Our pets mean more to us than words can describe. It’s just crazy how when we first purchase or adopt a new animal, we have very little attachment to him or her. But as the months and years go by, it’s not uncommon that we start to give our pet kisses on the head, have them sleep in the same bed as us, and even hold full-blown conversations with them, despite them not knowing a word we’re saying. Due to how we form attachments over time, I’m a firm believer that anyone who says they dislike a certain animal has either had a bad experience with said animal or never had the opportunity to really get to know one of its kind on an interpersonal level.
People may say a dog is “just” a dog, but for David MacNeil, his seven-year-old golden retriever, Scout was someone he spent a lot of time and formed many cherished memories with. But after the canine collapsed in June 2019, Scout was officially diagnosed with a rare, cancerous tumor around his heart by a local vet. Although the retriever was given one month to live and a 1% chance of surviving his condition, MacNeil absolutely refused to accept that diagnosis and prognosis.
“There he was in this little room, standing in the corner… and he’s wagging his tail at me. I’m like, ‘I’m not putting that dog down. There’s just absolutely no way,'” MacNeil said.
MacNeil gave the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison the green light to start chemotherapy and radiation on his beloved goldie. Surprisingly, the aggressive treatments ended up paying off as Scout’s tumor was almost completely decimated!
Over the moon with how well the veterinarians worked to save the life of his special dog, MacNeil, who is the founder and owner of the car accessories company, WeatherTech, decided to pay for a six-million dollar, 30-second Super Bowl ad.
The ad features vets from the University of Wisconsin-Madison along with Scout himself, who’s within their care. Towards the end, Scout is shown walking on the beach, symbolizing his healing thanks to the vets. The advertisement encourages the public to donate to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. All proceeds go directly to the clinic.
MacNeil believes that publicizing the clinic and asking for donations on their behalf is the least he can do for everything they have done for Scout.
“These experts (and heroes!) devised a cutting-edge treatment plan that has resulted in Scout’s tumor all but disappearing. Thanks to ongoing treatment at the University, Scout is living his best life!” The text reads on the WeatherTech website.
The new advertisement, “Lucky Dog,” will be airing on television during the second quarter of the Super Bowl on February 2, 2020, so keep your eyes peeled!
If you’re eager to watch it now, you can view it from the video below. Cheers to Scout’s new, healthy life!
