Last year, when Danielle Marez-Alvarez moved to Vancouver from Ontario, she didn’t just change locations, she also made a huge change in living situations – going from a sprawling farm to a city apartment. This had a major impact on her terminally ill dog, three-legged dog Skore, as she was no longer able to runaround and play.
“I just feel helpless, because there’s not much that I felt that I could do for her, or there’s not many places that I could take her,” she told CBC News. “I’ve brought her to dog parks and stuff like that, but because I’m pregnant, she’s really overprotective right now. With anybody around, she gets really anxious.
So, Marez-Alvarez took to user-generated news site Reddit and posted a request.
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“If you or have someone you know has a farm/large piece of land that they wouldn’t mind us visiting a few times over the next couple of weeks, for a few hours… I would be deeply appreciative.”
And boy did people have suggestions. Marez-Alvarez received a ton of comments and offerings, with some people even willing to pick her and Skore up and drive to and from the location.
“I was just awestruck to see how many people — a random person is just posting a request on the internet, and so many people have such nice things to say, or so many people want to go above and beyond,” she told the outlet.
This is great news for both Marez-Alvarez, who suffers from PTSD, and her dog. Two years ago, Skore was diagnosed with bone cancer and was only given a few months to live. And while she is still here, Marez-Alvarez only thinks she has a month or so to live — “She is fighting hard as ever, but I can see that she is close to the end.”
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“Thank you so much everyone for all of your suggestions, your well wishes, and above all your genuine kindness and willingness to help out a random 2-legged and 3-legged stranger. You’re all wonderful humans. Now we’ve got a whole heap of places to check out :)”
Here is her entire message:
Hello all,
Looking for a favour
I have a 3-legged rottweiler with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) that is nearing the end of her life. She has held on for years – it’s been 2 since they caught it, almost! – and this is after a grim diagnosis, followed by an emergency amputation, followed by a full chemotherapy treatment.. followed by more grim diagnosees. She is fighting hard as ever, but I can see that she is close to the end. She is my best friend, my daughter, everything to me.
I moved to Vancouver from Ontario last summer. I used to have access to a family farm that I would bring her to every day, that was our thing. Running around, barefoot in the grass… laying under the shade of huge trees. Just being in peace.
In Vancouver, I have no friends, I don’t know anyone with a backyard, or with land. I would really like to be able to bring her (off leash) to an open field, a quiet orchard.. anything.. for a few last times. To bring us both some peace.
I am currently 8 months pregnant so her over-protective instinct is on over-drive and this is why I can’t just go to a dog park, or a park… if people are close-by her anxiety kicks up and she doesn’t enjoy herself (heh, if I’m honest, my anxiety does a similar thing).
If you or have someone you know has a farm/large piece of land that they wouldn’t mind us visiting a few times over the next couple of weeks, for a few hours… I would be deeply appreciative.
H/T CBC News
