When Your Dog Needs You Most: Compassion in Motion in Central Oregon
Dogs don't care if you've had a good day.
They don't care if you're tired.
They don't care if you've been at the doctor's office all morning.
They don't care if your plans changed.
They just know you're their person.
For someone going through cancer treatment, that kind of unconditional companionship can mean everything.
But caring for a dog can also become harder during a season when you're already asking a lot of your body and your energy.
That's one of the reasons Compassion in Motion exists.
Because Your Dog Still Needs to Run
Cancer treatment can bring changes to everyday life.
Chemotherapy can leave you exhausted. Radiation treatments can add another appointment to an already busy schedule. Surgery and recovery can temporarily make normal activities difficult.
But your dog doesn't necessarily understand any of that.
They still have energy.
They still want their walk.
They still want to play.
They still look at you like you're the most important person in the world.
And sometimes, helping your dog get the exercise they need is just one more thing on a very long list.
We want to help with that.
Complimentary Runs for Local Cancer Patients
Through Bend Barks & Rec's Compassion in Motion Fund, we're raising money to provide complimentary dog gym sessions to local people actively going through cancer treatment.
That includes people undergoing:
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Post-surgical recovery
Our mobile dog gym comes to you, and your dog gets a personalized 30-minute run or walk inside our climate-controlled van.
No need to find the energy for a long walk.
No need to worry about Central Oregon weather.
And no need to feel guilty about your dog missing out on their exercise.
Just a little time for your pup to move, have fun, and be a dog.
Why We Call It Compassion in Motion
Because we aren't trying to fix cancer.
We aren't trying to make promises we can't keep.
We're simply looking for one small way to make a difficult season a little easier.
Sometimes compassion looks like a meal delivered to someone's doorstep.
Sometimes it looks like sitting beside a friend during treatment.
Sometimes it looks like driving someone to an appointment.
And sometimes...
it looks like helping their dog get a good run.
That's Compassion in Motion.
You Can Help Keep the Runs Going
This program is made possible through community support.
Our goal is to build the Compassion in Motion Fund so complimentary runs can continue reaching local cancer patients throughout the year.
You don't have to make a huge contribution to make a difference.
Share the mission.
Tell a friend.
Help us spread the word.
Donate if you're able.
And if you know someone going through chemotherapy, radiation, or recovering from cancer surgery, let them know that Compassion in Motion is here.
Because when life gets hard, sometimes having someone—or something—take one small thing off your plate can mean more than you realize.
And if that one small thing happens to be a tired, happy dog?
Even better.
🐾💗
Help us keep Compassion in Motion.
IN EVERY SEASON. IN ANY LOCATION.
RUN READY!
— Bend Barks & Rec