Gryphon or "Disco Grits" proudly diving in his "Chase" vest
Gryphon, The Canine Cancer Survivor
This is Gryphon, (or Grits or Gritty as he is also known) an 11 and a half year old black Labrador Retriever who lives in Denver, Colorado with his “mom and dad,” Heather Ratynski and John Van Soest. Gryphon just isn’t an older dog who is showing people that he is still young at heart-he is also a recent cancer survivor whose life hung in the balance just a few short months ago. His story is about hope and love, and the many things that dogs teach us about life.
Gryphon was scheduled for a routine surgery to have a small growth removed from his left front leg. It was nothing to really be concerned about, and his doctor had given him a thorough exam just two weeks earlier and told his mom and dad it was no big deal and they’d just be safe and remove it for further testing. So on April 4th he went in for surgery. Then the unthinkable: Heather received a phone call mid day explaining that he was doing fine but they had found a large tumor in his mouth-a tumor that had not been there two weeks ago.
Initially it was suspected that the tumor was a melanoma which has a poor prognosis overall, especially when found in the mouth. But after repeated testing it was found that what Gryphon had what is called a plasmacytoma (cancer of the plasma cells) and his oncologist recommended minor surgery to reduce the tumor’s size followed by full course (18 treatments) radiation therapy.
The outcome has been all that his mom and dad could hope for-his tumor is in complete remission and he is feeling better than he has in a long time. He went for a 6 mile hike on July 4th-the two month anniversary of his diagnosis-and he is reminding us all of how important it is to live in the moment and cherish each day you have with the ones you love.
It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 3 dogs will get cancer. As dogs live longer and enjoy a higher quality of life, they and their owners are being faced with the devastating effects of this disease. But there is hope-hope in stories like Gryphon’s and because of the work that is being done by veterinary oncologists across the world. Your purchase of a Chase Away K9 Cancer print helps support studies funded by the American College of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, studies that are working to find improved treatments and cures for cancers such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the blood vessels).
To learn more about Chase the "Dock Dog", the Campaign and other work by the ACVIM foundation, please click here.
The ACVIM Special Edition Print
We would like to introduce a very special print, that Stephen has created in honor of "Chase" and in support of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation and the "Chase Away Canine Cancer Campaign".
25% of the proceeds from each print will go directly to the ACVIM foundation for cancer research and is tax deductible.
The "Chase Away K9 Cancer" Special Edition Print is available as a limited edition giclee in a series of 75, signed and numbered by Stephen.
If there is a special dog that you would like to dedicate the Chase print to, Stephen would be happy to dedicate it on the back of the framed print. The print is available online to purchase and will be available to purchase in our gallery locations as well.