“Love, Loss, and Promise” – PuppyUp Madison With Beth Viney

(by Erich Trapp)

Anyone who has been following the PuppyUp Foundation for any length of time knows that our organization began with an abiding promise — Luke Robinson’s promise to his dog Malcolm, and later to Murphy — to never cease in the fight against the cancers that have now stricken three of his four Great Pyrenees.

Beth Viney, event co-chair of PuppyUp Madison, made that same promise to her own beloved Great Pyrenees, Czar. On the day cancer took him from her, she promised she “…would never stop fighting for him. He gave the world so much. And he helped so many people. Even pre-cancer diagnosis, Czar changed my life. After the diagnosis, the dignity that he showed in fighting this disease was an inspiration.”

For the last two years, the PuppyUp Walk in Madison, Wisconsin has been the most well-attended and financially successful Walk of the Foundation’s many nation-wide walks. Last year they raised over $84,000.00. This year they exceeded even their own expectations and raised over $127,000.00. I asked Beth what she thought made the walk in Madison such a huge success?

Beth: “The motivational drive that started PuppyUp Madison was Czar. Czar and the connection he had with Dr. Kai Shiu, who was our veterinarian oncologist. It’s because of Czar and Dr. Shiu that PuppyUp Madison was born. Czar had such an impact on the world. It was in September of 2013 that Czar and Dr. Shiu made the commitment to do the PuppyUp Walk in May, 2014. But Czar never got to see the first walk, as he passed away on December 20, 2013. Dr. Shiu dedicated Madison’s first PuppyUp Walk in Czar’s honor.”

Beth stressed that another big factor in Madison’s success is that the PuppyUp Madison team is very passionate about this cause. “For example, everyone on our team ― and this year there were 11 of us ― has either had a dog that has passed away from cancer or they have a dog now being treated for cancer or they themselves are cancer survivors. So every single person on our team has a very personal and emotional connection. Our team is very passionate and extremely driven.”

“Then there is the connection with the veterinary community. Dr. Shiu has been the driving force in pulling the veterinary community together, raising awareness about this issue, and joining forces to get them involved, either individually or as clinics. The clinics create teams that participate in the event. This year we had a total of 69 teams participate. Many  were local veterinary clinics.”

“I’d like mention the exceptional team that we had for the event committee. I have worked with many charitable organizations. This team and these 11 individuals are extraordinary. The success of PuppyUp Madison would not have happened without their dedication, their expertise, their passion, as well as Dr. Shiu and his connections with the veterinary community. Everybody on that team is phenomenal. We could not have a better group of people to help make this happen, and I am grateful for each one of them.”

“The number one team besides our planning committee that, for the second year in a row raised the most money, was the Pet Pals team. Pet Pals are the people and dogs who do therapy work at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison. That’s very special to me because Czar was a member of Pet Pals for five years. For the second year in a row this team raised the most money out of all 69 teams. They have done an extraordinary job. There is also Dogs Welcome ― they were our other Gold Paw Sponsor. They too did so many wonderful things for PuppyUp. There are so many that were standouts ― individuals as well as sponsors, organizations and teams.”

The final point that Beth stressed was this: “If you have a story to tell, and you have compassion and believe in what you’re fighting for, people will understand and they will support you.”

And if you have a friend like Czar to fight for, a promise made to one inspires many.

[about Beth Viney] Beth is event co-chair of Puppy Up! Madison, along with Kai Shiu, DVM.  Along with her involvement with the PuppyUp Foundation, Beth is active in the Pet Pals Pet Therapy program, Gio’s Garden, 100+ Women Who Care Madison, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and numerous other animal and child welfare organizations. Professionally, she is currently Account Manager for one of America’s fastest growing IT companies.

[about Czar Viney] Czar, a Great Pyrenees, came to Beth in 2001 when he was eight weeks old. Not only was he Beth’s dearest friend, he was a phenomenal therapy dog. When they visited the sick, Beth says all she did was “hold the leash – he’s the one who worked the magic.” Among his many achievements, Czar was featured in a DVD called “Lending a Helping Paw” with Dr. Patricia McConnell; he was nominated twice by the state of Wisconsin as “Companion Dog of the Year;” he was in the Pet Pals Program at American Family Children’s Hospital working with children of all ages, including those with cancer, for five years. In 2012 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer, he and Beth were leading the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year Campaign for the state of Wisconsin. Despite his diagnosis, he, Beth, and their team raised the most money for that year, a total that has not been surpassed.

Czar taught the meaning of community service, of helping people, of teaching somebody it’s okay to tell them you love them, and his loyalty, fortitude, and tenacity through his cancer experience was a tremendous example to Beth and many others.

Because of osteosarcoma, Czar’s leg was amputated in May 2012, and in June 2012 he started chemo. He had two rounds when Beth decided the adverse effects from the treatment were negatively impacting his quality of life. This was not the life Czar was entitled to. She chose to discontinue the chemo and follow a different course of treatment. Unfazed, he continued his private therapy visits with children, and continued to bring much joy to all those he met. Ultimately his cancer metastasized to his lungs, but he lived until December of 2013 ― an amazing 19 months post-amputation and post-chemo.

Beth Viney: “Czar was an amazing dog. He was my one-in-a-million who changed my life.”