Mark's Notebook


	Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:8

A Christmas Tail

Associated Press

Monday 6 December 2004, 12:04 pm
Keywords: News Articles

Salvation Army bell ringer back on four legs after cancer surgery

OLATHE, Kan. -- The Salvation Army's 20,000 shiny red kettles and trademark bell-ringers are easy to spot, but one helper stands out -- on four legs.

Providence, a 6-year-old German wire-haired pointer, is in her third season as a Salvation Army volunteer.

She's able to do all the things her colleagues do. Providence rings a bell with her mouth and has also learned to take donations and put them in the kettle.

"This is not a drooly-mouth dog," said her owner, Penny Shaffer.

For a while, however, it looked as though the dog's charity work would end.

In April, a tumor was discovered on the roof of her mouth. It was removed, but another one appeared 12 days later.

"They gave her zip chances," said Shaffer.

Surgery removed Providence's second tumor, three teeth and part of her upper jaw. Her jaw was reconstructed, and she had to be on a feeding tube for more than a month while she healed.

She went through 18 radiation treatments, and there's been no recurrence of cancer.

And last week, Providence returned to her bell-ringing post.