Gem is a sweet, friendly pit bull who got his name because of his sparkling personality. But these days, he isn’t feeling so bright and happy.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Gem’s owner died. Architect Jason Labutka had adopted Gem four years ago from the Brooklyn rescue group Strays from the Heights. Soon after, while out walking in his Upper East Side neighborhood, he met Lauren Glick, owner of a pit bull named Tiggie. As it turned out, Tiggie was a Heights alum, too.
The two dogs and their owners formed a tight pack, hanging out at the park or at each other’s apartments. Even after Labutka moved to Chelsea, the four met up often. “We rarely got together without our dogs,” Glick recalls.
When Labutka or Glick went on vacation or a business trip, the other looked after both dogs. And, the pair made a pact: if anything should ever happen to one of them, their dogs would stay together.
Neither imagined keeping the promise so soon. Labutka was just 29 when he died of complications from a bacterial infection. Gem now lives with Glick, 27, who says it’s a huge comfort to have her best friend’s best friend with her. Tiggie is thrilled to have his favorite playmate for a permanent roommate.
The trio have settled into a comfortable routine. Glick has gotten used to handling two dogs on every outing. “Tiggie likes to walk on my right, and Gem prefers the left side,” she explains. But now they have a new ordeal to overcome: while cuddling the dogs on the couch two weeks ago, Glick noticed a suspicious lump on Gem’s neck. A visit to the vet confirmed that Gem has cancer.
“We got a diagnosis of lymphoma,” Glick says. “It’s either the worst luck on the entire planet or a sick twist of fate, but we’re praying for a positive outcome.”
The good news is that, thanks to early detection, Gem has an excellent chance of kicking cancer. But K9 chemotherapy is costly, so Lauren is asking friends and family to make donations toward Gem’s lifesaving treatment. To contribute or just send them good wishes, email gemsfund@gmail.com.
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