PULLMAN, Wash. – Dash Dog, an honorary Washington State University mascot and furry member of Cougar Nation, was surrounded by love Tuesday while he underwent surgery to remove a tumor.
“All morning long, people keep posting, sending positive thoughts, like, ‘hey we’re praying for you Dash, you got this,’” Ande Edlund, Dash’s owner, said.
For 13 years and three months precisely Edlund has loved his sweet, happy golden retriever, Dash.Dash has been loved by thousands of people, in person and online, for the last five years.It all started when Ande posted a photo of Dash perfectly holding a hot dog in his mouth at a Seattle Mariners game.
“He broke the internet. He gained 20,000 followers that month,” Edlund said. “I needed to get out of the city for a little while just because the phone was blowing up, and Dash had never been to Pullman. Students loved him, they recognized him.”
And soon, Dash the dog became a Coug and was welcomed with open arms by Washington State University (WSU), which has had his back ever since the news of his cancer broke out last year.
“He’s still a strong dog and he has a huge heart, great energy, he’s just the sweetest boy and people love him,” Edlund said.
Early November 2023, veterinarians discovered a mass on Dash’s spleen while they were checking for arrhythmia in the dog’s heart. Dash underwent surgery and it ended well, but about one month ago Edlund noticed another issue.
“We were going in for his last session about four weeks ago, it was supposed to be his last chemo session, and I noticed a lump as I was lifting him in and out of the car, on his chest,” he said.
It was another tumor. Luckily, this one was much smaller than the first. On Tuesday, Edlund waited in the lobby of WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital with Dash’s younger best bud, Chase, as Dash went in for his next surgery. Hope and positivity ran high, and not long after Dash was put under by anesthesia – he woke up, down one tumor.
The surgery was another success, and the beloved dog is expected to be just fine. Other than being quite old for his breed, Edlund is hopeful Dash has many more years left for many more grand adventures on the Palouse; and of course, Cougar Nation hopes for the same.
In Pullman, Dash will spend the night at the hospital to be monitored. On social media, his loyal fans and friends have posted photos of the moments that make Edlund smile, knowing his dog has touched thousands of lives – and knowing they have touched theirs.
“I’m very lucky that I have this great dog and people want to share him and embrace him and consider him part of the Cougar Nation,” Edlund said.
To say thank you to the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital team, Edlund and Dash are both asking for your help. April 17 is #CougsGive Day and the duo hopes the community will donate to the hospital in Pullman to help raise funds for critical animal care across the region.
Amid a veterinary emergency, every year 4,000-5,000 dogs and cats are rushed to WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which is the only 24-hour emergency vet service in the region. The hospital’s goal this year is to receive 125 gifts to unlock a $20,000 match to cover updated equipment for the emergency department.
If you would like to donate, click here for more information.
