A Coquitlam family is desperate to save their 10-year-old goldendoodle, Jasper.
The dog was recently diagnosed with canine T-cell lymphoma and has been given about six months to live, unless he gets a stem cell transplant from one of his siblings.
Jasper was born in Langley on July 9, 2006.
Angela Szaito, with the help of her son, took to social media, hoping to find one of Jasper’s 12 litter mates.
“We have been so fortunate and have located three of Jasper’s siblings,” said Szaito.
“All three owners are so kind-hearted and willing to provide a blood sample from their dog to have the genetic testing done. Moreover, all three have generously agreed to go forward with the stem cell donation if their dog is a genetic match.”
But the more siblings they can find, the better the chance Jasper can be saved.
The family bought Jasper from a Langley breeder by the name of Christine Filipczyk. She no longer breeds dogs. To further complicate matters, she lost her records in a fire.
“In the end, all we want is to help our dog live out his days doing what he enjoys — swimming, running and most of all just being with his family,” she said.
While stem cell transplants aren’t available in Canada, a veterinarian in Bellingham is leading the treatment, which is reported to be a painless procedure. They are also offering a $5,000 reward if there is a match.
Anyone who has one of Jasper’s siblings and can prove its lineage is asked to contact jasperscure@gmail.com or go to the Facebook page Stem Cell Donor for Jasper.