The love for a dog knows no bounds — or price tag, it seems.
One pet owner is spending $6-million (US) on a Super Bowl ad featuring his pooch as a way to thank the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine for saving Scout’s life.
David MacNeil, chief executive officer and founder of WeatherTech, is behind the 30-second ad titled “Lucky Dog” featuring Scout.
Scout is the “spokescanine” for WeatherTech, an auto parts and pet products company.
“Last February, he was the shining star of our Super Bowl commercial,” the company explained. “Then just a few months later, he collapsed without warning. He was diagnosed with a rare tumor on his heart, and the prognosis wasn’t good. Dogs with his specific type of cancer typically have only a 1% survival rate at 12 months.”
MacNeil brought Scout to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine to see what could be done.
It turns out — a lot.
“These experts (and heroes!) devised a cutting-edge treatment plan that has resulted in Scout’s tumor all but disappearing. Thanks to ongoing treatment at the University, Scout is living his best life!” WeatherTech explained.
Now, WeatherTech is using Scout’s success to raise money for the school.
Scout isn’t exactly cancer-free.
But he has well-outlived his original prognosis.
“CT scan shows slow progression of the spots on Scout’s lungs. Scout receives Palladia, the only FDA approved cancer treatment for dogs, which is administered orally and has minimal side effects,” the company said.
“Scout continues to live his best life while trying to beat the small tumors that are unfortunately still in his lungs,” it added.
Here’s the full ad, which will air during Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
