San Diego Humane Society

It's a Pawty: San Diego Humane Society Celebrates Dog's Cancer-Free Anniversary

Four-year-old Phoenix, a St. Bernard and German shepherd mix, is considered "near and dear to the hearts of many staff at San Diego Humane Society"

The San Diego Humane Society celebrated 4-year-old Phoenix, a St. Bernard and German shepherd mix, on Friday who has been cancer-free for a year.
San Diego Humane Society

The San Diego Humane Society's medical team hosted a "pawty" Friday for former stray dog Phoenix who has now been cancer-free for one year.

Held at the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine, the special celebration included a peanut butter cake, hats, cheers and, of course, lots of hugs and kisses for the star patient, Humane Society officials said.

Four-year-old Phoenix, a St. Bernard and German shepherd mix, is considered "near and dear to the hearts of many staff at San Diego Humane Society," Humane Society officials said.

Colette Troughton, a SDHS veterinary assistant who adopted Phoenix, described him as "a big dog with an even bigger personality."

"He inspires me to see the good in everyone and I feel so lucky to get to spend my days with him," Troughton said. "I am forever grateful for all the caretakers that showered him with love and made his recovery possible."

Four-year-old Phoenix at his cancer-free anniversary "pawty" on Friday April 1, 2022.
San Diego Humane Society
Four-year-old Phoenix at his cancer-free anniversary "pawty" on Friday April 1, 2022.

When Phoenix arrived to the SDHS on November 5, 2020, he was malnourished, flea- infested and had missing fur.

The Humane Society veterinary team diagnosed Phoenix with a malignant and cancerous transmissible venereal tumor.

Although the condition is serious if left untreated, veterinarians determined Phoenix's prognosis would be good with Vincristine chemotherapy. Phoenix had received 13 treatments by January 2021.

Doctors said most of his masses had decreased in size, but two remained and needed an alternative solution. Phoenix's treatment regimen continued while veterinarians consulted an oncologist.

Dr. Colleen Tansey, of VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, offered to provide electrochemotherapy for Phoenix.

According to the Humane Society, Tansey made the commute twice to San Diego on her days off to provide treatment for Phoenix at no additional cost.

"Sometimes it truly takes a village to help the animals and that's exactly what happened in Phoenix's case," said Danielle Clem, hospital director at the Humane Society's San Diego campus. "Not only did we have an expert come from Los Angeles to help us, we had an incredible foster family who made sure Phoenix was comfortable in between treatments and the entire medical team at San Diego Humane Society involved in his care."

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