Community Rallies to Fund Vital Cancer Treatment for Exceptional Baltinglass Husky
Friday 10th, July 2026
A family from Baltinglass, West Wicklow, has organised a crowdfunding campaign to manage the medical expenses for their ten year old Siberian Husky, Bella, who is set to undergo surgery next week following an aggressive cancer diagnosis.
Lisa Sharpe and her partner Calvin have raised Bella since she was a three week old puppy. The diagnosis of apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma was confirmed after a routine grooming session revealed a lump, though Bella had shown no previous indicators of poor health. A subsequent CT scan at a veterinary specialist clinic in Lucan revealed a substantial anal sac tumour. While tests confirmed that the cancer has not affected her heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, or bladder, veterinarians observed two suspicious spots on her liver that require direct examination during the upcoming operation.
The primary focus for the upcoming veterinary procedure remains local control of the disease and patient comfort. The surgical plan involves:
"It hasn't spread to her lungs or heart, but the tumour is quite large and there are a couple of spots on her liver," Lisa said. "The main thing now is to get the tumour out to hopefully prevent it spreading. She's getting surgery next week to remove the lump because, regardless, she needs that for comfort. While they're doing that, they're going to check her liver to see if it has spread, and then we can go from there."
Having bottle fed Bella from early infancy, the owners describe a deep bond with the animal. Alongside her usual domestic routine and regular exercise, the family noted Bella's heightened awareness regarding human physical distress.
"We took her in when she was just three weeks old and bottle-fed her ourselves," Lisa said. "From those very first days, she became part of our family. We've watched her grow, loved her through every stage of life, and shared countless memories together. The bond we have with her is impossible to put into words. She is the most loving dog you will ever meet in your life – a real people dog. She just follows you around everywhere and sits in every room you're in. She loves playing with toys, but most of the time, she's literally just sitting on your lap. I think she forgets how big she is half the time!"
According to the owners, Bella actively alters her behaviour when a person is unwell, a trait they observed firsthand during a medical event a few years ago."
She has an amazing sense of human emotion and this amazing ability to sense when someone is about to become unwell," Lisa said. "She'll lie beside you lengthways with her head close to yours. She doesn't do this at any other time. She actually detected that something was wrong with my pregnancy in 2022 before the doctors did, and she was one of the reasons I made an appointment."
Specialist diagnostics, including the initial staging procedures and the CT scan, accumulated costs between €1,300 and €1,400. Anticipated post surgical treatments are projected to increase the overall medical bill significantly.
In response, the couple initiated an online appeal that has accumulated over €1,500 within its first three weeks, with the vast majority of contributions arriving during the initial 24 hours of activation. The organisers clarified that the financial drive aims strictly to secure the dog's comfort rather than prolonging her life if her quality of life is compromised.
"We are so overwhelmed by people's generosity and support, and most of what has been raised so far was donated within the first 24 hours," Lisa said. "Our goal is not simply to extend Bella's life at any cost, but to give her the best possible quality of life for whatever time she has left. We don't want to just keep her going for us. It's whatever is best for her. Bella has given us nothing but unconditional love and loyalty in her life, and we owe it to her to make sure she remains comfortable, happy, and surrounded by the people who love her. We just want to make sure she's comfortable, no matter which way the results of the surgery go."
The public appeal continues to accept contributions online at https://www.gofund.me/4ced391b7.
Lisa Sharpe and her partner Calvin have raised Bella since she was a three week old puppy. The diagnosis of apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma was confirmed after a routine grooming session revealed a lump, though Bella had shown no previous indicators of poor health. A subsequent CT scan at a veterinary specialist clinic in Lucan revealed a substantial anal sac tumour. While tests confirmed that the cancer has not affected her heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, or bladder, veterinarians observed two suspicious spots on her liver that require direct examination during the upcoming operation.
Medical Situation and Next Steps
The primary focus for the upcoming veterinary procedure remains local control of the disease and patient comfort. The surgical plan involves:
- Removing the primary anal sac mass to relieve discomfort and reduce the risk of further cellular spread
- Biopsying the liver lesions during the same surgical session to evaluate potential metastasis
- Formulating a post operative management plan based on the pathology results
"It hasn't spread to her lungs or heart, but the tumour is quite large and there are a couple of spots on her liver," Lisa said. "The main thing now is to get the tumour out to hopefully prevent it spreading. She's getting surgery next week to remove the lump because, regardless, she needs that for comfort. While they're doing that, they're going to check her liver to see if it has spread, and then we can go from there."
A Decade of Care and Perception
Having bottle fed Bella from early infancy, the owners describe a deep bond with the animal. Alongside her usual domestic routine and regular exercise, the family noted Bella's heightened awareness regarding human physical distress.
"We took her in when she was just three weeks old and bottle-fed her ourselves," Lisa said. "From those very first days, she became part of our family. We've watched her grow, loved her through every stage of life, and shared countless memories together. The bond we have with her is impossible to put into words. She is the most loving dog you will ever meet in your life – a real people dog. She just follows you around everywhere and sits in every room you're in. She loves playing with toys, but most of the time, she's literally just sitting on your lap. I think she forgets how big she is half the time!"
According to the owners, Bella actively alters her behaviour when a person is unwell, a trait they observed firsthand during a medical event a few years ago."
She has an amazing sense of human emotion and this amazing ability to sense when someone is about to become unwell," Lisa said. "She'll lie beside you lengthways with her head close to yours. She doesn't do this at any other time. She actually detected that something was wrong with my pregnancy in 2022 before the doctors did, and she was one of the reasons I made an appointment."
Financial Demands and Care Objectives
Specialist diagnostics, including the initial staging procedures and the CT scan, accumulated costs between €1,300 and €1,400. Anticipated post surgical treatments are projected to increase the overall medical bill significantly.
In response, the couple initiated an online appeal that has accumulated over €1,500 within its first three weeks, with the vast majority of contributions arriving during the initial 24 hours of activation. The organisers clarified that the financial drive aims strictly to secure the dog's comfort rather than prolonging her life if her quality of life is compromised.
"We are so overwhelmed by people's generosity and support, and most of what has been raised so far was donated within the first 24 hours," Lisa said. "Our goal is not simply to extend Bella's life at any cost, but to give her the best possible quality of life for whatever time she has left. We don't want to just keep her going for us. It's whatever is best for her. Bella has given us nothing but unconditional love and loyalty in her life, and we owe it to her to make sure she remains comfortable, happy, and surrounded by the people who love her. We just want to make sure she's comfortable, no matter which way the results of the surgery go."
The public appeal continues to accept contributions online at https://www.gofund.me/4ced391b7.