Fundraiser: Canada History Ehx

Canada History Ehx is one of Canada's most popular podcasts. Craig Baird, the historian behind the podcast, had a dog who needed an expensive surgery, so he set up a gofund.me to raise the money. The aim of this script was to solicit donations from his listeners.

Sadly, his dog didn't make it and the fundraiser ended abruptly.

This is perfect :) Thank you so much!

I truly appreciate this :) This was a fantastic script :)

I have already noticed an increase in donations!

- Craig Baird, Podcaster

{SCRIPT - APPROX. 3 min}

Before we begin today's episode, I'd like to take a moment to talk about dogs.

Dogs have been an important part of Canadian history from the very beginning.

The first dogs to arrive in Canada came from Siberia, over 12,000 years ago. They were used for hunting, pulling sleds, and as companions by the indigenous peoples who made their way across the Bering Straight.

In the 17th century, European settlers brought dogs with them as well. Like the indigenous peoples, they relied on their dogs for companionship, hunting, and protection.

Dogs have been some of Canada's most beloved heros. In 1909, a Labrador Retriever named "Polar Bear" helped the explorer Robert Perry reach the North Pole. In 1916, Canadians were captivated by the story of "Bruno", a sheepdog who was rescued from war-torn Europe and refused to eat after his master passed away. In 1941, a Newfoundland named "Gander" saved the lives of several Canadian soldiers during the Battle of Lye Mun in Hong Kong.

Over the centuries, dogs have served Canadians in an ever-expanding variety of ways. Today they work in law enforcement, detect cancer and COVID, help find missing children, and enable the blind to get around.

But for most Canadians, dogs are much more than just working animals. Their loyalty, friendship, and unconditional love have made them part of our families.

Countless dogs are beloved characters in Canadian art, literature, and film. Their stories have been told by such noteworthy authors as Farley Mowhat, L. M. Montgomery, and Stephen Leacock.

They can make us laugh. They comfort us. They remind us of our better angels; of what our character /could/ be. And perhaps that is why we love them so much.

Which brings me to my puppy, Boris.

Boris is a [INSERT AGE]-old [INSERT BREED]. Recently, he began hacking up food. His bark became raspy. And he was having trouble breathing deeply. So, I took him to see a vet.

Boris has the canine version of Lou Gehrig's Disease. His spinal chord is slowly degenerating. Over the next 1 to 3 years, he will progressively lose control of the muscles he uses to play, bark, eat, and breathe.

There is no cure, and the cause remains unknown. But there is a way to slow it down. Boris needs surgery. Without it, his constricted larynx will get worse faster and he may pass away in a few short months.

The problem is, the surgery costs $5000, which is well beyond what I can afford.

So I am asking for your help. I have set up a gofund.me to pay the vet. If you would like to contribute, please visit canadaehx.com/boris.

That's canadaehx.com/boris.

And if you've donated already, thank you. Thank you for helping us get a few more precious years together. It means the world to us both.

{CUT}