A dog who truly beat the odds

I just received a call from Ron Lipton who said his dog Sweetie had to be put to sleep today.

Sweetie, who had lymphocytic leukemia, outlived expectations, having been diagnosed with the disease in November 2008. Lipton couldn't afford the extremely expensive treatment, and I did an article about Sweetie in December 2008.

Your response was overwhelming, and Sweetie was able to live a good life a little longer.

Lipton said every second of that time was "precious." However, she developed kidney failure and was put to sleep at home.

Here's my follow-up article from Dec. 29, 2009, which is no longer available in our archives:

PLEASANT VALLEY - Sweetie beat the odds.

The terrier mix, owned by Pleasant Valley resident Ron Lipton, was diagnosed in November 2008 with lymphocytic leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

With treatment, which included chemotherapy drugs every 21 days, she has lived six months longer than any expected outcome for the disease.

Her veterinarian, Dr. Martha S. Gearhart at the Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital, said Sweetie's progress was remarkable.

"It's been a tough but a good year," she said.

The dog has responded so well to treatment — she's in remission — that lowering her drug doses are in order, Gearhart said.

"We are going to go to once a month," she said, continuing with CeeNU, a brand name for the chemotherapy drug lomustine, and prednisolone.

Lipton said it hasn't been an easy year for Sweetie. She gained weight from the prednisolone, topping out at 65 pounds.

"She couldn't walk," he said, "but we got her weight down to 47 pounds and she really looks good."

Mary Lictro, the hospital's practice manager, said one wouldn't know Sweetie was ill by looking at her.

"She is still a very happy dog, and her spirits are great," she said. "She is doing better than we ever thought she was going to do."

Lipton, a retired policeman, couldn't afford the medical treatments. He teaches a physical education class at Marist College, but is otherwise unemployed.

A plea to the community brought in money used for Sweetie's treatments, though now, the donations have been depleted.

"Because we ran out of funds totally, they are testing her blood every six weeks," he said, "and the doctor has donated the office visits.

"If it wasn't for all those people who helped out, she wouldn't have made it," Lipton said. "It would be a shame to abandon her now."

Keeping his dog alive would mean the world to him, Lipton said.

"She keeps everything beautiful," he said. "Every single memory for her is precious and happy."

Sweetie still enjoys their daily walks in the park, he said.

"She knows she is sick," Lipton said. "She is so happy to be with her family.