When Jo Helms best friend, her loyal husky, Grizz, was diagnosed with cancer, it began a journey for Jo and Grizz that has taught them lessons on love and courage and resulted in the book, Grizz's Story - A Greater Courage.

Puppy Grizz

An excerpt from Grizz's Story. "When we were first told that Grizz had cancer, we reacted as anyone would. The first impression you have is that it is an immediate "death sentence" but we decided to fight back with everything we had. It is important to remember that after the initial shock there may be options open to you and your pet. I found an incredible amount of information and support on the Internet. Check with your Veterinarian and don't be afraid to get another opinion from an expert in the field of Oncology. Research is being expanded every day and new treatments options are being developed which can make this disease more treatable if not curable. Yes, it can be expensive and not everyone can afford it but a lot of facilities also offer trials which can help minimize the costs. This is a very personal and individual decision. In our case, it was not a question of money as much as it was a question of maintaining Grizz's quality of life. He was a member of our family and we did what we had to do to make sure that he got the treatment that he needed. Not everyone is in a position to do that. We also took into consideration the fact that Grizz was otherwise healthy and happy and had no underlying health conditions that would have endangered him. He had a strength and courage that you could see in his eyes."

Sales of Grizz's Story benefit Grizz and Friends Cancer Fund, a 501c3 fund at the UWSVM-Madison, WI. The fund works to raise awareness of canine cancers, seek a cure, and help pets fighting cancer.