NORWAY — The First Canine Cancer Awareness Walk and Roll to raise funds for families in need of canine cancer treatment will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Roberts Farm Preserve.

With one in four dogs in the U.S. currently experiencing some form of cancer, treatment is often recommended in the form of long-term chemotherapy, radiation and/or holistic measures, all of which can be costly to pet owners.

Canine Cancer Awareness, a nonprofit organization working with families and veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada, raises money strictly through private donations so that pet owners are not faced with the decision to euthanize a pet strictly because of the inability to pay for treatment.

“Cancer may not be curable, but it is livable,” said Canine Cancer Awareness President Pam Storto, whose dog Sierra died of cancer in 2003.

“In many cases, dogs can go on to live long, pain-free lives with available treatment. In the current economy, people are challenged every day simply to pay their immediate bills,” Storto said. “The idea of euthanizing a sick, dependent animal who is often a real family member is gut-wrenching, and something with which owners will have to live for the rest of their lives when treatment could have provided positive results. We are working hard to fund treatment so that families don’t have to make those kinds of choices.”

Registration for the walk is free and the 2-mile course is handicapped-friendly. Please visit the website — www.caninecancerawareness.org — to download a pledge sheet or donate directly, or contact Beth Herman at (401) 368-3735 for more information.