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Read about Daggit
Join
the MBF forum! Here's why - families need emotional support, some
supporters help by donating and some help just by offering support.
DAGGIT
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9-year
old
Australian Shepard/Lab Mix
with osteosarcoma
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SAMANTHA
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6-year-old
Labrador Retriever mix
with lymphoma
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| EMAIL
ME! |
I'm Cindy, your Magic Bullet Fund newsletter Editor.
Send comments,
questions and suggestions to me by email: Click Here.
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BRAVE SPIRITS MAKING NEWS AT MBF
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For Hunter, Gadget, Toby, Oreo and Petey
enough funds
were raised to cover their treatments. We wish these Brave Spirits
well and thank our
donors who helped them get the care they needed.
There are always others who need support from you and your friends to
reach
their funding goals. You can read about Samantha; then click to make
a donation on her behalf or to the general fund!
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SURVIVOR - IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
In April 2007 a beautiful Siberian Husky named
Nakkai in Oswego, IL was diagnosed with a
nerve sheath tumor on her right front leg. Amputation was one solution
but Nakkai's owner, Sharon sought an alternate
approach.
 This
10-year old Siberian Husky went through surgery, then several months of
intensive radiation therapy. MBF supplied not only $5000 towards
Nakkai's medical care but intervened with the radiation oncologist to
modify the harsh radiation protocol from a daily M-F routine to a MWF
protocol. This helped to minimize the
burns on the treated area shown here and gave Nakkai more time with her
family while undergoing treatment.
Today she is nearly 13 years old and still bringing great joy to Sharon
and
her family.  In
Sharon's words, "If it wasn"t for the Magic Bullet
Fund, she wouldn't be here. She just had her recent check ups and blood
tests and is cancer free. She's got all her vitality back and we are
hoping
for another year or many more with us."
You can see how happy she is in this recent picture.
Although not all treatments are successful, this survivor was
given the chance she needed to fight cancer. In turn this Brave Spirit
provides hope for those in current treatment.
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MOCHA
- IN LOVING MEMORY
 On March 3, 2008, the Magic Bullet
Fund
received a plea for help. Mocha, a 10-yr-old Boxer mix, had thyroid
cancer and a mast cell tumor. She needed treatment but Mocha’s devoted
caretaker, Alicia, could not afford the costs. Alicia is disabled and
Mocha was widely recognized as her therapy dog in addition to being her
beloved little girl for many years. Alicia was desperate to find a way
to help Mocha fight cancer, and applied to MBF for help.
As always, MBF’s generous sponsors rose to the occasion. The MBF
General Fund contributed as well, so that this sweet girl could have a
chance to beat cancer. She had chemotherapy and surgery, but during
surgery a new tumor was discovered and her prognosis became grim.
Treatment was stopped and Mocha's veterinarian put her into palliative
care. We were disappointed but hoped for a slow progression of the
cancer, and a very long happy stretch in palliative care.
Mocha beat the odds! She was a true survivor and a Brave Spirit. Mocha
defied the prognoses and predictions and spent 16 months on borrowed
time with Alicia, with great quality of life.
On July 29th 2009, Mocha went to the Rainbow
Bridge. We offer Alicia our deepest sympathies for her loss. We
celebrate the beautiful life that Mocha had and the joy that she added
to Alicia’s life.
Thank you Alicia and Mocha, for giving MBF a chance to fulfill our
mission by giving Mocha 16 wonderful extra months.
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The fight goes on! Many more dogs
need our help.
Show your support so that
more dogs can
have a chance to survive cancer.
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IS FLUORIDE A CANCER
RISK?
A
recent
study by Environmental Working Group examined a possible link
between flouride and cancer in dogs. Their findings show that many dog
foods contain significant, even life-threatening levels of fluoride, a
known toxic substance. Many of us are unaware of this potential risk to
our pet's health. While more research is needed, EWG
suggests, "To protect pets from excessive fluoride
exposures, dog owners can purchase pet foods that do not contain bone
meal and other animal byproducts."
Similarly, many pet toothpastes contain fluoride. While brushing canine
teeth is encouraged by veterinarians for maintaining dental health, you
may have to do some research to find a product or solution that works
without posing the added risk of fluoride.
I asked Magic Bullet Fund founder Laurie Kaplan for her take on this
news and here is her response: "In the past, toothpastes for dogs and
for infants/toddlers did not
contain Fluoride. Fluoride is a poison and swallowing a poison is not
good for anyone's health. You and I brush our teeth and then spit, but
dogs and infants don't spit - they swallow! There are many toothpaste
products available that do not contain Fluoride - I suggest we continue
to use them
for our dogs."
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This
special
annual product featuring MBF dogs who went
through cancer treatment
in 2009 shares their rich and varied stories. It's available for
purchase - get
your copy NOW! |
A few years ago, 16-year old Michelle
Linke sat reading Chicagoland
Tails when an article about a pit bull with cancer caught her eye. Michelle explains, "What first drew me to
read
the article about the Magic Bullet Fund was Sophie’s picture. I
absolutely love pit bulls, so seeing Sophie’s picture on the page lead
me to read the article to find out who the adorable dog was and learn
about her story."
Sophie was fighting to survive with the help of MBF. Her story
motivated Michelle to get in touch with Laurie Kaplan, MBF's founder to
ask if she could help. Laurie suggested she start a fund on behalf of
MBF at FirstGiving.
Michelle
agreed but wanted to do something extra to foster donations. After
browsing her local craft shop she came up with the creative idea to
make magnets in dog
shapes that she sells with a donation to her fund. (Make a donation to get
yours now!)
Michelle adds, "I have learned from this experience that anyone can
make a difference. It just goes to show you that even a simple idea
like making magnets can do a lot of good. No idea is too small because
every idea has the potential to make a difference. I also learned to
not be shy about something I feel passionate for. I am a shy person,
but when it came to helping the dogs I put myself out there and asked
people if they would be willing to donate to a great cause. I learned
that hard work pays off and that I should never give up."
Our sincere thanks to Michelle and we hope her story inspires you as
well!
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MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
The Magic
Bullet Fund relies on many volunteers
to keep it organized and functioning in its mission to help dogs get
their treatments for cancer. Some help with administrative or technical
tasks. Others provide support by researching service providers, media
outlets and social networks to tell MBF's story, get medical care or
donations for treatments.
Still more help is needed. Some current opportunities are:
- Local tasks (shipping ordered items -
must be local to Briarcliff, NY in Westchester county)
- Forum Manager (help owners post in forum
and send reminders to post)
- Volunteer Coordinator (manage all
volunteers)
- Web page designer
- Email correspondence and phone call
handling
Although these tasks have specific
requirements you can also complete a form for general
application as a volunteer. So think about it. Can you make a
difference? If so, please complete the application and, if interested
in one of the specific opportunities listed above, make sure to
indicate which role you would like to volunteer for.
In the meantime, we take this opportunity to thank our current staff
for their on-going support!
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CLICK to add your contribution to pay for treatments for the MBF
dogs
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FEATURED
SPONSOR
Aloha
Medicinals sells a variety
of supplements intended to fight dog tumors and invasive cancers. They
offer different therapies appropriate to the type of cancer and the
patients needs.
Learn more about these products as well as success
stories through the affiliate
link here.
Your purchase also benefits MBF.
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SHOPPING AS A BENEFIT
We may often treat our canine friends but
here's a way to treat yourself while helping the Magic Bullet Fund!
At our MBF store
find a variety of unique, attractive products including
medallions, t-shirts, wristbands, jewelry and calendars. And every
purchase helps the fund raise money for dogs in treatment. Find a special
treat for you or a friend now!
Make other on-line purchases through IGive.com
to earn an extra donation for the benefit of MBF dogs. Get shopping
for the sake of our pups!
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