David MacNiel found himself in a situation many dog owners do last year, with his aging best friend coming down with cancer and given only a short time left on this Earth with them.
MacNiel just couldn’t face the reality of putting his 7-year-old Golden Retriever, Scout down, so he set out to look for any last measure to avoid doing so.
He took Scout to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, where after just a 1% chance of survival, doctors saved Scout’s life after giving him an aggressive chemotherapy and radiation that nearly eradicated his tumor.
Fortunately MacNeil, owner of the car accessories giant Weather Tech, finds himself in a position where money isn’t short, and decided to show his appreciation for the Vet school who saved Scout’s life in a special way.
MacNiel dropped $6 million on an ad slot and commercial that will run during Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, with messaging encouraging viewers to donate to the veterinary school’s research in plans of creating a even larger donation than MacNiel would have given if he just gave the money to the school.
And of course, Scout in the star of the show.
“This is an amazing opportunity not only for the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the School of Veterinary Medicine, but for veterinary medicine worldwide,” said the school’s dean, Mark Markel.
“Research into animal cancer often informs how doctors understand cancer in people, he said. So much of what’s known globally today about how best to diagnose and treat devastating diseases such as cancer originated in veterinary medicine. I hope it has a positive impact on cancer for animals and people, all over the world.”
