What this campaign is about:

My name is Sarah, and my mom, Karen, is a wonderful and caring woman who has two lovely basset hounds and two cats, all rescues. One of her dogs, Raider, is very sick with lymphoma and she has been stretching her bank account to the limit to help him. Normally he would have a great prognosis, but she can't afford the expensive medicine that would help him, so I'm trying to help her raise money to get him the medicine he needs. Here is Raider's (and her) story.

 

Raider's Story:

My name is Karen. Raider is my five year old basset hound. From the time I brought him home as a 4 1/2 month old puppy, he has been my shadow. I've always had pets, but Raider and I have an extra special bond that transcends most dog/human relationships. He is completely devoted to me, and connects to my thoughts and feelings. Likewise, I feel an extra deep responsibility for his well being. Afraid of "big people", he loves animals and children. He loves everyone, he's just nervous until he gets to know you. He is loving and gentle. We affectionately call him my "special needs" dog. We got another basset, a rescue dog named Girdie. She mothers him, and the two are extremely close.

In July of 2012 our world came crashing down when Raider was diagnosed with lymphoma. We started chemotherapy right away. For the first month it was weekly, then every three weeks. He never achieved complete remission, but the cancer was under control. In November, the lymph nodes on the backs of his knees enlarged and our vet thought it was time for a specialist. Raider is under the care of Metropolitan Veterinary Specialists in Louisville, KY. Adriamycin was the chemo drug of choice, but not affordable for me, so we settled on Lomustine.  Unfortunately, it is no longer working.

Without treatment, Raider has a life expectancy of 4-6 weeks. As with any cancer, there are never any guarantees, but the Adriamycin could possibly bring the cancer back in control. Unfortunately, it's expensive. First we have to do an ultrasound on his heart, so the initial treatment is about $800. Subsequent treatments every three weeks are about $500. I teach kindergarten for a living, and while I love what I do, the money isn't all that great. In addition, I take care of my boyfriend, who is disabled and has huge medical expenses. I hate that Raider's life has come down to what I can afford. Over the past few months, I've cut everything to the bone, but I just can't come up with that much money on my own. To look at him, you'd never know he was sick. He's just a sweet, silly looking pup with a heart of gold, and he means the world to me.  Thank you for reading his story.

 

What We Need & What You Get

Every penny raised will go directly to care for Raider. We've set the goal at $1000 because that will cover the cost of the initial Adriamycin treatment, but every dollar will help, and even if we go over that goal Raider will need to have additional treatments at $500 each. It's a small price to pay for a furry friend who has touched the hearts of those who have met him, and all we're asking for is a helping hand to improve his quality of life. Raider has helped put smiles on the faces of his family and even the students at Karen's school. It's hard to explain the special connection that a person can have with their four-legged roommates, but many of us pet guardians are willing to sacrifice our own comforts to make sure our pets have a better life.

We'll be sure to post pictures of Raider as he goes through his treatment so you can see his progress. In the meantime, certain donation goals will receive perks that are handmade by Sarah, who makes chainmaille goods in her spare time. Each level will list its individual perk, but you can look forward to colorful keychains, earrings, and more.

Even if you can't afford one of the perk levels, even a $5 donation will make a giant difference for Raider's care. That means one less meal skipped by his owner because she can put that money toward his bills instead, and that much less stress. We appreciate every dollar, and thank you all for your help.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you can't donate anything, please share this with your friends, and encourage them to share it as well. Word of mouth is one of the most effective tools for raising awareness in today's world of social media. Please feel free to share it on your Facebook page, and take advantage of the many sharing tools that Indiegogo has to offer. Thank you again for your help, even if it's just sharing a link with your friends. Every bit helps.