Katherine is a 7-year-old Australian Shepherd-Poodle Mix in East Flat Rock, NC, who needs $2,000 for chemotherapy for lymphoma.

In 2014, I was going to University and my parents agreed I needed a service animal to help me. Though I resisted at first, when I laid eyes on 6-week-old Katherine, I knew she was mine. After 6 months of board training, Katherine came to live with me at college and was my faithful service dog for 6 years before I was forced to retire her due to health problems which I now know to be cancer.

Katherine is a full member of this family. She is loved and respected. She has her own bed, but sleeps on my bed with me every night! She has lost interest in going for walks, but will still follow me everywhere I go. Katherine is my best friend and I love spending time with her. She doesn't eat at much as she used to, but still loves to be given treats! She especially loves pizza crusts!

I live off of SSI. Unfortunately, one of the rules of SSI is to not have more than $2000 in savings. Therefore, no one in the family has enough. Katherine is my world and I plan to sell all of my stocks in order to pay for treatment. Please help me save Katherine!

Sadly, Katherine has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Lymphoma is a very aggressive cancer that, if left untreated, could take Katherine's life in mere months. She has an appointment with the oncologist on the 15th of June at Upstate Veterinary Specialists in Greenville. Assuming her cancer has not yet metastasized, she will start chemo shortly thereafter. With treatment, prognosis is good!

Katherine loves belly rubs! She can never get enough. She is also quite the barker now that she has figured out she is no longer expected to behave as a service dog. She still likes to go places with me, mostly because she doesn't like being left behind, but car rides aren't her favorite! She is very protective and loyal and likes to eat dirt!