Moose was a pit bull whose rough life didn’t rub off on him. It had the complete opposite impact: He was a total softie.

After being rescued from a home where he was abused and chained for long periods, he found his way to Paws Humane Society in Columbus, Georgia, at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not long after arrival, he captured the interest of the organization’s brand-new CEO, Tricia Montgomery.

Montgomery says, “It was on my birthday, March 29 of 2020, and it was the worst birthday ever because I was without my family, the pandemic had just started and I really didn't know anybody, and I’d just started as CEO at Paws that December. I was making the rounds as I normally did every day, and I walked through, and I saw this dog in the back. He caught my eye. He looked so sad, his legs were kerfuffle and cattywampus every which way, and he was skinny.”

She asked the foster coordinator if she could take the pooch, then named Boss, home as a foster for a few days. Once approved to do so, the two shared a steak that night, and, in the morning, Montgomery woke up to a pit bull grin right in her face.

Though she was smitten, she was still dealing with the grief of losing her former dog Zeus to Cushing’s disease, and she wasn’t sure she was emotionally ready for a new pup. Despite that, she kept going back and forth from Boss the following Monday when he was at the shelter again. There was an adoption event going on at the time, and her staff decided that they needed adopt “Boss for the boss.”

After the adoption went through and he was rechristened “Moose”, he still retained some of the managerial tendencies that went with his old name, assisting his new mom as she ran the shelter.

Montgomery says, “We were deemed essential workers, and so every day, we were working. He became part of me, part of the community, a part of everything that we did, whether it was a pet food pantry, making rounds, visiting with new adopters or managing the front desk. Even with masks and with everything going on, people looked forward to seeing him. He was a source of comfort and brought a smile to their faces. I have never had a dog that touched me in that way before. They always say that you have a heart dog, and Moose was my heart dog.”

Though their connection was strong, it didn’t last as long as either would have hoped. About two years later, in May 2022, Moose’s dogsitter called when Montgomery was away at an event to tell her that he wasn’t acting like himself.

When she came home and gave him a hug, she noticed multiple nodes on his body and instantly knew what it was, due to her history of working with veterinarians. She took Moose to Auburn University and spoke with Paws’ veterinarian and the team at Riverside Veterinary Clinic to see what their options were. It was too late for treatment: Moose had stage 4 lymphoma. They focused on keeping him comfortable, and he died within two weeks.

This was the latest in a series of losses for Montgomery.

She says, “My father had passed away several years before and my mom had passed away the year before, all around the same time, and then Moose passed away. If you ever meet me, I'm not a depressive person. I am such an upbeat person, and whatever I try to do, I try to bring light and always find the positive in things, but I found myself on the floor and I did not want to go on.”

Struggling to keep going, she turned to her sister and the Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement for support. Her sister encouraged her to do something good in response to the grief, and that’s how Moose’s March was born.

Moose’s March, a 501c3 organization, was launched to save pet owners from losing their pets too soon, through early detection of cancer. The nonprofit has teamed up with Volition Veterinary to offer blood tests for that purpose, along with Antech Diagnostics for the necessary lab equipment. They’re currently working on getting those tests out to veterinary clinics, first in Georgia, then in Florida. Their first initiatives include screening senior dogs for cancer in each location. Moose’s March will also donate the Element i+ through Antech, providing a rapid, accurate cancer screening tool for high-risk breeds and older dogs, with results in about six minutes.

The focus now, and as Moose’s March grows, is in underserved areas where people may need a bit more financial help with their pet care.

Montgomery says, “When I was CEO for Paws Humane Society, I realized how many people don't have the resources and don't have the funding, and all of a sudden, they're faced with that diagnosis and they may euthanize. What I'm trying to do and what we're trying to do at Moose’s March is provide hope and quality of life. So, if you can catch it early, you're given more time to make a proper decision and you're given more time so perhaps we can help you find a resource."

They’re also focusing on awareness of pet cancer.

Montgomery says there are about six million new cases diagnosed in dogs each year, as well as about six million in cats, and knowing what to look out for can be crucial. Signs may include lethargy, loss of appetite, lumps, and bumps. Moose’s March is hopeful that in the coming years, supporters will enable them to have tests broadly available, but until then, It’s important to take your pet to the veterinarian for a check, even if you think it’s something small.

Montgomery says, “It's so important to seek veterinary help. It's so important to make sure that you're keeping up to date on those visits, and if you're in an area that may not have veterinary care, if you're limited in access to care, watch for signs. Look for lumps and bumps. Do a well check similar to what we do as women. We're checking our bodies for lumps and bumps or any signs of anything like that. Your pet can be the very same way, so the similar things that we're doing for ourselves, check them out for your pet, as well.”

Another event aimed at raising awareness is set for this November. Moose’s March will be holding a virtual walk and is inviting anyone touched by pet cancer to take part. The goal is to get more people talking about the disease’s impact and what we can all do to lessen it. Those interested are encouraged to find out more on the organization’s website. Any shelters with veterinary clinics are also invited to learn more about the organization’s mission and to consider joining in.

After raising more than $50,000 in their first year, Montgomery is hopeful that Moose’s March will be able to expand its reach across the country in the coming years, so that pet parents in need everywhere can have access to early detection and some time to learn more about what they can do if there is a positive test. The information generated by the test results may also help veterinarians understand trends within cancer diagnosis in pets.

As the organization and its outreach in these areas grows, it’s thanks to the legacy of a sweet pit bull named Moose.

Montgomery says, “When I looked at some of the people that were coming through our doors within the veterinary clinic and into our shelter, I saw the beauty…

“Everyone is deserving of life, and I know the area that Moose came from and the beautiful people in those areas may have had a total income of less than $37,000 a year. But there was still love there and there was still, ‘I would do anything for my pet. I would do anything that I possibly can to save his life, to do something, to do something more.’ And so, when I looked at this, I said this is the area that I want to focus on. My background, we didn't have a lot, but we were always able to give back with grace. I think carrying that message through with kindness and love, that's extended through my life and now through Moose’s March and through Moose’s legacy and beyond, people have really rallied around that…

“Moose was a pit bull. He is really kind of that symbol of an underserved community, if I dare say that.”