Campaign for Cheeko

Anyone who knows Mitchell, knows Cheeko. The pair have been inseparable since 2011 when Mitchell adopted Cheeko from a friend who no longer had the time to spend with him. I cannot accurately depict the feelings and love Mitchell has for his dog, but I see the love they share everyday and I know it’s strong. When I asked Mitchell what he felt about his dog before I began writing this he replied, “I like walking him on the beach and playing fetch with him.” It was a straight forward and heart felt comment, but I know that there’s so much more to their relationship than that. Cheeko is Mitchell’s pride and joy, his best friend, his most meaningful relationship, and his constant companion. I know this to be true by the way Cheeko jumps up to kiss him when he hasn’t seen him in a while, the way he positions himself in between the door and Mitchell when we’re home relaxing, constantly protecting him, and by the way he studies Mitchell’s every movement in the house with a watchful eye. His first priority is always to protect Mitchell. There is nothing Cheeko wouldn’t do for him, and there is nothing that could change how Mitchell feels about his dog. Cheeko is the first person to receive a kiss in the morning and the last to receive one every night. He’s been with Mitchell everywhere, traveling across Canada multiple times, which is more than most people can say they’ve done. He’s a singer who likes to howl when he hears his favorite songs or when commercials come on. He’s a maniac who goes from sleeping to spinning around on the bed and running from wall to wall in the house full tilt. Cheeko is like no other dog and not only has he earned his spot in Mitchell’s heart but he has touched the lives of many people. They say a dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself and this is proven by Cheeko time and time again. I also know this to be true for Mitchell, because his love for Cheeko is unlike any other.

As for myself, I’ve known Cheeko for just about 4 years. We weren’t always as close as we are now in fact, in the beginning he didn’t like me at all. It seems strange to think back on all the time we had together and remember the days when I used to come and sit beside him on the couch where he was laying, and once I did he would get up and move to another room. I used to call out to him and he would never acknowledge me. I would let him out in the backyard at Mitchell’s house in Fort McMurray in the middle of winter when it was -40 or below and he refused to come back in. I would literally have to go out into the backyard and chase him around until I tired him out or tricked him into coming inside. He was such a jerk, but as time went on we became inseparable. He no longer lets me go to the washroom with a closed door (ever) and will lay beside me when I take a bath or shower. He has become my shadow and where I go, he goes. He usually chooses me over Mitchell (which Mitchell hates and I pretend I don’t secretly love). He farts on me, he lays on me, he whines in my ear constantly, but I wouldn’t change any of that for the world. When we moved across Canada to Newfoundland from Alberta, he was my best friend and at times my only friend. I can’t imagine a life without him. I know that part of life is losing the ones you love most and everyone has their time to go, but I strongly believe that this is not the way it’s supposed to end with us, not now.

On Monday, February 13, Mitchell noticed that Cheeko hadn’t been eating as much as he normally would and was lethargic. He would go outside to do his business and come back inside to return to the bed to sleep all day. At first Mitchell thought nothing of it, he loves to sleep for hours on end while we continue on with our day within the house. Something just wasn’t right and struck him as odd when he discovered a growing lump behind his left ear. Mitchell had kept an eye on it for the last few day but finally decided to bring him in for a check up after reading about a friend’s dog that had just been recently diagnosed with cancer.

In Clarenville Cheeko was taken to the vet who performed a series of physical examinations and routine blood work. The tests came back as positive for lymphatic cancer in all of his lymph nodes. This form cancer is know to spread into organs and bone marrow. Without treatment dogs usually don’t live much longer than several months, but with treatment he has the opportunity to beat cancer and live a long better quality life.

During his follow-up appointment today, Februray 17, Cheeko received anesthesia. The doctors took samples from the inflamed lymph nodes to better understand the severity of the situation. Either way the vet informed us that chemotherapy over the next few months is necessary. I will update everyone further when we have the complete diagnosis during the week. As of now the vet advised us that our treatment plan is going to be upwards of $5000.

There are not enough words to truly describe how important he is to our lives, he’s more than just a dog, he’s our family. Anything you can do for us will be appreciated more than you know. Please donate to help us save Cheeko, but if you’re unable to donate please share this page so it can reach more people.