Our Story

BreastFriends.Care began in August 2025, founded by Dee Allen, a breast cancer survivor and lifelong veterinary professional.

Dee’s story—and her lifelong love of animals—inspired the creation of this nonprofit. From a young age, animals have always been a source of comfort and companionship in her life. But during one of her most difficult seasons—undergoing chemotherapy—she was told it would be best to part with her pets for the sake of her health. But Dee gently explained that it was actually her pets who gave her the strength and comfort to get through those treatments.

Later, she and her daughter Michelle took on the challenge of a 3-day breast cancer walk in San Diego, CA—covering 60 miles in just three days, walking 20 miles each day! As you can imagine, the miles were grueling, and the uphill climbs were brutal, each step testing her strength—but the experience only deepened Dee’s resolve to create something lasting that would connect both people and their pets. That’s when she knew—having your dog by your side would make the journey not just bearable, but profoundly more rewarding.

Fast forward to today—though she's now recently retired as the Practice Manager at Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital, Dee proposed hosting a community dog walk fundraiser. The hospital’s owners embraced the idea wholeheartedly. But as she researched where donations could go, she realized that while many organizations were doing incredible work, none provided the type of support she wished had existed during her own journey: help for both patients and their pets.

That’s when she knew what she needed to do—start BreastFriends.Care!

With over 33 years in the veterinary field, Dee is not only a Registered Veterinary Technician and a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, but also a Fear Free Professional and Certified advocate for the Human-Animal Bond. As you can see, caring for animals wasn't just her career—it’s her life! And now, through BreastFriends.Care, she is determined to ensure that no breast cancer patient ever has to face treatment while worrying about their beloved pets.

Together, We're Making a PAWSitive Difference!