Girls raise funds in honor of beloved dog

Anyone who has ever owned pets knows the love they bring to our lives. They're not just animals; they're family, and loyal, protective, even vulnerable. Just like family, when they hurt, we hurt. And one of the hardest things we face is when we have to let them go. Eleven-year-old Maddie Dean and her 8-year-old sister, Emma, of Cape Girardeau County, know this firsthand, but they also know how to best honor that special family member.

Imagine the devastation when golden retriever Bailey Dean, only 4 years old, was diagnosed with canine osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. The fast-growing cancer ended the dog's life in just months.

Upon losing their beloved Bailey, the sisters decided to turn their heartbreak into help.

"After Bailey died, I just asked Mom if we could raise money for dogs with cancer," Maddie told Southeast Missourian reporter Lindsay Jones. With Mom's approval, Maddie turned her birthday party into a fundraiser. The girls collected donations for the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine in lieu of gifts for Maddie.

The family traveled to Columbia, Missouri, to present a $500 donation to Dr. Jeffrey Bryan, associate professor of veterinary oncology at Missouri. They also toured the Veterinary Health Center.

The Deans remember Bailey as "an energetic puppy" who "was constantly frolicking with the two girls." Emily Dean, the girls' mother, told the Southeast Missourian, "She was always excited when we came home, especially the kids."

The sisters hold those memories close to their hearts. They are not sure if they are ready for another pet after such a heartbreaking loss. But they are sure that their love for Bailey lives on and that their donation will help other dogs, which is the perfect way to honor Bailey.