the disease as well as raise money. The money is used to support the research efforts of universities and clinics in the U.S. whose mission is to find a cure.

Today, Saturday, May 8, veterinarians will be made available in Petco locations across the country in order to answer your questions on how to reduce your pet’s risk.  In addition, they will also talk about warning signs of cancer in your pet including body sores, loss of weight/appetite, and loss of stamina.

“PETCO believes in prevention and early detection of pet cancer and that’s why we partnered with The Blue Buffalo Pet Food Company” said Dr. Thomas Edling, PETCO’s pet expert/veterinarian. “Taking time to focus on this cause will help pet owners learn the warning signs of pet cancer and make them aware of the resources available to help.”

This terrible disease is something I’m quite familiar with.  A very dear friend of mine, Nina Scozzari, recently lost her sweet boy, Phoenix, a 10 year old retired racing greyhound to Osteosarcoma, a  form of bone cancer and quite common among the breed.  Nina describes Phoenix by saying, “he was my ‘heart’ hound, my buddy, my teacher, my son.  Phoenix was truly an angel who touched so many hearts, making us laugh and cry with his incredible ability to read our minds, and the intelligence to teach us patience and unconditional love. He took with him a huge piece of my heart.”

Phoenix had a severe broken leg, which happened during a romp in the backyard, and that’s how they found the cancer.  Osteosarcoma makes bones extremely fragile, thus causing the fracture from simple daily activity.  Luckily he didn’t suffer, and instead peacefully passed on November 22, 2009.

Phoenix is sorely missed by lots of us and has certainly put a face on the crises of pet cancer that exists today.  I can still see those big soft brown eyes looking up at me and smiling as if to say “Hi.  I like you.  Please pet me.”  That image alone makes me want to fight like hell for a cure.

To honor a pet that has crossed the “Rainbow Bridge” due to cancer, visit the Memorial Wall.

If you wish to donate to this well deserving cause, you can do so in a few different ways.

• Buy Blue Buffalo dog food.  For the entire month of May they will be donating a portion of their proceeds from every bag of food sold.
• Buy a Pet Cancer Awareness bracelet from Petco.  All proceeds benefit the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Pet Cancer Research.  Spread awareness everywhere you go.
• Make a cash donation directly to the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research.

~Laura

Photo of Phoenix taken by his mom, Nina Scozzari: