Max's Page

Weight: 95
Breed: Rottweiler
Age when diagnosed: 11

Tumors:

I met Max six years ago. I had my first date with my now husband Paul. I met him at his house before we went to dinner. My first real insight to Paul was his dog Max. He rescued him when he was 1 from people who were not taking proper care of him. Max was living with Pigs, literally in a barn.
My mom always said never trust a man who doesn't own at least 2 of the following; a pet, a book, and a plant. She said "if he doesn't treasure companionship, words, or growth, then he is not worthy of your time." I didn't listen to much of my mother's advice, but this bit of advice I found relative. Paul had all 3 things. And while his plants needed some TLC, his book cases were filled with books and his dog Max was spoiled and happy.
Paul and I fell in love and Max and I.... didn't. He didn't like that I took attention away from his daddy. He barked and barked and barked at me for months. A year later I realized Max had grown fond of me for one reason, the walks. We both loved to walk.
In 2003 my father died of cancer. I was 26 and I admittedly shut down from the world. I shared my feelings with no one and no one knew how sad I really was....except Max. He, unlike my human companions found a way to comfort me. It was his look, the way he put his paw on my leg, and the way he followed me around until I would stop crying.
While I had always loved animals I never quite had a bond with a dog until Max. I grew up in an apartment and lived in a condo in Puerto Rico....so having a dog wasn't feasible. When Max entered my life I realized how humanly dogs truly are. Max inspires me to start a non profit organization for dogs, www.islanddog.org. He inspires me to fight for animal rights everyday. He continually motivates me and pushes me to give back to the world. He is this girl's best friend. Granted he still barks incessantly, especially when I'm on the phone! But I love him like no other.
Tuesday evening (September 16, 2008) we rushed 11 year old Max to the ER hospital because we thought he broke his leg playing with his doggie friends. At the ER they told us he may have bone cancer. They even suggested putting him to sleep. We brought Max home and took him to his regular vet Wednesday morning. They did a chest X-Ray and we learned that Max may also have lung cancer. We are hoping to have the all our questions answered by Monday, and Tuesday he goes to the surgeon to have a bone biopsy.

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