Copan, the Bernese Mountain Dog, did amazing things in his very short time here on Earth. Copan showed kindness and courage with everything he did. Copan loved to hike, was a therapy dog listening to children read books, and most of all just loved to be with his people. Including me.

Cancer touched Copan’s life twice. He helped me through my battle against breast cancer. He was the one who would quietly lay in the room at night by my bedside when everyone else had gone home. He was always by my side to cheer me on with his happy smile and wagging tail. Through all 26 weeks of chemo he lovingly guided me on small walks to keep my spirits up and keep me smiling through those difficult days. He even said it was okay if we skipped a day now and then.

After helping cure his owner of breast cancer, Copan then had to battle
cancer himself. Copan lost his battle with a histiocytosis cancer on
January 7, 2008 at the age of six. Unfortunately, the cancer was too
aggressive and made him too weak to survive a trip to get radiation
and then the stem cell transplant. Copan lost his battle with cancer on
the same day I had been diagnosed three years earlier.

After Copan’s death, my wish was to help other dogs and cats faced
with cancer and build a place where they could have a chance to be
treated and survive.



Click Here for the Copan's Place story.