Waukesha County Family Donates To Sick Animal After Dog Dies

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI — A Waukesha County family mourning the loss of its dog is now helping another dog with the same illness.

Ryder was the inspiration for Aiden Vorachack, 12, to create a lemonade stand to raise money for his 5-year-old dog’s cancer treatments.

Ryder died Tuesday after being diagnosed in early summer with stage 2 mast cell tumor cancer.

Vorachack offered to give the leftover money he raised to another Waukesha County dog in need.

Jennifer Wiegelman, Aiden's mother, posted the following message on the Facebook page for Ryder.

“At 1:30 p.m. today Ryder went home to the Heaven Rainbow Bridge. We had a tough time with some whimpers and cries from our sweet boy thru the night. The panting didn’t stop much - his head was warm to the touch - he had a hard time getting up and down - his eyes were just so sad. We knew he was telling us he was ready to go home. He spent his last hours enjoying dad’s grilled tenderloin - copious amounts of love - and time with the ones who loved him the past 5 years.”

The Southern Waukesha County Canine Search and Rescue planned a send off ceremony with its K-9 animals when the family picks up Ryder’s urn from the veterinarian, Deputy Chief Jason Buchholtz said.

The group became involved with the family after inviting them to raise money during an event in July.

Another Dog In Need

Voracheck will give the leftover money raised for Ryder's treatment to Maizie, a 9-year-old dog owned by Maureen Dunne of Pewaukee.

Vorachack ran several lemonade stands to raise money for Ryder's chemotherapy treatments.
The Pewaukee Fire and Police Departments showed up, along with many Pewaukee residents to show support.

The family also set up a GoFundMe campaign, which had raised close to $4,900 as of Wednesday.

“We left the vet and asked to meet with this sweet girl's momma! We knew we needed to help. My sweet boy Aiden has the biggest heart even when his heart is crushed at the moment,” Wiegelman said.

Maizie was also recently diagnosed with mass cell tumor cancer. According to Ryder’s updated GoFundMe, Dunne’s day care business was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“She told us she doesn’t have the money to do the surgery to remove the tumor from Maizie's back. We have about $2 000 left in Ryder’s fund and Maizie's surgery is estimated at $1,500,” the GoFundMe said.

Wiegelman told Patch the family will keep Ryder’s GoFundMe page open to continue to raise money to help Maizie.

“When Jennifer and Randy and Aiden came over yesterday, they told me that Ryder had died, and it broke me," Dunne told Patch. "I didn't even get to finish hugging Aiden before these angels on Earth told me that they were going to take care of my Maizie's medical costs. I cannot describe the many, many feelings this created.”

Ryder’s Memory

Wiegelman said it is awesome that her son wants to keep Ryder’s memory alive by helping another dog.

It is a sentiment that brings tears to her, husband Randy Richardson and daughter Makayla Vorachack, 16.

“We are so proud of him," she said. "He will move mountains one day, I’m sure. Aiden will always put animals or other people first. He always has.”

Ryder came into the family's lives when he was a puppy from the Wisconsin Humane Society. Aiden Vorachack said Ryder did some amusing things for food.

The dog was known to stand on the kitchen table during meal times.

"Ryder knows his paw will get him food, so he will slap you," Vorachack said.

The family has a Facebook page devoted to Ryder.

What has been tough is cruel comments like this: "It is a dog, just get another one."

"He isn't just a dog in our lives. He is family," both Wiegelman and Vorachack said.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.