2 Million Dogs events support cancer fight in humans, canines

Submitted by 2 Million Dogs

Local dog lovers, in partnership with 2 Million Dogs, a national nonprofit organization working to support comparative oncology and educate the public about the common links between cancer in humans and companion animals, will be in Chicago to do outreach and share lifesaving information as part of its Summer of Murphy Tour.

In Kane County, an event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at F.Y.D.O. Land, 1999 Larkin Ave. in Elgin.

In Cook County, it will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Bentley’s Corner Barkery, 691 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg.

At these public events, 2 Million Dogs co-founder Luke Robinson and his dogs Hudson and Indiana will speak about the early warning signs of canine cancer.

On Monday, Oct. 1, Robinson will meet with veterinary oncologists at Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove to learn about the cutting-edge companion animal cancer treatment the center provides.

Just like people, pets develop cancer: brain, breast, bone and lung cancer, lymphoma and melanoma are all common in pets, who are exposed to the same environmental factors as humans.

Veterinary oncologists believe there are between four and eight million new cases of cancer in companion animals every year. Most of those never receive adequate care or treatment and often go undiagnosed.

2 Million Dogs has built the largest pet and people cancer community in the world to advocate for comparative oncology, an emerging field of study that is broadening the understanding of the links between human and animal cancer.

“The field of comparative oncology is relatively new, however, it has tremendous potential to give us key insights to what’s causing cancer across species,” said Ginger Morgan, executive director of 2 Million Dogs.

“Comparative oncology is important and necessary if we want a world in which cancer is no longer one of the top killers of our children, our parents, and our pets.”

The Summer of Murphy Tour was inspired by the loss of one of the two companions who accompanied Robinson on a cross-country walk to raise awareness of comparative oncology in 2008.

Similarly, Robinson intends this tour to honor and celebrate the lives of other pets with cancer — those who have survived, those who are fighting, and those have succumbed.

“Cancer touches everyone,” said Robinson. “Cancer is the world’s greatest scourge, the deadliest pandemic facing pets and people alike. We are here to celebrate and remember survivors as well as those we have lost, and share the spirit of Murphy and other dogs who do not give up or give in until the end.”

The Summer of Murphy tour visits 24 cities beginning in August: Nashville; Little Rock; Denison, Belton, San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Santa Fe and Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas, Nev. for the first Puppy Up Charity Golf Tournament; Denver, Colo.; Garden City, Kan.; Liberty, Mo.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Cincinnati; Columbus; Fairborn, Pittsburgh, New Castle, Pa.; Monessen, Pa.; Clinton and Jersey City, N.J.; and New Milford and Madison, Conn.

2 Million Dogs recently donated $50,000 for a comparative oncology study of mammary tumors at Princeton University in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. The project treats shelter dogs with mammary tumors and then studies tissues to understand how breast cancer metastasizes in women.

For a preview video of the Summer of Murphy tour, visit youtu.be/6IaF3wuNoSE.