The Petco Foundation Canine Cancer Care Fund was established in 2012 by Petco Foundation and The Blue Buffalo Co. to provide financial assistance to working dog handlers throughout the United States should their canine partners receive the unfortunate news of a cancer diagnosis.
The fund is available to help working canines (whether active or retired) who serve in various disciplines: urban search and rescue (USAR), wilderness search, human remains detection (HRD), and law enforcement, and helps support the treatment and palliative care for those dogs diagnosed with various types of cancer.
We are deeply honored to administer this critical fund through our partnership with Petco and Blue Buffalo. While a cancer diagnosis is devastating, every handler who has benefited from this generous opportunity has been relieved to learn that the cost of care could be offset thanks to the Fund.
We know that these real-life heroes give so much to others and we are grateful to partner with you in the opportunity to give back to them in their time of need.
Disaster Search Dog Aid’N’s Story, from his handler, Denise Corliss (Texas Task Force 1)
Aid’N came from a kennel in Texas and was picked out from a litter of puppies with disaster work in mind. Aid’N was following in the footsteps (or pawsteps) of his sister, Bretagne, who was retiring from her career as a FEMA disaster search dog with Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1). The day Bretagne retired, Aid’N was trained and certified and ready to step seamlessly into her spot-on TX-TF1. (Aid’N has grown up in the shadows of my 1st FEMA dog, Bretagne, who deployed to the World Trade Center after 9/11. So, the poor kid has always had to fight for his spot for attention!)
Aid’N deployed to several disasters during his career with me – some of the his most notable deployments were the explosion in West, TX and the Moore, OK tornadoes, both in 2013. He retired later that year at the age of nine, and since that time has enjoyed the life of a retired search dog.
Just before Christmas 2015, Aid’N stopped eating and was lethargic and not his normal, happy self. A few days later, we had a diagnosis and were at the oncologist for Aid’N’s first chemo treatment. Within 24 hours, on Christmas Day, Aid’N was admitted in the emergency hospital with a very high fever and I was preparing myself to have to make the very difficult decision to let him go.
Two of the important attributes of a search dog is persistence and perseverance – it was these same traits that helped Aid’N fight through his illness that Christmas, and ultimately was able to fight the infection enough to tolerate the chemo treatments. Aid’N bounced back and remained a happy, active dog – he made tremendous progress and was a brave fighter.
Unfortunately, Aid’N had an aggressive form of cancer that could not be removed surgically. I was told by the oncologist to prepare to only have a few weeks or months left with him. Thanks to the healthcare he was provided, we had another six months with this wonderful dog after his diagnosis.
I am thankful for every day that I had with Aid’N, and especially grateful to Petco Foundation Canine Cancer Fund for providing me the ability to get him the care he needs. Without the help of the fund, I don’t believe he would have enjoyed those extra months with us. Thank you for providing me the ability to give my partner the best care possible and to ensure he was as happy and comfortable as possible while he was still with us. I am forever grateful for your generosity and support.
– Denise Corliss
Police Canine Bill’s Story, from his handler, Officer Seth Pionke (Plover Police Department)
In 2017, drug detection and tracking canine Bill, a three-year-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, joined the Plover Police Department in Wisconsin as their first-ever canine on duty.
Bill’s swearing-in as a member of the police force was the culmination of a year of fundraising enough proceeds and equipment donations to purchase a working canine for the department that had never had a canine program before.
Bill excelled at drug detection and tracking and became certified to North American Police Work Dog Association standards prior to his assignment with his handler, Officer Seth Pionke. Bill’s abilities were quickly proven on the streets, his success highlighted by the numerous narcotics finds on the job and his incredible social temperament off-duty and with the public – he is always a crowd favorite!
Unfortunately, in December 2017, Officer Pionke noticed a growth on Bill’s rear right leg and upon medical exam, Bill was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. Bill spent the next several months being treated for and recovering from his cancer. Throughout it all, Bill’s drive and positive demeanor stayed, even during the difficult treatment.
Bill made a full recovery and is now back on patrol, serving and protecting the people of Plover as well, if not even better, then before. Bill always brings a smile to the faces of the men and women of Plover Police Department when he roams the halls of the station with his partner and we are so glad to continue to have him as part of our team!
We are so grateful to Petco Foundation and The Blue Buffalo Co. for providing the Search Dog Foundation the privilege of administering the Cancer Care Fund.
It is our profound honor to help our country’s canine heroes and their families when they need it most. The dedication with which they serve deserves all the support we can provide them.