An Ohio police dog, Nero, who was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma is fighting the cancer in a clinical trial program.
Nero has served with the Sheriff’s Office’s for four years, and played an instrumental part in patrol duties.
“It’s been tough,” Deputy Marc Nye with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News. “Although I’m pretty upset, I feel like the best way to deal with it is to simply keep working and not really change much in our daily lives.”
Nero is receiving experimental treatment, free of charge, at the Ohio State University which is well beyond the chemotherapy normally reserved for this type of cancer.
Nero’s little brother, Bolt, loves to pick on him. It’s kinda like poking a grizzly bear with a short stick.
Posted by K9 Nero - Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, 26 March 2016
“Both of the drugs have human equivalents, and are moving forward, hopefully, for approval from FDA to treat dogs with cancer,” Dr. Cheryl London, who is treating Nero, told ABC News.
The specific type of Lymphoma that Nero has is still not known, but given that it is cancer, the prognosis won’t be favorable.
“Most of our lymphoma patients will survive 10 to 14 months,” London said, although some dogs live for two years or longer after the disease.
The news received an outpouring of sympathy from the local community, many with prayers for the police dog.
“Keeping you two in our thoughts, Nero is a superhero to the kids, and you have been inspirational to many a youngster,” wrote one resident on the canine’s Facebook page.
