Keeping the faith

The Magic Bullet Fund helps to put financial troubles at ease in the face of canine cancer

By Rebekah Wolf


Jenny Swearingen of Springdale, Arkansas, discovered the Magic Bullet Fund, as most people do, in a time of crisis. After she noticed her 2-year old Pit Bull Sophie was limping, Swearingen became concerned. The dog routinely ran up and down the backyard fence, aggravated by the next door neighbor’s yipping smaller breed. When Swearingen saw Sophie’s swollen shoulder, she figured she had pulled a muscle. Sophie was referred to a different veterinarian who did a biopsy. She was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a cancer of the bone.

“I was devastated, scared, confused,” says Swearingen of hearing the diagnosis. “It was like someone telling me my child had cancer. I just went to my knees and broke into tears.”

When Swearingen rescued Sophie at birth, the dog was both the runt of the litter and suffering from malnutrition. A couple of weeks after birth she became blind in one eye. Swearingen wasn’t about to give up now. Her sister did some online research on canine cancer and up popped the Magic Bullet Fund, a nonprofit based in Briarcliff Manor, New York. The organization, founded by Laurie Kaplan, gives financial support to those who cannot afford cancer treatment for their dogs. Swearingen went through the application process and soon received the promising news she and Sophie needed.

“We were just very relieved when we found out they would help us. Not only did they help financially, but Laurie helped me mentally,” she says, noting how she called Kaplan for emotional support throughout the treatment process.

Sophie had her right front leg amputated on March 8, 2007, and was back to her old self in two weeks. The cost of Sophie’s treatment tipped the scales at $1,299, a price many people cannot afford.

Funding the Fight

The Magic Bullet Fund was conceived when Kaplan saw the need for a specialized organization providing financial assistance after going through cancer treatment with her Siberian Husky Bullet. In 2000, Bullet was diagnosed with late-stage lymphoma. After undergoing chemotherapy, Bullet bounced back and went on to live several more healthy years. Admittedly, she never added up the total cost of Bullet’s treatment, but is fully aware that it can carry a hefty price tag—upwards of $10,000. She didn’t want others to have to decide between giving their animals a chance to fight the cancer and giving up. The steadfastness and determination she channeled while helping Bullet recover proved positive when tackling the task of organizing a cancer treatment fund.

“When I first started the Magic Bullet Fund, my great friend Dr. Alice Villalobos advised that I abandon the idea, it would never work,” Kaplan says. “I told her that I would not abandon it, that I needed to just do it, and that, worst case scenario, we would help a few dogs fight cancer and then fold up our tent. But I would not give up before starting.”

Kaplan and the Perseus Foundation, a Maryland-based nonprofit devoted to supporting research and public education about cancer in companion animals, teamed up in 2005 and the Magic Bullet Fund was born. The group is only able to assist in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for dogs, but this comes as a much-needed relief to many people—21 to date, to be exact. Eventually, Kaplan would like to extend assistance to all pets, expand funding to include holistic and alternative treatments, as well as work closely with veterinarians and veterinary pharmaceutical and supply companies.

Applying for Assistance

The organization, still in its infancy, cannot help every dog that comes its way and Kaplan hates saying no, so the application on their website is only available to download when they have the funds to help.

“I do not accept only the cases that have the greatest chance of long-term success,” Kaplan says. “Every once in a while we will see a miracle, but, for the most part, we are looking for two things: first, to give the caretakers peace of mind—knowing that they did do everything possible to help their beloved dog survive cancer. Second, to give them a little extra time—a chance to have a long, loving goodbye with their pet.”

Kaplan also emphasizes the importance that all caretakers have pet insurance policies in place, so they won’t have to make a treatment decision based on funds.

Surviving the Challenges

The biggest challenge Kaplan faces is money, finding the funds to meet each dog’s individual needs. To help more dogs, the group needs more corporate support to finance the production of items needed for fundraising, such as its Brave Spirits calendars featuring dogs it’s helped. It also needs all the donations and volunteers it can get. One of the ways Kaplan ensures her organization’s longevity is by asking each dog’s caretaker who receives assistance, to help raise funds in some way for the organization.
She sees a bright future, but then again, she has to.

“In thinking about the survival of the fund, I use the same mantras that I always tell people to say when they are fighting cancer with their pups: ‘Not today and not without a fight!’ ”

For more information visit TheMagicBulletFund.org.

Fighting the good fight

Canine cancer is responsible for the deaths of thousands of dogs each year. The following organizations are committed to advocating for the awareness and eventual end of the disease.

Aloha Medicinals Inc.

DogCancer.net

Aloha Medicinals concocted a supplementary formula called K-9 Immunity for dogs fighting cancer. It began producing a similar formula with the most widely used cancer-fighting compounds for human patients six years ago. It’s recently begun donating its full line of canine supplements to the Magic Bullet Fund on a monthly basis for each of the fund’s pups.

Blue Buffalo Company

BlueBuff.com

The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research began in 2003 and provides grants to universities and clinics for canine and feline cancer research. Blue Buffalo has also put together a healthy formula for pet food. The food contains human-grade ingredients combined with nutrients and antioxidants that help defend against environmental toxins. As the Blue Buffalo brand gains popularity, the company is able to put more money toward grant funding.

Dog and Cat Cancer Fund

DCCFund.org

This organization works directly with veterinarians to help underprivileged pet guardians provide treatment for cats and dogs suffering from cancer. It also raises funds to give grants to scientists who research life-saving treatments. Co-founder Patrick Meiering also founded Zuke’s Performance Pet Nutrition, a line of all natural treats for dogs and cats, in 1995 and donates a portion the company’s profits to the DCC Fund.

National Canine Cancer Foundation

WeAreTheCure.org

After being inspired by their beloved Golden Retrievers, Bailey and Holly, the founders of the National Canine Cancer Foundation began their journey funding grants for canine cancer research. Their goal is to raise money to find a cure, as well as foster collaboration between basic and clinical scientists so that solutions can be easily relayed.

The Perseus Foundation

PerseusFoundation.org

This foundation’s mission is to expand awareness of animal cancer and everything related, including research, diseases, and the search for a cure. The organization provides information on everything from oncologist locators and radiation facilities, to finding the right nutrition and complementary therapies for pets. It also supplies guides for finding cancer’s warning signs and preventing cancer in animals.