Dog News

Cancer Therapy Dog Diagnosed With Cancer Himself

by ADMIN

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charlieCharlie loves going twice a week to visit patients who are suffering from cancer and bringing smiles to their faces. The Border collie now relates even more to the patients he brings comfort after being diagnosed with cancer himself.

Charlie’s owner Jane Howatson was shocked when Charlie was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes. Charlie is one of 41 dogs that participate in Pets as Therapy and visit hospitals, hospices, homes and schools across North Wales. Twice a week Charlie visits the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd cancer center in Rhyl and brings comfort to the patients there.

Even after being diagnosed with cancer himself and undergoing six months of intensive chemotherapy he hasn’t missed a visit. “He has continued his visits and in a strange way it is helping him, too,” said Howatson.

Charlie is now in a remission and his experience only has made his work with cancer patients more meaningful. “When patients stroke Charlie and find out what he has been through, you see a sense of empathy,” said Howatson. “He comes here and you can see he is concentrating all the time, working in his own little way when he sees the patients.”