"Paisley was my soul dog. She was my heart."
For Paisley.
Before cancer.
She came into my life in December 2012, after I found her through an online listing. Before I even brought her home, she already had a name: Paisley Harper. From the beginning, there was something about her that felt meant to be.
Whether we were walking through Washington, D.C., Manhattan, or Miami Beach, Paisley drew people in. She was joyful, gentle, and impossible not to love. To me, she was my constant—my comfort, my best friend, and the one who taught me how deeply a dog can love.
The diagnosis.
In June 2024, we received the diagnosis no dog parent ever wants to hear: Paisley had lymphoma.
Everything changed at once—appointments, decisions, and the fear of not knowing how much time we had left. We began treatment quickly, and Paisley responded remarkably well to chemotherapy. She went into remission, giving us more time together.
Eight more months.
Treatment gave us eight more months with Paisley.
Eight more months of quiet mornings, familiar routines, time at home, and moments with the people who loved her. Her long walks became shorter, but Paisley met each day with the sweetness and determination that made her who she was.
Those months taught us to slow down, celebrate the good days, and understand that the smallest moments can mean everything.
What she taught me.
During one of Paisley’s appointments, we saw firsthand how often cost can become the deciding factor in a family’s ability to pursue treatment for the dog they love.
Sitting there with Paisley, we understood the gift we had been given: the opportunity to say yes to care and spend precious extra time with her. Not every family has that same chance.
That moment stayed with us. It made clear that the difference between more time and not enough time is not always love, hope, or a treatment option. Sometimes, it is simply whether a family can afford to say yes.
Her love became a legacy.
Pais It Forward was born from that love.
In honor of Paisley, we help families facing canine cancer pursue the care that can give them more time with the dogs they love. Paisley may be gone from my arms, but she will never be gone from my heart. And with every family we help, her legacy lives on.
This is for Paisley.