Paws for cancer

By Lora Scripps News-Aegis

Moody — Cancer affects every walk of life. It doesn’t matter if your famous, how much money you have in the bank, how old you are or how carefully you try to live your life. Cancer is impartial and has a way of involving us all.  That is why anyone can get involved in fighting for the cure – grandparents, moms, dads, children, aunts, uncles, friends and even man’s best friend.

At Crossroads Animal Hospital in Moody, Chairman of Relay for Life Veterinarian Rachel Nelson said that a number of family pets are also helping in the fight.

One fundraiser at the clinic involving the family pet is called “Paws and Paints.”  In order to take part in the event, interested animal lovers can sign up at Crossroads Animal Clinie. Then, load up their pup on the day they choose for an art excursion. The dogs paint pictures which the owner can bring home as a keepsake. They range in price from $25 to $35. “They paint paintings with their paws,” Nelson said.  “It’s one of our big fundraisers this year.”  This is the second year for the event and the art changes yearly as well.  Local artist Melannie Layne and her daughter and assistant Hannah will be on-hand to make each painting memorable.

The second “Paws for Paints” will take place on March 27 from 8 a.m. until noon. The first was held last weekend. Nelson requested that those interested call Crossroads Animal Clinic for an appointment. The Last year, the event raised over $2,000.

Crossroads Animal Hospital’s team “Paws against Cancer” has come together for the past five years to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  “Paws and Paints” is just one of their big events. They also raise funds through a pancake breakfast that takes place at Carpenetti’s Pizza in Moody and help support an annual yard sale.

Nelson said their newest event is called Bark for Life. “It is an American Cancer Society sanctioned event,” she said. “It is a one-mile walk for people and their pets to raise money for cancer. We will be holding the event on April 17 at Moody Park from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.”

“Bark for Life” is an event that will include contests, goodie bags for your pets, a game called musical sits which is similar to musical chairs and the event will wrap up with a blessing of the animals and a memorial service for pet owners who have lost a part of the family.  Cancer survivor dogs will also get to take part.

“There are a lot of places in the country that do ‘Bark for Life,’ but this one is the first in our area,” Nelson said.  “We are hoping this will become an annual event and starting next year we will have individual pets who have their own teams.” Nelson added that a lot of pet owners love to get involved. She believes it will be great for Moody because it is such a pet-friendly community.

Nelson said that everyone in the “Paws for Cancer,” group, which includes over 20 members, has been affected one way or another by cancer. “There are none of us here who haven’t been affected by it in some way,” she said. Nelson did her first Relay in 2003 with her mom who later lost her battle with the disease. “It has sense been a great way to keep her memory alive.  I don’t think there is anybody in my office that hasn’t had a family member or someone close to them who has been touched by cancer.  We all have our individual stories.” She added one of the girls at Crossroads has a dad who was recently diagnosed and treated. Another lost a childhood friend to leukemia.

“Relay for Life is kind of contagious around here,” Nelson said. “We all do it together as a family.”  Most of the staff also serves on the Relay for Life committee.

 “We will always be involved for Relay for Life,” she said. “We want to further the cause and get the interest out there.”

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