Dr. Kai Shiu and Dr. Claire DeChristina, co-chairs of the Puppy Up Madison event, talking to “News 3 This Morning” about canine cancer awareness. Blue, the 2016 canine cancer hero, was also on set.
On Sunday, May 1, 2016, over 1100 people and 700 pups converged upon McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg, WI to celebrate our heroes, honor our survivors, and remember those lives lost to canine and human cancer.
In anticipation of the PuppyUp Madison Walk, Drs. Kai Shiu and Claire DeChristina, co-chairs of the PuppyUp event, appeared on News 3 This Morning and NBC 15. Accompanying Dr. DeChristina was her dog, Blue, PuppyUp Madison’s 2016 canine cancer hero.
Dr. Shiu, a veterinary oncologist and the chair of the national PuppyUp Scientific Advisory Board, stated that cancer is currently the number one killer of dogs.
Dr. DeChristina, also a veterinarian, then explained that in December of 2012, after presenting with symptoms first thought to be diabetes or kidney disease, Blue was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphoid tissue in the immune system. She consulted with Dr. Shiu, and Blue started chemotherapy in January of 2013. Happily, despite the fact that lymphoma can be a very aggressive cancer, Blue is doing very well.
Dr. Shiu went on to talk about the PuppyUp Foundation and its goals: increasing awareness that dogs and cats get the same kinds of cancers people do, and raising funds for comparative oncology cancer research, which benefits both companion animals and people. “Over the last couple of years,” Dr. Shiu continued, the PuppyUp Foundation has “funded over $500,000.00 worth of research to institutions throughout the country. Our goal is that not only are we going to find the common cure for cancer for dogs and people but we’re also going to help improve our dogs’ outcomes; empowering people to check their dogs’ lumps, and advocate for dogs. And really, early detection is the key for humans and for pets.”
For the complete video interviews, please follow these links: WISC TV NBC 15 TV
Thanks also goes to WMSN TV for coverage on the Madison walk, and the interview with Beth Viney, the driving force behind PuppyUp Madison.
PuppyUp Madison is the PuppyUp Foundation’s largest walk to date, but there are many PuppyUp Walks still to come around the country. For more information on a PuppyUp Walk near you, and how to join a walk in your area, please visit our website.
