Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Lauch.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I met Roosevelt at an animal control facility on Easter 2015. He was sitting quietly in his cage and when I got him outside, I could tell he had medical issues. His teeth were ground down, probably from fending for himself outside and he had issues urinating. We rescued him and I fostered him along with another girl. During his dental exam, the vet found that he had bone cancer. We decided to give him the best few months we could and made him a bucket list. He stay at the Waldorf Astoria, went on a boat ride, and loved his days at the beach and eating ice cream. He died 5 months later.
After his death, I create the Live Like Roo Foundation in his honor.
Live Like Roo, a 501C3 organization, provides support and financial assistance to families whose pet faces a cancer diagnosis. Our mission is that together, you and your pet will #LiveLikeRoo.
Live Like Roo Foundation helps people and their animals through a cancer diagnosis, both financially and emotionally. Our goal is to help people all over the world deal with cancer in animals.
We pay for medical bills that involve cancer after a person goes through our application process. We also assemble “Roo Cancer Care Packages,” which contain items that Roo loved during his diagnosis, as well as items that will help the owner through the diagnosis. Such items include: a handmade blanket, an ice cream toy, treats, a McDonald’s gift card, toys, tennis balls..
Our future goals are to help more dogs and families cope with a cancer diagnosis and to spread the word about how to make a dog’s life better while going through cancer.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is anything but smooth. I work a full-time job and because we are nationwide the request are endless. I made ever care package by hand and mail it. We have denied very few for care packages or financial help. We deal with a lot of illness and death and sadness and it can get to be a lot.
Please tell us about Live Like Roo Foundation.
I kind of described it in detail but I can add that the best thing we do is the care packages. Seeing a dog open their package and how happy they are is one of the best things ever. Usually they are ill and depressed and it really brightens their day. I should add, the care packages are just as much for the humans as they are for the dogs. We include a pack of tissues for a reason.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up in the middle of nowhere and having cats, dogs, pigs, hamsters, rabbits and loving every moment of it. It is where my love of animals came from. I recently lost my brother from suicide and so I have been reminiscing a lot. So, this stirred a lot of emotions.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5830 north melvin ave chicago il 60646
- Website: livelikeroo.org
- Email: livelikeroo@Gmail.com
- Instagram: @livelikeroofoundation
- Facebook: facebook.com/livelikeroo
- Twitter: @livelikeroo
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