According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, approximately 12 million cats and dogs are diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer in pets is similar to the cancers we see in humans, it is a spontaneous disease that often manifests as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, prostate cancer, head and neck carcinoma, mammary carcinoma, melanoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and osteosarcoma (source). The 12 Million Dog March was created by The Ridel & Cody Foundation, Blue Buffalo, and Petco in order to build awareness and support for these diseases in animals.
The march takes place annually in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago but you can also participate in the virtual march by signing up here online. All proceeds from the program benefit the Ridel & Cody Foundation which provides support, resources, and treatment funding for people whose pets have cancer.
The events include live music and entertainment, dog and family centric games, dog training clinics, arts and crafts, education from veterinarians, as well as the actual march. Plus you get to see all of the pets people bring to the march!
Participating in the march is free (both in person and online) but for every person who registers for the virtual march, Blue Buffalo will donate $1 to the Ridel & Cody Fund. Registering will also sign you up for reminders so you will be one of the first to know the dates of the other marches (say Chicago for example). Pretty cool right?
So think about any pets you or a loved one may have had that has been diagnosed with cancer. My family dog was diagnosed about a year ago and died 6 months after. It was an incredibly heartbreaking and devastating situation. I encourage all of you to look into and sign up for the virtual march. It’s free, takes less than one minute, and as a result Blue Buffalo will donate $1 to a foundation that was established to assist individuals who have pets with cancer.
Thank you and have a wonderful Friday
*I was not contacted by any of the aforementioned foundations or any promoters of the event itself. I found out about The 12 Million Dog March by myself and believe so strongly in its message that I wanted to share it with you.
Running the Windy City 