Sully's Cancer Fight

Sully needs our help.

Sully was recently diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma and, based on what is known so far, has a prognosis of about 12 months to live without medical intervention.

Sully is loved, cherished, and treasured by his mama, Kathy; his dad, Steve; his fur siblings, Cooper and Nala; and all who know him. Sully has overcome so much in his short life. He fought to stay alive through a neglected life in a shelter in Turkey and then he fought through heartworm treatment shortly upon arriving home in the US.

Now, Sully needs to fight again. This boy is strong and as long as he is willing to fight for this life he loves so much and waited so long for, we want to fight alongside him and give him a chance to enjoy many more happy, healthy years.

If you want to learn more about Sully and join us in this fight, please keep reading. ❤

SULLY'S FIRST FIGHT

Sully was rescued from a very difficult life in Turkey in 2018 by a nonprofit US dog rescue organization called Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue (TPGHR). Sully was among the earliest rescues for Tattered Paws and holds a very special place in the heart of Nancy, the founder of the Rescue, as well as the whole Rescue team.

Looking at Sully now you wouldn’t know that he was once a forgotten, ill, and dejected dog. He was originally found in an awful shelter, riddled with bite marks, sick with a respiratory virus, and emaciated. Lucky for Sully, a Turkish advocate placed a call on Facebook saying that an urgent home was needed for this dog as he seemed to have given up and was “lost of hope."

When they came across Sully, Tattered Paws was a newly formed rescue and had no resources, but Nancy saw his face and knew she needed to take a chance. She agreed to save him, with a hope and a prayer that he would make it. Nancy named him Ekrem-Gold, in honor of fellow rescuers who drove him to safety that night.

Upon getting to safety, he needed to be shaved down so the vets could clean and tend to all his wounds and begin the process of recovery and healing. When he was ready, he was flown to the US to his new life with his new family.

SULLY'S SECOND FIGHT

At his very first vet appointment in the US, he was diagnosed with Heartworm. For anyone unfamiliar, heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. The treatment for heartworm is particularly brutal, requiring 3 months of injections, discomfort, and very low activity and kennel rest.

Because Sully is a fighter, he completed heartworm treatment with the help and dedication of his mama. After beating this terrible disease, finally, Sully was able to go on to live his very best life.

SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR

Since making it through his first two battles, Sully has lived a beautiful 5 years of life, happy and loved by thousands.

You might recognize his kind and distinguished face from Facebook and Instagram posts, as the face of the Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue fundraising auctions.

His human, Kathryn, is a gem. Kathy has been a dedicated volunteer with Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue since the very beginning of its formation. Kathy has led the Rescue's fundraising efforts for all these years, tirelessly organizing their fundraising auctions and other fundraising events. Kathy works incredibly long hours and pushes herself so hard to make each auction a success, all to help rescue more dogs just like Sully. Kathy is always on the lookout for dogs in need and has such a huge heart for dog rescue. She has played an instrumental role in helping hundreds of families find their forever pups.

At Tattered Paws, we often say "It takes a village" and we look to our rescue village every day for support, prayers, well wishes, and encouragement. Today, we are asking you to be a part of Kathy and Sully's village - offering prayers, encouragement, and support in whatever capacity you are able.

THE BATTLE PLAN

Sully's vets have put together a treatment plan and are cautiously optimistic that he will respond well to treatment. We know there is no cure for Sully's diagnosis. However, we also know this is his best chance at having more time with his devoted family. Because of Sully's history of heartworm, he doesn't qualify for pet insurance, so all costs associated with his care thus far have been paid out-of-pocket by Sully's people.

This is where we come in and the rescue village steps up. Kathy and Sully have done their part to save hundreds of other dogs, and today, we ask you to join us in doing what we can to give Sully the chance at the most valuable thing in life -- time.