CARING CANINES
Cancer survivor credits her dogs with providing special comfort
Cancer survivor credits her dogs with providing special comfort
Just two months after her cancer diagnosis, Bonnie Shave had a successful mastectomy.
Still, losing a breast was a major, heavy event.
Recovery from the surgery required more than just a physical process — a mental and emotional journey was also required.
Support came in large supply from family, friends, community and the Canadian Cancer Society, P.E.I. division.
Then there was time for special, non-human contact.
Bring in the dogs – Shave’s normally rambunctious group of pugs that seemed to sense the need to tone down their attimes hyper nature in turn for offering some gentle contact.
And those ensuing soothing snuggles with her canine companions was just what the doctor ordered.
“I had some pretty down days afterwards,’’ Shave says of the emotional rollercoaster following her mastectomy.
“The nice thing about the dogs is you don’t have to make small talk…it was comforting.’’
Shave, 56, of Uigg has a deep, life-long connection to dogs.
Growing up in Newfoundland, there was always a dog, which was always a loving mutt.
For Shave, who has seven siblings, the ever-present pet was like an additional brother or sister.
“That was just something that completed your family,’’ she says.
She and her husband, Derrick, have been partial to black Labradors and pugs. They have four of the former and six of the latter.
She operates Eastern Dawn Kennels, where 15 to 20 dogs are housed on any given day. She does grooming. Pugs and labs are also bred here (not with each other, of course).
“I just find dogs are so loyal to you,’’ says Shave.
“Each one has their own personality.’’
Her dogs, as she has mentioned, also played a key role in her bounce back from cancer.
So getting involved in Bark For Life, a celebration of the fight against cancer spurred by the support of furry, fourlegged friends, was a natural move for Shave.
“It’s a good program,’’ she says.
Bark For Life will hold its fifth annual event in June at Victoria Park.
A spin-off of the event last year was a 2017 Bark For Life calendar. The 167 calendars that were printed sold out in just 12 days.
Feeling a bit more ambitious this year, 600 2018 Bark For Life calendars are being produced will all funds raised benefiting Islanders.
One of Shave’s labs, Spark, is the February cover dog.
“Pet owners,’’ notes Christian Gallant, Bark For Life co-chairman, “are known for involving their beloved dogs in all of life’s adventures – having them with us as we strive to change cancer forever seems a natural fit.’’