"Pet Mic Monday" is a new Dogvocates series based on an "open mic concept" where pet parents take over our blog to raise cancer awareness by discussing their pets diagnosis, treatment, and outcome with a worldwide community. This week, we are proud to feature Joey - a Pit Bull who found himself fighting for his life in a dog ring, and now fighting canine cancer.
Name: Joey
Nickname:
Breed: Pit Bull
(Re)Born: January 18, 2013, he was 9 years old
Lives In: Undisclosed for the sake of Joey’s safety
Joey came to live with his human parents 5 years ago (2013). He was estimated to be 9 years old (estimated birth year 2004). Joey was the product of many dogs seized from a large dog fighting ring in NYS (Location cannot be disclosed for his safety). He grew up in a dogfighter’s yard, raised by a man who chained six week old puppies to barrels. He was raised without kindness or compassion; grew up learning cruelty and pain from humans.
After the legality of the ring was finalized and his life was spared, Joey had to learn how to relive.
He has shown nothing but forgiveness and has proven how inherently good the Pit Bull breed truly is.
Joey was reborn on January 8th 2013, the day he came home. I promised him on that day, that he would never have to fight again. Little did I know that on Oct 20, 2018 I would have to go back on my word. On that morning I felt a lump in his throat, not even that big. I could have blown it off until after work because he seemed 100% normal, but I knew. Somehow, I knew. Biopsies were done and the longest week of my life began; "the wait".
I was driving home from work when my vets number came up, I quickly pulled over before answering. Joey had lymphoma. I broke down and sobbed in that parking lot, for what seemed like hours. We immediately got in to see a team of oncologists (Oradell Animal Hospital) to diagnosis if it was B or T cell.
I prayed for B cell, at least he'd have a chance. So, we waited again for results.
5 agonizing days later I got the call, it was B cell!!
That started a very long, emotional conversation with Dr. Bailey about our choices. We could keep him very comfortable for 4-6 more weeks on prednisone, or we could choose a course of chemo and "fight again.”
Joey had been with me for almost 5 years at the time, not nearly long enough. One moment, I’d think I should accept saying goodbye and try to feel some gratitude for the time we’d had together. The next moment, I’d fill up with a stubborn drive to fight back, no matter what it took. It was exhausting and heartbreaking. There’s just no way to prepare yourself to make that kind of decision.
Joey’s doctor was very patient with me, and helped me to weigh the options carefully. At one point, he gently suggested, “Another way to consider this is to ask yourself, what would you be willing to do for 2 more years with Joey?”
The answer? There was NOTHING I wouldn’t do to help him, and I certainly couldn’t put a price tag on it. That brought the perspective I needed. In fact, it was a gift to be able to do something at all to extend his life. I knew I would regret not taking action. I was ready for us to go forward with chemo. We started the next day.
We are currently doing the CHOP protocol, which is a multidrug chemotherapy treatment for canine lymphoma. Joey will have 24 treatments. 1 treatment a week for 6 months. We currently just finished his 10th and he's doing incredibly. So great in fact, that we we will be switching to every other week, as the lymphoma is currently steadily in remission.
Joey DESERVES to live a life of love. He is DETERMINED to cheat death yet again, and win this battle. I will do whatever it takes, to make sure that he gets what he deserves.
A GoFund Me page has been set up to help Joey and his family with chemotherapy treatment costs: https://www.gofundme.com/b9qak-joey-strong
Before signing off, we like to leave you with a Fun Fact and/or funny moment from the pet’s life:
Joey LOVES: To sit in the sun and roll in the grass. His very favorite thing in the whole wide world is rides in the car.
Fun Fact: Joey is "The Mayor" when he goes for treatments. He must stop to greet every human and dog as he walks down the hallways. Some are taken aback by the "Scary Pit Bull" but he quickly changes their minds with big, sloppy kisses!
