Moose's March Is Dedicated To Early Detection of Pet Cancer

Maria chats with Tricia Montgomery, founder of the non-profit Moose's March. The organization is in memory of Tricia's pup Moose whose life was cut short by cancer.

Moose's March provides support and education for early detection; like offering a FREE webinar on Nov. 2nd. Click HERE for more information.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
It's Maria's MUDs and Stuff. Whata great idea. On iHeartRadio. Welcome
to Maria's Mutts and Stuff. Withme today is Tricia Montgomery, who started
the nonprofit Moose Is March. So, Tricia, I'm so happy to talk
to you today and I want tolearn and hear all about Moose's March and

(00:24):
how it started and everything about it. So start me from the beginning.
First of all, were thank youfor having me. I really appreciate this
opportunity. Thank you. Sure we'retalking about pet cancer, and I actually
was. I've been in animal welfareand the Veterans Question and the peddustry for

(00:46):
really all my life. I wasserving as CEO for Pause You Maine Society
right at the height of the pandemic. And this dog, Moose was rescued
from Columbus Animal Care Control, whowe actually pulled from and we rescued him
and to Pause You Made Society andI fostered him on my birthday and I

(01:11):
couldn't let him go. I actuallybrought him back with me to the office
on that Monday fall on the weekend, and then I kept going back.
I'm like, this is crazy.I'm just going to adopt him. Luke
had been rescued with his brothers.He had been chained outside in the South.
It's very typical of animals. Hewas heartworn, positive, lots of
issues with him, a little bitof chatty womp. It's basically a hot

(01:32):
mess, kind of like it seemedto be mom. But he was my
love and he was my heart,and I never during the pandemic. We
were deemed essential workers obviously because ofanimal welfare and what we were doing and
veterinary services, and he went withme every day to work. She never

(01:56):
left my side for all the timethat I had, and he was just
everything. I've had many dogs inmy lifetime, but I don't think that
i've ever I've never had a bondon like I have, of mean ever
in my life. And I hadcome home from an event and I was

(02:16):
wrapping my arms around him and hugginghim, and all of a sudden,
I felt four notes underneath his neck, and then as I and I've been
in the better profession, and Istarted to suddenly you know that panic mode
that you realized what they are,and I moved my hands down his body

(02:38):
and there are four three or fourother notes and they were very in large.
I got in immediately into into AlburgUniversity and Rivertown Emergency Center with doctor
Keys and doctor Brown and doctor Crystal, wife from Polisant, Maine Society,

(02:59):
and it was too late. Shewas diagnosed with stage four lin foma and
he was gone within really within twoweeks. My goodness, I'm so sorry.
Awful, awful, awful. Itwas. It was. It was
devastating, and I will I willsay this to you. I have lost

(03:21):
dogs in my lifetime, and Ibut my father had passed away of cancer
two years before, my mom hadpassed away the year before, and then
we passed away, and I thought, oh my gosh, I just I
was. I remember just devastation andjust laying actually on my office floor and
thinking, I don't want to Idon't want to be here, right.

(03:46):
I just was. That sadness wasoverwhelming, of course, and especially because
you had such a bond too withhim during the pandemic and he came to
work with you. And I dobelieve, and I've heard this before that
certain pets, certain dogs, cats, You could have so many through your
lifetime, but there's always one who'skind of like a soulmate. So I'm
kind of getting the vibe that Moosewas a soulmate for you. He was,

(04:11):
he was. I don't tell mychildren, no, no, no,
no no. It takes nothing againstit takes nothing away from them.
Yes, it's a pet soul mate. Yes, he was your heart.
Yes, I completely understand it.I always said he was my heart walking
outside my body. And I'm thankfulfor friends and my sister Cheryl, who

(04:32):
just said, you know, getup, you've got to do something.
And I got up and I thought, I'm going to do something, and
we formed Muse's March, And atthat time it was simply a program,
and now we have become our ownfive O one C three organization, and
we were focused on early detection ofpet cancer that it can say wise,

(04:55):
and we're focused on supporting pets andtheir people across uh really in the in
in areas and shelters that can leastafford to care, right and and we'll
focus on getting back And it's allabout providing cope and quality of life.
I'm sure you notice, but really, one in four tests will be diagnosed

(05:20):
with with cancer in the lifetime,and with dogs and breed specific it is
something that that impacts really so manypeople when you think about it, and
and our goal is to really raiseawareness for for pet cancer and educate.
We have a we have a webinarcoming up on November the second. It

(05:42):
is free of charge. Anyone canattend this and it's going to be moderated
by Steve Dale, who is avery much renowned within the vettery in a
pet industry and animal welfare and thepet and the veteran profession. UH set
n PM Eastern Time, But we'reinviting anyone to come on and talk about
pet cancer and let's talk about thisand have an open dialogue and really talking

(06:05):
about what it means if there's adiagnosis, what do you do? Who
do you turn to? Sure?What are what are the what are the
options now? Because there there arenow options for early detection of pet cancer
and we want to talk about theeducation of that as well. Oria Oh
sure, because I mean I thinkit's something where for most of us,

(06:28):
if your pet never had that beforeand you don't know, you just don't
know what to do, where toturn, what do I do next?
What can I afford? And Ithink that's a problem with many many people,
So this webinar is I feel likeyou're going to get so many people,
which is amazing and amazing for youto beholding that as well, you
know, because it is it's likea lost feeling because you know, you

(06:51):
don't know where to start. Iwould think, you know, and you
want to do whatever we can becauseit's our pets. They can't tell us
that they're not feeling well or so. And when you realize that, you
know, my thought is always yourfirst thought is what do I do?
So November two is this webinar andmy listeners can go to Petsarfamily dot net.

(07:15):
Correct? Is that how can theysee the webinar through there or get
the information about it through your website? Correct? Correct? So we have
it is missus March dot com andPetsterfamily dot net. That this is March
is the charity for pets. Yourfamily dot net, that this is March
dot com is the website. Theycan go there to missus March dot com

(07:40):
and they can register for the webinarby simply looking at that QR code and
scanning it and registering it. Also, we're giving people a chance to share
a story, share a picture,and we're going to be having those pictures
and stories up on the website andthen along with that we're giving we want

(08:01):
to be able to let them havethe opportunity to answer or ask questions.
In advance this webinar, we havemany excerpts from doctor Thomas du Terra from
an organization called Volition Veterinary who specializesin early detection and pet cancer, that
doctor Rebecca Timmons, We have ChristianWorman and just incredible people like David Stansfield

(08:26):
who is with Coroberative Pear who bridgesthe gap between the practitioner, the veterinarian
and pet owners. In case youdon't know how to talk to your veterinarian,
you do, how do you communicate? And I'll be there as well,
talking about pet cancer, but reallycreating that open dialogue on this this
important topic and really diving into earlydetection and you know, understanding and having

(08:50):
beautiful conversations around pet cancer. Yeah, I mean, and that's all that
people need, you know, Imean, just sometimes just to know that
you're not alone and that there's someoneelse who can who's been through it,
or who can help guide you.And that is you know, there's no
there's no price that can be puton that. It's just so valuable to

(09:11):
be able to have have you know, that resource. I think, so
you're doing like an amazing an amazingthing, Tresia, you really are and
keeping Moose's legacy alive, which isyou know, giving back. It's just
it really is just such a wonderfulthing. Well, thank you. I
think that's true. Thank you,it is it is. I think if

(09:33):
I've said it creates, I turnmy sadness in grief into something that can
help others. Yes, and Ithink many people oftentimes don't even know that
their pet has cancer. Really intowhat happens. I mean, there is
a cancer called homangio serra coma whichreally happens very very suddenly, and it's

(09:56):
part of it's actually a tumor.It is very sudden, it is,
it is, it's fatal in mostcases. And we want to be able
to spread awareness of this. Wewant to spread awareness of of LM boma
and really have that conversation and wheredo you go to. We're also we

(10:20):
have a community group on Facebook throughmissus March, so people can talk openly
about pet cancer and just knowing thatthey are not alone and talking about the
different breeds that are predisposed to petcancer and what this means and providing again,
I say, providing hope and qualityof life. Sure, that's what

(10:43):
we're trying to do. Sure.Sure, And speaking of tell us some
of the breeds that are more predisposedto having cancer. Sure, well,
first of all, senior dogs overthe age of eight or nine, they
are most predisposed to cancer. ButI would say the breeds include your your

(11:05):
standels, your retrievers, rot Weiler'sbeesless many dogs such as that are predisposed
to cancer. And it's important toknow that with the average lifespan of the
dog and understanding that especially with retrieversand labradors, they are more predisposed to

(11:33):
cancer. There's the breeds also includeretrievers, beagles and others as well.
But Moose Moose was a pitt lillMick who was a lowrider and he was
a bully breed. And I thinkthat we're finding out more and more about
pet cancer and finding out that,yeah, that there are those breeds that

(11:54):
are predisposed, but I think thatwith things that are going on within our
globally and geographically, that these factorsmay also attribute to pet cancer. As
well. I was just gonna askyou that because I know that Moose was
a pity mix, and you knowmany dogs are MutS. And I feel

(12:20):
I feel like, even though weknow there are breeds that are predisposed,
but I feel like it's more sonow, almost like people, it's the
environment, it's the food that we'reeating, it's what they're exposed to,
stuff in the air. Like Ifeel like our pets are suffering or experiencing
an increase in cancer, just likewe are as humans. And I think

(12:41):
it's more of what we're exposed to. Even if you you know, you
eat certain foods or you feel likeyou know you're healthy and and you give
your pets like the top of theline food, I think it's just the
time that we're living in and whatwe're surrounded by. I mean, does
that make sense or am I offbase on that? Or No, You're

(13:03):
not off base about that at all. Because for years we have advocated for
better food for our pets. Weattad and now we're feeding them healthier,
but we have not talked about whatis happening with what are they chewing on?
What about you know, the plasticsand the nylon, But I don't

(13:24):
want to say anything, but thinkabout that. I think it was we
Arethecure dot Or did a big studyon the toxicity in our toys and our
our dogs shoes, because think aboutthose microplastics or the nylons that are going
in to their systems, the salivathat's coming off that is toxic for our

(13:45):
animals as well, and toxicity cancause cancer. It's just can those toxins,
whether it's nasal tumors, melanomo lymphoma, bone cancer, camanchio ziracoma,
that can all that is all causedby by talking and lis surrounding us as
well. Yeah. So, Imean, I just think it's the age
that we're living in unfortunately, thatour poor pets are you know, are

(14:07):
exposed and suffered just as much ashumans do. Are there signs that owners
can look for, I mean otherthan being lethargic or not eating or I
mean, I know, of course, you know, you pet your dog
and you scratch your dog or yourcat and you feel a lump, but

(14:28):
are there other things to look for? Yeah? I would say, first
of all, you mentioned the toplees of the Lethard cheap, but there's
also whether it's perhaps a store thatwon't heal. That could be something that
could be an infection or another seriousissue. I think you always have to
look out for any lumps or bumpsor any type of swelling. Loose was

(14:52):
a massive I mean food was likeyou know, yes, it could be
a treats, an appetite, alot of weight for for mouths and something
that happened to him he couldn't swallowand and and that that was because of
the nodes on his limb on youknow, in the limp nodes. Sure,

(15:16):
it could be you know, intoleranceto exercise. It's there. He's
find that they're straining to urinate ordefecate. Sure, I mean difficulty breathing.
You're going to lanness or stiffness.And I think if you notice these
and they're not related to to somethingelse, go see your veterinarian. Right,

(15:41):
go see your veterinarian. It's soimportant because a lot of times we
we see these things and we think, okay, well it can just you
know, it's gonna go away.Maybe I over walked you, or maybe
there was a strain of some sort. But the thing is without with our
with our animals, cannot tell uswhat is going on exactly, and you

(16:03):
know they may be restless. Iknow Ruth was when after I realized the
nose, all of a sudden itcut. I'm like, well, he's
in at night time, he hasbeen sleeping that well. You know,
I know some guys dogs will actuallygo into hiding or they'll you know,
go to a closet and they'll justyou know, because they don't or they'll

(16:26):
avoid you know, that they'll avoidtouching. And then if you think about
if they're in pain and they tryto walk, or they try to jump
on a stair, or they tryto jump up into your lap, they
can't. And I think if youthink that your dog has cancer, contact
your veterinarian immediately, you know,just like women, just like we as

(16:52):
women do that, we do abreastself check. We look for our for
our bodies, look for look lookfor your pups. See if you notice
anything, and there there are youknow, you've got fatty sales. Right.
I was going to say that thatright, that happens in dogs and
and and cats too. But Ithink that you knowing your pet and and

(17:15):
and and having regular veterinary checkoups isso important. And again there is a
there is new detection now four caninesright now, although the felines are coming
out about an early detection and youcan find out through a through a kitten,
through a blood test that you know, if your animal it does have

(17:37):
a sign of early detection, andyou know it is and I think it's
early detection of cancer can not onlyhelp save lives, it can improve the
quality of life sure and providing morequality quality of time with their owner.
And how important is that? Yeah, yeah, I mean it's the same

(18:00):
as as for humans. Early detectionis always key. So yeah, I
mean, and this I don't know, and maybe there it's it's it's even
are dogs more prone to having cancersthan cats or it's just you know,
not luck of the draw, butit is what it is. I mean,

(18:21):
it's I would say that possibly likesix million out of eighty four million
dogs in the US are diagnosed withcancer every year. It seems that we
know more about about cancer and dogs, okay than we do about cancer in
correct, correct, Yeah, justbecause we know more of it, But

(18:42):
it doesn't mean that there are fewerbecause it affects both. Yeah, yeah,
that makes it definitely. It definitelyaffects those it definitely affects those.
Yeah, well, Tricia, thisis like so chock full of so much
information and I and I know thatthe loss of of Moose is it's something
you know, it's the whole thing, Like the whole in your heart always

(19:03):
is there. It just gets smaller. But it's like Moose is looking out
out over you, I feel like, and always with you, and and
kind of if a dog can smileat its owner, he's smiling at you
because you've done such an amazing thing. Well, it's true, like giving
back and helping so many people,you know, because of him, So

(19:26):
you should feel good about that.And I hope that you know makes you
feel better because it's true, likeespecially like having this webinar and it's free.
Oh my goodness, so many peopleare going to learn so much because
of you and because of Moose.Oh thank you. I am I have
tears in my eye. I'm sorry. I don't mean to do that.

(19:48):
No, no, no, Iam. I am humbled by this.
I'm humbled that I even get theopportunity to do this, and I have
that I'm able to do this andI'm able to share this with people,
and I think that's the only theonly way that I got through this experience
just because I again I have neverhad an a death like this impact me

(20:10):
as much as it did. Beforethere was a moose. There was a
moose who passed away a cushions disease, and it was hard, it was
really hard. But again this wasdifferent and he was like you said,
that soul made in that heart dogand he definitely was. And thank you
for this opportunity and sharing this messageof hope, and please sign up for

(20:32):
the webinar. It is free ofcharge. Go to lossmarch dot com.
There's a QR code. There's aflyer there to scan your phone and you
can go right to register there,or you can register online, share your
stories, share your photos, andagain we are studying awareness of early detection
in Pete Canton. Well, it'swonderful, yes, and Tricia, thank

(20:56):
you so much. Thank you fordoing what you're doing, and thank you
for sharing all your information. AndI'm sure my listeners are going to sign
up. And all I can sayis thank you because I think you are
helping so many, so many peopleand so many pets with all of your
information and all that you're doing.So uh, I'm sorry to mean to
make you upset, but I wantyou to feel very good about what you're

(21:18):
doing. No, I think it'semotion, yes, and I think that
people need to hear that. Butit's okay to talk about things. Yeah.
I think we don't talk about griefenough. We don't talk about things
that impact ue enough. And Ithink that when we lose an animal,
it's you know that we try tohide it, right, which is yeah,
wrong, We shouldn't not at all. You should talk about this.

(21:41):
Yeah, you should talk about things. And so that's where you're They can
go to Musi's march so they cancheck out his cute story and see the
fun done pictures of us as well. But yeah, he's out of pain,
he's out of suffering, and we'rehelping others absolutely well. Tricia Montgomery,
thank you so much, thank you, thank you, and thank you.

(22:04):
Sharon has never been a greater operatorin the spot See a Raider Momigator