Help Leon Fight Deadly Cancer

Our names are Dan and Emily, and on January 3rd, 2020, we adopted Leon, and his sister Claire, from Pinellas County Animal Services.

Leon's prospects were bleak. At the time of adoption, he had severe kennel cough, a skin infection, and was 15lbs underweight. But that never slowed him down or quelled the love he had for his new family (and anyone he's ever met). Here is Leon falling in love with his dad on his first night in his new home.

Leon was an unexpected Godsend to our little family. From bringing his sister out of her nervous shell to getting us through a lonely pandemic. Little did we know that in 4 short years he would be diagnosed with lymphoma. A deadly cancer that takes fur babies as soon as 4-8 weeks after diagnosis.

We immediately made an appointment with a doggie oncologist and started Leon on the CHOP chemotherapy protocol (the best doggie chemo you can buy). Estimates put the cost at $10,000 over 25 weeks. Thankfully, we purchased SPOT pet insurance in January 2024 that should cover most of the chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the maximum allowance you can buy is $10,000/year and Leon will require care far beyond this amount. Diagnostics prior to chemotherapy totaled $2900. He will also require 16 blood tests at $83.95 a pop ($83.95 x 16 = $1343.20), sonograms at $700 a pop, and potentially antibiotics if he gets an infection.

We are only at the beginning of this long journey and we need your help to get us through it. Leon is the sweetest dog you will ever meet and deserves as much time, happy and healthy, on this earth as possible. Whatever amount you can provide to assist in this fight is greatly appreciated. Whether it's $1, $5, $10 or more, we cannot thank you enough. Leon is our light and joy, and we will fight as long as he is willing and able.