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Health & Fitness

Blog: Why I "Bark"

Join Bicycle and Beans, The Donation Dogs, at Bark For Life of Monrovia this Sunday at Library Park from 12-4pm...the dog event of the year!

When I write "Bark", I mean Bark For Life. Maybe I should explain what Bark For Life is, first. It's a fundraising event specifically created for dogs so we can participate in Relay For Life (the American Cancer Society's signature 24 hour fundraising event) in our own canine way. At Relay For Life, humans celebrate cancer survivors, remember those they've lost to cancer, and fight back so that there will be a cure one day. At Bark For Life of Monrovia, we do the same things, but we also honor Therapy and Service dogs, as well as thank our canine companions. We do all that while we play dog games, have dog contests, meet new dog and human pals...and, of course, raise donation dollars! 

Everypawdy has their reasons for doing what they do and I wanted to take a few minutes to share why I Bark. My family adopted a twelve year old cat named Shadow, who was healthy until one day my Ma found a lump on Shadow's gums. It grew so fast, by the time she got to the vet that afternoon, it had doubled in size. Turned out it was an inoperable cancerous tumor. Ma did not want Shadow to suffer and decided that the best thing was to have her euthanized. The next day (the tumor was so big after 12 hours, Shadow could barely close her mouth), ma took Shadow back to the vet, held her in her arms and thanked her while the vet put Shadow to sleep. We were all very sad and still miss her very much. That was the year that an American Cancer Society staff partner asked my Ma if she wanted to start Bark For Life in Monrovia. It would be the first one in Southern California and spread lots of awareness about pet and human cancers, so she said, "Yes!!"

Shadow is just one reason why I "Bark", last year, my dog brother, Brick (really, my brother!) had to have a back leg removed because of bone cancer (Osteosarcoma, such a big word) and was treated with some of the same medicines used to treat human cancers. Brick and I had a reunion the weekend of Bark 2011 and Bark For Life of Monrovia was dedicated to him. Even though we got rained on, we still had fun and raised lots of donation dollars. Unfortunately, my brother lost his battle with cancer about a month later. His family and my family were very, very sad. This year, I am "Barking" in Brick's memory. I wish he was going to be there to have fun with us.

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My theory about cancer, whether in a human or a pet, is that it BITES! So, this , lots of my canine pals and their humans are getting together to Bark For Life because cancer bites! And we all want to raise awareness about pet cancers, thank our Therapy and Service Dogs, and raise some donation dollars for the American Cancer Society...oh, and have a lot of fun!

I hope you and your dog friends can join us and bring their dog friends!

*written by Bicycle's human, . His personality and actions dictate, she does her best to translate. To submit dog blog ideas or ask advice from a smart dog, email Bike: bicycle@twodogspaws.com To request Bicycle or his sister, for a fundraiser: DonationDogz@gmail.com

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