AVON LAKE — Catie Wightman has been helping animals much of her life. Now she needs help for one of her own.

Wightman’s dog, Mel, who was rescued four years ago after being found chained to a pole, is fighting cancer. The 5-year-old mutt lost his left rear leg to the disease and has been undergoing chemotherapy that nearly killed him at first.

Friends are rallying to help the 24-year-old Wightman pay Mel’s medical bills, which have topped $3,000 since his diagnosis in January.

Mulligans for Mel will be held May 8 at Sweetbriar Golf Course, 750 Jaycox Road, Avon Lake.

Wightman once worked at Sweetbriar, so former colleague Krisanna Schillinger organized the event along with Connie Field of Love-A-Stray, where Wightman has volunteered for the organization, which originally rescued Mel.

When he was first found chained to a pole in March 2006, the chain had embedded itself into Mel’s skin. The scar from that is still visible on his neck. Love-A-Stray brought him back to health and Wightman took him in, originally planning to foster him until a permanent home could be found. She fell in love and kept him.

Wightman lives in a cottage in Avon Lake’s 45s neighborhood with Mel, another dog, Trina, cats Diesel and DeeDee, a leopard gecko, three aquatic turtles and two red-tail boa constrictors.

A lump on Mel’s leg brought him to the Avon Lake Animal Clinic in January. It was found to be a grade III mast cell tumor, a very aggressive cancer. Mel’s leg was amputated successfully, but a biopsy revealed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.

That meant chemotherapy. Mel almost died after the first treatment. He had some kind of infection, Wightman said, and the chemotherapy pretty much eliminated his defenses against infection. He became septic, and his temperature shot up from a normal 101 to 102 degrees to 105.7. He was on intravenous treatment for two days before recovering. His dose was lowered, and he’s done well on the treatment since. He has two more intravenous chemo treatments left, followed by four months of oral chemotherapy.

Wightman said she is grateful that she has the Avon Lake Animal Clinic nearby. Dr. Frank Krupka and Dr. Jason Lamb have been Mel’s primary veterinarians, but the whole staff has rallied behind him. Wightman recalled how they would bring him cheeseburgers to stimulate his appetite while he was recovering from his surgery.
“They have been so kind and so supportive,” she said.

Since Mel’s surgery, Wightman has been bringing him to work with her at Camp Bow Wow, a dog day care and boarding facility. He can’t play with the other dogs yet, so he stays with her and has his fun in greeting visitors with a vigorously wagging tail and kiss attempts. He moves around almost effortlessly despite his missing leg.

Wightman is touched that her friends are helping her raise money for Mel’s care.

“He’s just one of those special dogs,” she said. “He’s super affectionate and really high-energy. Everyone he meets just loves him.”

Mulligans for Mel

• What: 18 holes of golf, a cookout, entertainment and complimentary soda, water and beer. There will be contests and a 50/50 raffle, and mulligans will be available for purchase.
• When: May 8.
• Cost: $70; hole sponsorships are $50.
• For info: Call (440) 670-3192 or go to www.melsmom.tripawds.com/mulligans-for-mel.

Contact Melissa Hebert at 329-7129 or mhebert@chroniclet.com.

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