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WJTV 12
Hattiesburg therapy dog ‘Cash Money’ passes away
By Garret Grove,
19 days ago
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ( WHLT ) – The Hattiesburg community is at a loss following the death of a beloved furry friend on Saturday morning .
Local golden retriever and therapy dog Cash Money announced on June 22 via Instagram that he had cancer . According to Melinda Lowery, Cash’s owner, his tumorous cancer was fairly large and impacted his breathing. As a result, Cash was too weak to continue working as a therapy dog around the Pine Belt.
Medical treatment to address Cash’s illness dramatically affected his energy level and quality of life. Lowery made the tough decision to put Cash Money down. Before that happened, Cash Money visited The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Hattiesburg campus on Friday.
“He was happy one last time because all of you were on his mind. Although we wanted it desperately, our baby had no more fight. He is at peace,” Lowery said on Instagram .
Many of USM’s students knew Cash well and loved him dearly. The golden retriever’s death hurt many Golden Eagles, like Christina Gomez. The sophomore business administration major credits Cash Money for making her feel part of the USM community as a freshman.
“Seeing him every Monday or just anytime during the week when they would come, that would brighten up my days,” Gomez said to WJTV 12 News.
“We are grateful for the time you spent in Scianna Hall, cooling off on our cold floors, drooling over pizza slices, and supporting so many of us through hard times. You will forever live on in our memory.” the school said on Instagram .
Cash Money’s posing with health professionals inside Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg (Courtesy: Melinda Lowery)
Therapy dogs Cash Money (top) and Blaze (bottom right) taking a photo together inside of Hattiesburg’s Forrest General Hospital in March (Courtesy: Nichol Green)
Instagram post from Christina Gomez in memory of Cash Money (Courtesy: Christina Gomez)
Instagram post from Sarah Swan in memory of Cash Money (Courtesy: Sarah Swan)
Sarah Swan, a USM nursing student, knew Cash Money and Lowery well. She appreciates the duo’s impact on her and USM over the years.
“Everyone that has ever met Cash and Ms. Melynda have received the purest gift of true kindness, unconditional love, and valuable connection, and it is truly an honor to know and love them,” Swan wrote.
Shortly after Cash Money’s diagnosis, another local therapy dog owner started a GoFundMe to raise money for Cash’s cancer treatment. It raised $6,295, almost $1,300 more than its $5,000 goal. The financial and emotional support from the local community meant the world to Lowery and Cash.
“He loved you and so do I, Cash’s mom,” Lowery said on Instagram .
For Gomez, Cash’s untimely death is still hard to believe. But this sadness gave her an appreciation of loved ones in her life, including Cash.
“I’ve definitely been closer with my mom this week, and I’ve been talking to her about, you know, the different things that Cash has done with me, like licking my face,” Gomez said.
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