Sam

About the Campaign

Sam is a senior male Husky with a large tumor on his right front leg, running from the mid-forearm up toward the shoulder. The tumor is now big enough that Juan has to carefully watch Sam so the skin does not tear open. Sam is normally active, strong, and full of life, but this tumor is slowing him down and making every day more difficult.

This is not Sam’s first fight with this mass. The tumor has already been removed twice before. After the last surgery, the vet recommended chemotherapy, but Juan could not afford it at the time. When the tumor came back again, it grew much faster than before. An ultrasound showed it is still located on the right front leg, and the vet has now started Sam on chemotherapy medication to try to shrink it before surgery. After two weeks on the new medication, the vet plans to provide the surgical estimate.

Sam came into Juan’s life through family, but not in a planned way. Juan’s nephew had taken Sam in from someone who could no longer care for him, but Sam was mostly left in the backyard and seemed sad. Juan did not think he was ready for a big dog and all the responsibility that comes with one, but he could not keep watching Sam live that way. He started walking him and told his nephew that if he kept doing all the care, then Sam was going to be his.

That is exactly what happened. Sam became Juan’s dog, his “roll dog,” his workout partner, and, in Juan’s words, his only family. Juan trains for bodybuilding, and Sam has been part of that life too, going everywhere with him and riding in the Jeep with the top off. Everyone who meets Sam loves him. In older photos, you can see his two different colored eyes, though now cataracts make them harder to see.

Juan was working as a security guard, but the hours were not enough and he was recently laid off. He is trying to build work as a personal trainer, but he has already spent his savings getting Sam this far. Juan has also had a rough month himself. He ended up in the hospital twice, once after falling off a skateboard while trying to save money on transportation, and once after being attacked while working security. He has been fixing his Jeep himself, taking the bus when needed, and trying to keep going while caring for Sam through all of this.

Sam still has a great heart, and the vet says he is in great shape aside from the tumor. Donations will help cover Sam’s chemotherapy medication, surgery to remove the tumor, follow-up care, and related veterinary treatment so this loyal senior Husky can get back to being Juan’s best friend and constant companion. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Partial estimate below, click to enlarge: