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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW In-N-Out Burger buys Grant Pass site ... SOU Raiders win, return to national championship game ... Since You Asked: New Pioneer license now costs $6 ... In-N-Out Burger buys Grant Pass site ... SOU Raiders win, return to national championship game ... Since You Asked: New Pioneer license now costs $6 ... Saving Mr. Jake Numerous people have stepped forward to save a local dog, and it's not over yet Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News WIMER — On the brink of death just months ago, a young brindle boxer named Mr. Jake owes his new life to the power of dog lovers on social media. Three months after he was rescued from a case of neglect so severe he could no longer stand on his own emaciated frame, the dog has received support and assistance from total strangers on more than one account. When Mr. Jake was found wandering the streets of White City drinking dirty ground water and searching trash piles for food, members of a local Facebook group contacted county animal control officials and even helped search local neighborhoods to rescue the dog from its neglectful owner. After the dog was surrendered to county officials, Wimer resident Kimberly Howell, director of a dog rescue group dubbed the Miss Gabriel Foundation, was moved by numerous social media posts to step in and provide foster care for Mr. Jake. Online donors who had never met Howell or Mr. Jake helped fund some $2,000 in medical expenses, procedures and medication. Finally on the road to good health, Mr. Jake faces yet another hurdle — a large benign mass in his chest that could drastically shorten his life. Howell said she discovered the mass after a chest X-ray provided routinely for all of her rescue dogs. "We had a girl (dog) whose skin disease moved into her lungs, so part of the process, when we get rescues here, is doing an X-ray for the chest," Howell said. "That's how we found the mass in his lungs," she said. "It's pushing on his lungs and heart and esophagus. Where he would normally be just walking or playing, suddenly his food will come back up. There's a lot of regurgitation, but otherwise he doesn't act like he has anything wrong. He's so happy to be somewhere warm and with food. He doesn't act like he has a mass covering his entire chest area." Not willing to give up, Howell applied to the Magic Bullet Fund in hopes of funding the much-needed surgery to remove the mass. Founded by New York resident Laurie Kaplan, in honor of her Siberian husky, Bullet, who survived cancer, the nonprofit helps dogs that stand a chance for recovery but whose owners are unable to cover steep treatment costs. Kaplan said the case of Mr. Jake, who is likely between 2 and 4 years old, is especially compelling because of his youth. "It's wonderful if we can help a dog fight cancer and see that dog live for several years, but many of the dogs that get cancer are older. So when a dog is 10, you think maybe we can help get two or three more years," Kaplan said. "With a young dog, it feels like maybe if we kick his cancer, maybe we can get eight or 10 more years." Based on his age and otherwise good health, Mr. Jake, described by Howell as a lovable, energetic and playful "piglet," is a good candidate for full recovery. While Mr. Jake's type of mass, mediastinal hemangioma, is rare enough that veterinary practitioners have discussed following his case and submitting to medical journals, Howell's focus is much more basic. "My philosophy is, if they come here, they're loved and they're playing ball and they're happy for as long as they have left. If we don't come up with the funds, and Jake doesn't get the surgery, we will keep him here and hospice him so his last days are at least good ones," Howell said. "But it's hard not to feel like he deserves a happy ending. A lot of people talk about second chances, but it isn't a second chance when you never had a first chance. I feel like, after all he's been through and he's had such a horrible start to his life, he deserves a happy ending more than any dog I've known." By Wednesday, Mr. Jake's surgery fund, which is given 30 days to fund and closes Dec. 21, had just surpassed $1,500 of some $2,000 needed. After the Magic Bullet Fund campaign, Howell will work to raise money for additional care and other expenses incurred for Jake's care. For more information or to donate to the Magic Bullet Fund for Mr. Jake's surgery, see http://themagicbulletfund.org/donate-fora-dog/ . To follow Mr. Jake's story online, see www.facebook.com/MrJake2011/?fref=ts . Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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