A sassy Maltese Shih Tzu named Pippa took care of her owner when she suffered a stroke in 2020, and it’s time to return the favour.
Pippa was diagnosed with Lymphoma six weeks ago and is now in remission after four doses of chemotherapy, but owner Kelly Ryan says there’s still a long way to go with radiation treatments over the next four months.
“Dogs that get radiation have a 50 per cent better chance of surviving two or more years after diagnosis,” Ryan explained.
“She’s officially in remission, and she’ll have her first radiation session next week, but that costs us an extra $11,000 on top of the $10,000 for chemo.”
The Jordan Springs local didn’t think twice about the more than $20,000 price tag, saying it’s time to give back to her best friend after the roles were reversed four years ago.
“She became really protective of me and gave herself the title of my support dog and she would lay in bed with me all day if I was sick,” Ryan said.
“She completely changed her whole attitude and temperament, so if I was having a bad day, she would be right next to me and just not move or annoy me or beg for food or anything like that.
“Then, if a couple of days later I was feeling better, she’d be back to her bouncy self and demanding treats and walks, so she really tuned in to how I was feeling.”
The 11-year-old dog has spent her life spreading love and joy – and not just with her own family.
“I was working with the ambos for 10 years, and for about two of those, Pip would come to work with me, and we’d drive around to all the local hospitals and ambulance stations and visit paramedics to brighten their day,” Ryan stated.
Ryan said there’s something special about Pip.
“She’s got a really great ability to tune into people’s feelings and emotions and gives them exactly what they need in that moment,” Ryan explained.
“She’s very strong-willed, very brave, nothing scares her.”
You can contribute to Pippa’s recovery by donating to her GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/pippas-cancer-treatment.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.