Why We Do What We Do

Bronwyn was our puppy, a loony, loopy Yellow Labrador with a serious zest for life. She was wild and rambunctious, a dishwasher raiding, bathtub-water swilling, shoe eating escape artist with a sweet, loving personality. She'd fetch till she dropped, tugged with the best of them, and adored our young son.

Unfortunately, Bronwyn had a rough start to life. In March 2007, at 9 months old, she bolted out our front door and got hit by a car. We took her to a local trauma center and by a stroke of luck, we got a phenomenal vet, who put her back together and brought her through her recovery with flying colors. Hump-backed and with a permanent limp (which didn't slow her down at all), we called her our "Miracle Dog".

Three days after Christmas 2007, the miracle ran out and we lost her to Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). She had just turned 19 months old the day she died. It was 36 hours from diagnosis to the end, and I hope I never see another dog that looks like she did right before she died.

As it often does, the IMHA struck without warning and with vague symptoms that could have been a sign of any number of problems. I started baking for Bronwyn while she was recuperating from her car accident to help entice her to eat. Soon I was baking for our other Lab, Trajan, and for friends' dogs, too.

After Bronwyn died, I knew I wanted to do something in her memory to bring attention to the disease that took our little girl so young. Most people have never heard of IMHA until their dog is diagnosed with it. But it is a horrible disease, often fatal, and it can be very costly to treat. And so Bronwyn's Biscuits was born. Each bag of treats carries her picture, and I donate 10% of my proceeds to the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at the Morris Animal Foundation, in the hope that soon a cure can be found.