Family Testimonials.
July 7, 2010
Tessa was 2-years-old and a little thing, just barely 20-inches at the withers, but she was a whopping 70 pounds. We got her weight down to around 50 pounds, and suddenly we found a jumper. We got her in a pool and her DockDogs career was born. She was a natural. We took her to events in California and Oregon and it seemed she got a personal best every time she jumped.
Fast forward two years. One day before the DockDogs Las Vegas Shot Show, we were doing some jumping training in the backyard, and she accidentally hit her head and jaw. I opened her mouth and found she was bleeding from a bump right behind one of her teeth on the left side of her mouth. The vet said to keep an eye on it.
At the Shot Show, Tessa had the best performance she'd ever had. She finished first in her division in every single wave, and she even finished first in Speed Retrieve! We celebrated her birthday the day after the event, and after she finished her birthday cookie, I decided to check her mouth again.
The bump had turned red, angry and swollen.
She had surgery to remove the lump five days later. And then the results came in on Valentine's Day, of all days. It was squamous cell carcinoma.
She immediately began radiation. The treatments were every day, Monday through Friday, for four weeks. It seemed to drag on forever. She lost weight; she developed a urinary tract infection; some days she was tired. Because the tumor was in her mouth, the radiation caused the fur on her chin to fall off, and the skin was blistering. The vet techs were concerned about her anxiety level because she was jumping all over the place… until I told them she was a DockDog and that's just what she does.
Tessa's oncologist said that because squamous cell carcinoma doesn't metastasize, chemotherapy wasn't necessary. The survivability rate is pretty good, with there being a 60% chance the cancer will not return. That's a better chance than I had with Kadin.
She was placed on two medications to boost her immune system: Eicosa-Derm, which is a highly-concentrated, high-powered fish oil; and ImmunoSupport, which is a immune system booster made of shiitake mushrooms. Every two months, Tessa went in for a re-check, which included a physical exam, chest x-rays and blood and urine draws.
She returned to the pool two weeks after radiation and that amazing little girl jumped a personal best! She didn't lose a step. And, the skin on her chin finally healed, and the fur has grown back… but it's white! I can honestly say I've added my own share of white hairs throughout this ordeal, too.
Reaching the one year mark from the time of diagnosis was a big milestone. Tessa's oncologist says she looks fantastic, and believes she will be fine in the long run. Now she goes in every three months, and when she hits the two year mark, her re-checks will be every six months.
We don't know how Tessa contracted squamous cell carcinoma, but we do know it's survivable. In fact, it's one of the more common, but thankfully, less aggressive cancers. But the credit goes to my little girl. Her determination is like none I've ever seen. And to think at the Shot Show, she was jumping while she was sick with cancer. But she never showed it. She's pretty amazing!
June 29, 2010
Dear Dr. Rosenberg , Dr. Dutelle and the VCG staff,
Thank you for taking care of Miss Ellie. I would like to let you know how much I appreciate all the care and support you and your staff provide for us. You have been Miss Ellie's second family for the past 4 years. Dr. Rosenberg and Dr. Dutelle, I really appreciate all the expertise and support both of you provided for us during good times and bad. Kim and Joy, I would like to thank you both for all the advice and support that you provided us with during Miss Ellie's radiation therapy and after. Adam, Erica and Suzanne, thank you for all you did for us I also would like to thank the rest of the staff- you have all helped and supported us and Miss Ellie during the 4 years we've been at your facility. Finally, thank you all for Miss Ellie's paw print. It is the only tangible thing that I have of her. I will cherish that forever.
Miss Ellie was a "problem child" since she was a puppy. She developed resistant UTI when she was a puppy. Then she came down with GI problems (we were in and out of critical care). And the cancer hit her not once but twice! She made up for all the "trouble" she caused us by being extremely loyal, cute and sweet. I was willing to go to the end of the earth for her.
Saying good bye to Miss Ellie is especially tough since she was my "special baby". I feel that a part of me had died along with Miss Ellie. I've had to say good bye to quite a few dogs before her, but what I have with her is a lot more special. It has been a month since I lost her but I still turn around excepting to see her running into the room with a shoe in her mouth, her nose nudging me to tell me to let her out to the front yard, her belly flopping into the swimming pool, her lying upside down just so I can scratch her belly, her cuddling by my feet sleeping….
I just want to thank you all for the special part you played in Miss Ellie's life, it really meant a lot to all of us. You've been our second family for the past 4 years and will always be part of us forever.
Sincerely,
Julia
May 2010
Doctor Mona Rosenberg, DVM:
This email is to send your personnel many thanks for their
kindness my pet and I have been receiving when we visit the
Tustin office.
Technicians, the people at the front desk, doctors, all of them
deserve an A+.
A note of special thanks for Doctor Sara Fiocchi (she is Bally's
doctor) for her high profesionalism, care, and willingness to
provide any assistance and clarify any doubts we could have
had.
During our second visit, I had three (3) pages of questions which I
had written prior to the visit as well as several labels
corresponding to the different types of food Bally was
eating.
Doctor Fiocci not only listened very carefully but also answer
each and every question in detail with an extremely caring and
patient attitude which I will not forget and did not want to go
unnoticed.
She also examined the food labels and provided advice.
Thank you very much.
Bally and Anibal Scheinker
February 2010
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Last Wednesday night I said good-bye
to Buzz, my cat, my boy. Letting him go was the single most
painful act I have ever agreed to and then had to endure. But
it was time, perhaps long past time. He had stomach cancer,
and though for while we were able to fend off the disease and
extend his life for an additional four months, it eventually
overcame him. The chemotherapy treatments were a fortune, but
in a heartbeat I would have doubled down if I could have him for
another four months. I've had my share of pets, but Buzz was
my child.
Like most special gifts he came into my life by chance one morning when his starving pregnant mother showed up at my doorstep. In return for taking her in she bore me Buzz. I have written* pages on why he was so dear to me, but what I loved most about him was that he trusted me. And the fact that he was a cat made that trust all the more special. He had swagger and was independent, yet he was a sweetheart. He would lie on my chest for an afternoon nap, allow me to scratch his soft furry belly and smother his face with kisses, and then accompany me for a walk at night. He is irreplaceable.
I write this note five days after his passing and I am still unable to stop grieving. I am incredibly grateful for the nearly fifteen years he gave me, yet I feel terribly cheated that he was taken from me so soon. He was my beautiful boy, and watching him fade ripped my heart apart. But he fought and he fought and on his last living night, frail and a shadow of himself, he still managed to crawl up onto our bed and lay next to our heads and purr.
His dishes of food and water are gone, his litter box is no longer, and I can now kiss my wife's neck without fear that she will have an allergic reaction. And though I no longer have to fight him for my chair, hurry up and feed him before I'm scolded, or worry about him getting into a spat with the neighborhood bully cat, I know he is still here.
I wake up in the morning to see his lovable face. He's there waiting to be fed when I enter the kitchen. I notice him sleeping on my chair when I walk into my office. And he greets me at the front door when I return home. He has a beautiful soul and before he left his body I asked him to be there when it becomes my turn, and I trust and know that he will. My boy.
Thanks and bless you,
Tom
October 2009
Veterinary Cancer Group was pleasantly surprised by a
unique "testimonial" from one of the special families that we are
very lucky to get to know. Dillion, a brave little Glen
of Imaal Terrier, will sorely be missed by his family. Visit
this amazing Los Angeles Times Blog
L.A. Unleashed, written by Dillon's Mom. You'll see
Dillion had the very uncommon, yet not at all
un-charming, side effect of hair loss. Those lucky
enough to have crossed Dillion's path know his short stature was
far outsized the spirit and character
he possessed. We'll all miss you
little guy.
Our Beloved Lucky
To The Veterinary Cancer Group
We know Lucky is in a much better place, barking at passersby and
chasing lizards and rabbits. We are grateful for all your
efforts to cure her. Your caring treatment will always be
cherished and made her passing easier.
The Howlands
Dr. Rosenberg, this is Judy, Buddie's mom. Because your time is so precious during the day, I didn't want to keep you as long as it would take to tell you something important. I wanted to find the words that could convey as accurately as possible what you need to know. So please pardon that this is coming to you in an email rather than in person.
First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for doing what you do. I know I can't keep my Buddie forever but you have given us so much more time together than I ever thought we could have. Her quality of life is so wonderful right now. She is playful, anticipatory, always ready to play, be brushed, or just sit with. In short, she's like a puppy. I found her when she was full grown (abandoned while pregnant) and she ended up having 13 puppies (it took nine months to place every one of them in fabulous homes, and $40,000 to redo our backyard when it was all said and done). I never had the chance to see what she would be like if she were unburdened with pregnancy, arthritis, or any other diseases older dogs get. Until now. However long we can keep her going like this is a gift from God through you. The words to describe my gratitude have yet to be invented.
There is another reason for my wanting to write to you. I want you to know what goes on in your office when you aren't looking. I don't know where you found these people, and in truth, I didn't even think there were enough people like these to actually staff a large clinic like yours, but your staff has got to be the greatest group of people ever put together for a mission of love. They are not only professional to a fault, but so accommodating, so attentive, and so willing to go to do their utmost to make the owners feel like they will never fall through the cracks. As an owner I receive as much love by these people as my Buddie does. Your staff deserves the highest praise and commendation for being so much more than people doing a job.
I have also noticed how much your office tries to keep the price affordable whether it's by donating meds, or whatever, but you have made me feel like you would never abandon Buddie because of the price. I am so blessed to be able to afford the medical care for her, and your staff has given me venues to see if there is an organization who could help with the costs, but it is so clear to me that you don't try to squeeze your clients out of every last nickel (which could easily be done when it comes to the love of animals). Your heart is in the right place and it has not gone unnoticed.
It is a very difficult thing to have to get Buddie in the car, leaving Wolfie (one of her puppies whom we kept and has never been away from his mother) to literally scream when Buddie is taken for a few hours. He has a baby sitter whenever we go, but he still cries the entire time she's gone. It makes it even more difficult when I think of where we are going and why. But I actually look forward to taking her now. She loves the car ride, I love the time with her, and your staff has made this just about the easiest thing to do. I was NEVER able to take her or Wolfie to the vet or even for their grooming because it's too much for me. My poor husband has had that job since Buddie arrived. Now I take her alone and actually look forward to it. KUDOS to you and your exceptional staff!!
Each and every one of them deserves so much for this because what they do is HUGE. I think if I tried to tell you in person, I wouldn't get passed the first sentence without tearing up. I love each and every one of you for the miracles, the love, the acceptance and attention both Buddie and I receive when we walk through your doors.
With heartfelt appreciation, I remain yours truly,
Judy and Buddie, of course
My beautiful Destiny was diagnosed with lymphoma on September 29,2005. We began chemotherapy the following week with Dr. Mary Davis at VCG in Culver City. Destiny has been in complete remission now for more than three years and completed chemotherapy on March 21, 2006. I can't tell you how grateful we are~not just for such wonderful results but for having such a kind, caring, compassionate oncologist. Destiny is my miracle...and my heart!
Lynn Stone