The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was stressful and confusing for many people. It left families wondering, ‘what more could possibly go wrong?’ But for radiation therapist Kelli Ketzler, the troubles just never seemed to end.
In the early days of quarantine, she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time. On top of that, her rescued Shih Tzu named Charlie couldn’t bear to be without her. So, he ran away from his dogsitter in hopes of finding his mom, but he only ended up getting lost for weeks. For Ketzler and Charlie, it truly felt like things couldn’t get any worse.
Shih Tzu Saves His Human
When the pandemic was just getting started, Ketzler’s traumatic experience began. Charlie spotted a lump on her neck one day. As a breast cancer survivor, Ketzler knew she couldn’t take any chances. So, she rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time. While Shih Tzus aren’t known for their cancer-detecting abilities, Ketzler credits Charlie for saving her life.
Ketzler knew she was in for a rough recovery, but she was even more worried about being away from Charlie. The pup not only spotted her cancer, he also served as a “therapy dog” for her on a daily basis. Despite their powerful bond, Ketzler had no choice but to have a friend look after Charlie while she was in the hospital.
Sadly, when Ketzler’s friend took Charlie out for a bathroom break, he ran off. So, her friend had to break the unfortunate news to Ketzler, who was already having a difficult year. Ketzler believed that Charlie took off in an effort to find her. She was so worried about him that she wanted to take out her IV and immediately search for him.
Luckily, Ketzler didn’t have to risk her own health to find Charlie. Many kind members of the community came together to help her search. Unfortunately, Charlie had no collar on when he ran away, but he was microchipped.
Humans Save Rescue Dog in Return
People made fliers and shared social media posts in an attempt to find Charlie. Ed Murphy, a friend of Ketzler, also came up with the brilliant idea of putting up yard signs. He knew that they were much sturdier and more weather resistant than fliers. Then, after 18 days of hard work, these kind people helped bring Charlie home just in time.
After leaving the hospital and returning to her lonely home, Ketzler received a life-changing call. A man found Charlie over two miles away, near a pizzeria. He offered a slice of pizza to the pup, and Charlie gladly followed him home. He called Ketzler at 11:00 at night, but of course, she didn’t hesitate to pick him up, regardless of how late it was.
When Ketzler reunited with Charlie, it wasn’t what she expected. While she was overjoyed to see her furry friend, he seemed traumatized from the experience. He trembled uncontrollably and was in a state of shock. But once he was in his loving home once again, he relaxed and started acting like his happy self.
“It was just so hard to imagine my life without him. And as each day went by it was just getting harder. Certain people were losing hope. And I just had to keep pumped up about it,” Ketzler said. “I’m sure that if he wasn’t home today, I would still be out there looking for him.”
Ketzler was declared cancer-free in September. Things weren’t back to normal quite yet, but at least they were on the right track. With Charlie by her side, life seems so much happier and more hopeful for Ketzler. After all, they saved each other during their darkest days.
H/T: freep.com
Featured Image: Kelli Ketzler Facebook
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via Whisker Therapy