One Small Town Came Together to Shower This Sick Dog With Lots of Love
One Florida community, along with thousands of people across the Internet, is coming together to help a very special creature in need.
After Maverick, a 9-year-old golden retriever from DeLand, Florida, was diagnosed with lymphoma for the second time, his family and their neighbors decided to give him a day to remember, which they recently shared on the Everybody Loves Maverick Facebook page, according to Today.com.
Allison and Joey Maxwell adopted Maverick from a Shelter in North Carolina eight years ago, and he instantly become a part of their family. "Maverick's our baby," Joey told reporters. When the sweet dog was diagnosed with cancer over a year ago, the family did everything they could to ensure Maverick would survive. After receiving chemotherapy, the dog remained healthy for six months, until the lymphoma returned this summer.
Maverick is now undergoing chemotherapy again, but the Maxwells are "cautiously optimistic," they explained on the dog's Go Fund Me page, which is being used to fundraise money for cancer treatments. Since it's his second time battling the disease, his chances for a full recovery are lower. "We can never know how long we will have with him," they wrote on the page, "but he means the world to us, and every healthy day is cherished."
Knowing his time could be very limited, Allison and Joey wanted to give their furry child a special day filled with his favorite things around town. To make it possible, their local Lowe's manager went out of his way to find Maverick a large wagon, even though the store was sold out.
Thanks to the wagon, Maverick was able to get out and about, and see friends and community members who wanted to shower him with love. "It took 1 1/2 hours to walk 1 1/2 blocks just from everyone stopping to love on him," added Joey. "That's all he wants." Joey also took Maverick to his favorite burger joint where he devoured two patties.
The day after his adventure about town, Maverick's parents noticed that his spirits were lifted and he was stronger and happier. Since then, the dog has started to use his wheelchair again, and began water treadmill therapy and acupuncture. "Right now every ear scratch, every belly rub, every mouth full of peanut butter is a little moment we didn't think we were going to have," Joey said. "We do not take that for granted."
(h/t Today.com)
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