Community bands together to support Jersey City pet sitter following cancer diagnosis – nj.com

If you’ve seen John Amato around Jersey City, then you’ve most likely seen him walking with various pups or at Van Vorst Park’s dog run with its many visitors. A Jersey City resident for the past 17 years, Amato always has a smile on his face and is known for his sunny disposition and larger-than-life-energy.
Now, in his time of need, the community is rallying to support Amato, owner of Doggie’s Playmate Pet Sitting, after he was recently diagnosed with rare nasal cancer.
After feeling off at the start of 2020, Amato didn’t think much of it as the COVID-19 pandemic rolled in, which he saw as a bigger problem. But after frequent bouts of dizziness and vision loss, he sought medical attention in June 2021. Medical tests and scans revealed a brain tumor along with his nasal cancer diagnosis.
Amato will soon begin radiation treatment at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City for seven weeks, five days a week. He won’t be able to work for about three months while undergoing treatment, and while his insurance has approved coverage for his treatments, there will still be several expenses that he’ll be responsible for.
To help him pay those bills, friends Vanessa and Liz Freedman of Jersey City, organized a GoFundMe page on behalf of John. On it they wrote that “all donations that you can make to help this man who spends all of his time taking care of others would be so very appreciated. There is no amount too small. John is immensely grateful and humbled by anyone who is generous enough to help him. Your love, prayers, and positive energy mean the world to him.”
These include the cost of rent, health insurance, cable, cell phone, gas, electricity, groceries/meals/delivery; transportation to and from radiation appointments and follow-ups; pre-existing medical bills from visits and tests leading up to this point; a root canal and other dental work he’s undergoing before radiation treatment; and any unforeseen expenses that may arise.
Within four days of being posted, the GoFundMe page has already raised slightly more than its $33,000 goal thanks to the community, friends, and clients of Amato. The page can be found at https://gf.me/v/c/lj43/help-john-amato-on-his-journey-back-to-wellness.
With 10 years of pet care experience, including dog walking, dog sitting, cat sitting, giving medications, and administering needles to animals, Amato created Doggie’s Playmate Pet Sitting. Doggie’s Playmate provides two 20-minute visits a day per pet; 24-hour overnight care; 20-minute dog walks; a pet taxi that will take your pets to the vet, groomers, or doggie daycare; house sitting; and pet boarding. Amato is bonded and insured by Pet Sitters International.
Amato’s best friend is his six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Eddie. The website for Doggie’s Playmate can be found at http://www.doggiesplaymate.com.
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