“This Heroic Golden Retriever”

Scout’s final chapter included an appearance on national television and an effort to promote better lives for all animals. Bryce Richter

Earlier this year, Scout inspired a nation with his battle against cancer. The seven-year-old golden retriever was the face of WeatherTech, a company known for creating automotive protection equipment and pet accessories, and though he died in March, his life’s final chapter included an appearance on national television and an effort to promote better lives for all animals.

In 2019, Scout was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on his heart. He came under the care of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine, where staff worked to prolong his life and improve its quality. Scout’s owner (WeatherTech founder and CEO David MacNeil, shown above with Scout and UW chancellor Rebecca Blank) was so grateful that he created a commercial called “Lucky Dog,” featuring Scout and promoting donations to the UW; it ran during the second quarter of the Super Bowl. Thousands of gifts arrived in the following weeks in support of clinical research and specialized equipment at the School of Veterinary Medicine to better diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer — discoveries that are shared with the world.

According to veterinary school dean Mark Markel, “This heroic golden retriever [inspired] an unprecedented opportunity to highlight on a global stage the importance of veterinary medicine for both animals and people, and our impact in advancing innovative therapies to fight cancer and other devastating diseases.”

Ultimately, Scout lost his battle with cancer. But his legacy continues with the Pets Make a Difference campaign in support of work that may lead to cancer treatment breakthroughs.

Published in the Summer 2020 issue