Posted on

Johnny and Paul

Johnny and Paul--Johnny's tumorThis story is more than just the few words I post now. It’s more than the plum-sized mass engorged and exploding from this wonderful dog’s hip. This big 90 pound Pitbull mix hunk ‘o love named Johnny. But seeing the mass still does not allow you to truly understand the need. Because you will never get to meet  this wonderful dog. Nor the man named Paul who loves him.

You will never hear the nine different voice mail messages that Paul has left for me, offering his thank you over and over and over again. Even if you could hear those messages you still likely could not. Because his words are continually drowned out by his sobbing. There is no drama. He truly is that moved. Beyond words.

A man facing the hardest of times that has lost both his own home and his own health. Truly struggling to survive one day at a time. Yet entirely focused on the health of his Johnny. This one hurts to look at. This one hurts to talk about. And sadly this is just one of many.

Yes, The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank. And we’ve provided high quality food for more than 65,000 family pets so far, keeping them safe at home and out of the shelter. But limited emergency vet care is also a quiet and respectful part of our work, thanks to the generosity of many of you that realize the animals that turn to us have nowhere else to turn.

And the reason we help is not just for the dog or the cat or the horse. It is also for the person. Because in our work one is connected to the other. And by saving one we likely save both. As this case underscores, it’s not a longshot to note that without Johnny there likely would be no more Paul.

Because when you give to The Pongo Fund you do more than just provide food for starving family pets. You also nurture their people too. Both in stomach and soul, two and four-legged alike. You feed them and you heal them. You do the work in the most kind and generous way possible. You save lives. Yes. That is what you do.

And on this blustery and rainy Portland Sunday morning, we’re thankful to report that the gnarly mass in the photo has been removed. And that Johnny is recovering well. All thanks to you. And to Briana and Dr. Cates and the entire team at Alberta Veterinary Care. For without their prompt and professional care this story would have had a very different ending. For Johnny. And for Paul too.

There are only a few people that know all that we do at The Pongo Fund. We protect those many stories to protect ourselves. Because telling those stories hurts. This is one of those stories. Luckily this one has ended well. At least so far it has. But there is more needed for both Johnny and Paul.

For a man that is himself suffering his own physical and emotional pain. For his dog Johnny suffering no more. For two connected as one that are both here to live another day.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org