A therapy dog used to help patients
going through cancer treatment has a poignant twist to his tale after he had
seven months of chemotherapy himself. Charlie, a Border collie, makes weekly visits to the North Wales Cancer
Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as part of the Pets As Therapy (PAT) scheme.
His owner Jane Howatson said patients were able to empathise with him when
they heard his story. Charlie was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes in August 2012. He is one of 41 PAT dogs and one cat who work across north Wales as therapy
for humans visiting hospitals, hospices, homes and schools.
Ms Howatson, from Llansannan, said: "Happily Charlie is in remission at
present, he loves coming here to meet the patients and they enjoy seeing him
too. He comes here and you can see he is concentrating all the time, working in
his own little way when he sees the patients. When patients stroke Charlie and find out what he has been through, you do
see a sense of empathy from both.
"We come here every Thursday and it's nice as Charlie gets to see the same
people who are going through regular treatment and it's nice for him and them to
get familiar with each other. I'm so proud that he is doing this for these patients as they have taken to
him so well." Charlie has been adopted as the honorary mascot for the centre's staff. Carmel Barnett, acting radiotherapy services manager, said: "He lights up the
reception every time he comes in on a Thursday as he's such a friendly happy dog
with a wonderful inspirational tale that lifts everyone who meets him."
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