Veterinary Cancer Society
Veterinary Cancer Society
Worldwide Association for Professionals in Veterinary Oncology
 Membership
 About VCS
 Researchers &
 Professionals

Bookmark and Share


Support VCS
VCS supports veterinary cancer professionals, researchers and affected families worldwide. You can help make a difference!
Learn More...

Donate to Veterinary Cancer Society
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Memorials and Tributes

Daggit

Daggit's Story

By Nicole Thome

I adopted Daggit as a 9-week old pup at a rescue in Colorado. The rescue said she was a Shepherd/Lab mix (but I later believed she was part Kelpie). Truth be told, I'll never know exactly what kind of dog she was, other than my special girl! She was so smart and such a little spitfire at the puppy rescue. From day one, she knew how to fetch a ball and return it. Daggit was always such an active girl. As a young pup, she loved hiking in Colorado. Later, we moved back to Southern California where she loved playing at the dog beach.

My sweet Daggit was with me for almost 11 years. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in August 2009 at 8-1/2 years old. Remarkably, Daggit beat many odds and fought like a brave girl for just over 2 years. We were cruisin' with cancer for awhile and I thought "maybe, just maybe were were out of the woods?" (full well knowing that osteosarcoma isn't curable). But, I found out that bone cancer reared its ugly head again in July of this year. This time, a metastatic extraskeletal tumor on the ribs. My first thought was "our luck has run out" ... but giving in to cancer simply wasn't an option.

Through two years, two surgeries, chemo, clinical trial, septic infection, Daggit continued to amaze me! She never knew she was sick. That is why, as her 'person', I had to give her the best chance possible. Dogs live in the moment. They don't want our grief. They just want us to be present with them. I promised her I wouldn't let her suffer and she didn't. Daggit was always such a fighter. She had a strong will to live and I admired her bravery. She was wagging her tail until the very end.

Daggit is proof that poor prognosis can be beaten and miracles do happen. I always viewed Daggit's illness as living with cancer, not dying of it. What I've learned in the last 2 years with Daggit's cancer:

1) Enjoy every day with your dog like it's your last (don't get too wrapped up in the statistics, prognosis, etc)

2) NEVER give up HOPE (small miracles happen every day!)

3) No regrets! (whatever you decide, there are no wrong decisions ... it doesn't matter what other people think)

Sadly, Daggit's battle with cancer ended on Sept. 20th. Metastasis took over her lungs and spread to her spleen in a matter of weeks. I helped her transition to the Rainbow Bridge and she's now in peace and cancer-free. Godspeed sweet girl!!

Make an Online Donation

Pets Honored with Memorial Donations in the Fall Quarter of 2011

Honoring these beloved pets who have touched our lives. The Veterinary Cancer Society is devoted to improving the treatment of cancer in small animals. (In group listings, the donor is the first name in the group.)


Donor: Dr. Sarah Gillings
Summit Veterinary Center

In memory of Piper
Family: Michele Flinner

In memory of Tia Maria
Family: Mr. and Mrs. Hans Koch

In memory of Dehavilland
Family: Ann Essko and Stu Smith

In memory of Baron
Family: Lori Heyne

In memory of Coco Bear
Family: Sawyer and Kyle Cress

In memory of Sam

In memory of Ariel
Family: Tiffany and Brandon Carver

In memory of Samson
Family: Marsha and Chet Kittle

In memory of Ichi
Family: Lou and Janet Rall

In memory of Zach
Family: Barbara and John Talley

In memory of Charlie
Family: Amanda Hoffman and Brett Kckenzie

In memory of Max
Family: Dian Millette

In memory of Lucky
Family: Jill and Mark Vigil

In memory of Brinkley
Family: Kathy and Rick Jensen

In memory of Casey
Family: Mr. and Mrs. Peter O’Connor

In memory of Riot
Family: Ron Bysart and John Dewing

In memory of Beau
Family: Marcia Walch

In memory of Sir Graycee
Family: Janna Peters

In memory of Pumpkin
Family: Michelle Morlan and Matthew Flickinger

In memory of Ollie
Family: Susan and Larry Lee

In memory of Corkie
Family: Jessica Maurer and Derrick Fugate

In memory of Joey
Family: Renee Huffman

In memory of Ona
Family: Don Fechko

In memory of Pidd
Family: Kris and Lynn Newman

In memory of Moto
Family: Jayme and Shad Bennett-Woodman

In memory of Teddy
Family: Mr. and Mrs. Dave Olsen

In memory of Coco
Family: Linda Lundy

In memory of Paris
Family: Michelle McLaughlin-Tate and Joseph Tate

In memory of Chip
Family: Joan Baker

In memory of Killa
Family: Sue Givens

In memory of Isabelle
Family: Dianne Benigno


Donor: Dr. Terry Jacobs
Park Pet Hospital

In Memory of Raya
Family: Genevieve and Bill Hillis


Donor: Ms. Caren Weingart
In Memory of Claude


Donor: Dr. Cheryl Harris
Veterinary Oncology & Referral Clinic

In memory of Bridgette
Family: Bill and Geraldine Schmidt

In memory of Baxter
Family: Judy Frank

In memory of Maggie
Family: Chris and Jenni Skiba

In memory of Pumpkin
Family: David and Nancy Vest

In memory of Phoebe
Family: Nancy Etzelmiller

In memory of Lea
Family: Christine and Eric Frondorf

In memory of Cindy
Family: Michael Stratton

In memory of Jazzie
Family: Karen Miller

In memory of Baxter
Family: Don and JoAnne Hering

In memory of Brutus
Family: Jason Fairbanks

In memory of Ginger
Family: Jeff and Sandy Jaquet

In memory of Ginger
Family: Cynthia Tillson

In memory of Shiloh
Family: Steve Ribar

In memory of Zoe
Family: Anne Sells

In memory of Willow
Family: Susan Wilking

In memory of Scout
Family: Brian Foos

In memory of Pyper
Family: Karrie Gabbard

In memory of Bailey
Family: Joe Schlorman

In memory of Annie
Family: Mary Kirk

In memory of Dixie
Family: Matt and Danielle Bright

In memory of Alex
Family: Patricia Jones

In memory of Shady
Family: Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Morehouse

In memory of Sophie
Family: Russell Riegler

In memory of Beau
Family: Sheila Tenpenny


Donor: Dr. Lisa DiBernardi

In Memory of Chocolate McPhail
Family: Maryanne and Walter McPhail


Donor: Dr. Molly Beittenmiller

In Memory of Blake
Family: Kathy and Darwin Webster


Donor: Jenny Schwartz, RVT

In memory of Fraskal
Family: Kim Morris

In memory of Mahi
Family: Greg and Ona Moore

In memory of Fiver
Family: Tara Tyler

In memory of Cosmo
Family: Christy Schwartz

In memory of Lucy
Family: Vicky Schwartz


Donor: Dr. Kim Freeman
Veterinary Cancer Referral Center

In memory of Ebony
Family: Drew and Sue Smith

In memory of Linus
Family: Allison Beckwith and Zachary Auburn

In memory of Peter
Family: Tom Huff


Donor: Dr. Lynda Beaver
Southwest Veterinary Oncology

In memory of Buddy
Family: Tammy and Michael Erwin

In memory of Oreo
Family: Russell Lindley and Florence McClain

In memory of Duke
Family: Tim and Linda Henderson

In memory of Tuff
Family: Kenneth and Kathleen Gilbert

In memory of Cuddles
Family: Scott and Diane Spadafore

In memory of Romeo
Family: Suzanne and Thomas Novak

In memory of Jake
Family: Tennie Martin and Michelle Goreman

In memory of Micky
Family: John Hansen

In memory of Bogart
Family: Carolyn Allen


Donor: Dr. Avenelle Turner
Veterinary Cancer Group

In memory of Dash
Family: Michael Schwab

In memory of Falisha
Family: Dave and Georgeann Hartel

In memory of Mia
Family: Mike Sherry and Jaime Goldberg

In memory of Daggit
Family: Nicole Thome