Buoy

Our beloved companion and fur baby, Buoy, was recently diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, a development that has been both devastating and overwhelming for our family. Half border collie, half “super mutt,” Buoy had a rough start to life. As a puppy, she was rescued from a negligent hoarding situation and was passed around before ending up on a farm to herd sheep. However, Buoy showed little interest in “working”, instead choosing a life of leisure with us; embracing her role as a devoted house pet and accomplished frisbee-dog. When she isn’t tearing up the frisbee field at our local park, she can be found curled up on the couch napping, playing with her plush toys, or happily chewing on a bone in the backyard while soaking up the sun.

At the far-too-young age of nine, Buoy’s lymphoma diagnosis was extremely difficult to process. She has been in excellent health and physical condition her entire life, making this discovery both unexpected and heartbreaking. As we worked through our grief, we also consulted with our amazing veterinary oncologist to identify the most appropriate treatment plan for her. Ultimately, we determined that a full course of CHOP chemotherapy offered Buoy the best possible prognosis, though it comes with significant financial challenges.

We have been deeply grateful for the support of our family, friends, and the Toby’s Hope nonprofit organization, whose assistance has been instrumental in helping us access the necessary resources and treatment. Buoy has responded exceptionally well to chemotherapy thus far and is once again behaving like her usual, joyful self.

We cannot thank Toby’s Hope, their supporters, and the many organizations dedicated to helping pets and their families enough. This journey has been an emotional one, filled with difficult decisions, uncertainty, and moments of hope. Losing a pet, or facing the possibility of loss, is an incredibly painful experience, and we are profoundly thankful that a compassionate community exists to support families during such challenging times.