Hi First name / Friend,

Here's a few things I want to share!

 

*A therapy that I wish I'd known years ago (Webinar this week)

*Four amazing moms and what they did to support research

*Wag Love Life walk and fun run on May 3 (Virtual participants welcome!)

*Can you really create a personalized mRNA vaccine for your dog using ChatGPT (without any medical background)?

Some tumors are very difficult to remove—either because of where they’re located or because surgeons can’t get clean margins. Others simply don’t respond well to chemotherapy.

 

But there’s a treatment more veterinarians are starting to offer—one that’s surprisingly gentle and often very effective.

 

It’s called electrochemotherapy (ECT).

 

At first glance, the name sounds scary. Chemotherapy plus electrical pulses doesn’t exactly sound appealing. But in reality, it’s far more targeted—and far less harsh—than it sounds.

 

ECT uses very low doses of chemotherapy along with brief, localized electrical pulses. These pulses temporarily open tiny pores in cancer cells (a process known as electroporation), allowing the drug to enter the cells much more efficiently and destroy them from within.

 

And there’s another layer to this.

When cancer cells die this way, they can release tumor antigens that help the immune system recognize what to attack. In some cases, this may trigger a broader immune response against cancer. 

.

In other words, a local treatment may also train the immune system—acting almost like an in-situ vaccine.

 

It can also be much more affordable compared to radiation and other conventional treatments.  

 

Our Momo received electrochemotherapy for her oral tumor. It never came back.

 

I often think about Kinako and how this might have helped her avoid disfiguring surgery or prevent recurrence—if we had known about it sooner.

 

ECT has been used for years in Europe, in both human and veterinary medicine. Only recently has it started to become more available in the United States.

 

Even now, access is limited. In the greater Seattle area, only 3-4 veterinary hospitals offer it. The same is true in other metropolitan areas. But that’s beginning to change as more veterinarians see what it can do.

 

Since many tumors are difficult to treat, this is an option more people should at least know exists.

 

If you’d like to learn more, our next webinar with Dr. Chelsea Tripp will explain how electrochemotherapy works, which tumors may respond, and how to find clinics that offer it.

 

✨ Last month, these dog moms went out of their way to honor beloved pups and raise funds for research to help more dogs. 

Raylene Piretti organized a Polar Plunge at Salisbury State Reservation, MA and raised over $2,600 in honor of Chief (@knoxandbear), who passed away from hemangiosarcoma in January. Thank you to everyone who donated and came out to support those who took the plunge.

On March 13–15, Jill Nydam organized a fundraiser during the Jersey Agility Group Trial. She created an informational display about the Canine Cancer Alliance’s mission, research, clinical trials, and educational resources, and set up a tribute wall where dog owners could share photos and messages honoring dogs they had lost to cancer, as well as dogs currently in treatment. She did this in honor of her Labradoodle, Finley, whom she lost to hemangiosarcoma.

Trish Iovenitti raised $230 at a craft fair in honor of her friend’s beloved dog, Brooks (@goldenbloomadventures).  Over the years, Brooks' mom - Whitney Bloom - has also been raising awareness and supporting research in various ways, including selling bracelets and Xmas ornaments. (Thank you!!)  You can find Brooks on the back cover of Love Calendar 2026.

We are incredibly grateful for such thoughtful and loving efforts to help fund research that will give more dogs a chance at longer, healthier lives.  We can't thank you enough!!

If you would like to help fund research that gives dogs more time and more options, please join our Wag Love Life 5K Run/Walk next month. 

In person: Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA; Sunday, May 3
Or participate virtually from wherever you are.

Every study, every donation moves us closer to ending dog cancer as we know it.

With love and gratitude,

PS - You may have seen the viral story about an Australian man with no medical background who used ChatGPT to create an mRNA vaccine for his dog with cancer.

There’s more to the story than what’s been reported. We’ve been involved in trying to help this pup—and we’ll share more of the backstory next month.