A dog is the best friend a girl can have. These pets are sweet, loving, and loyal. One woman discovered the immense value of bonding with an animal when her dog saved her life.
Lauren Gauthier lives in Amherst, New York, with her dog, Victoria. Victoria is a rescue dog, and she only has one eye. The two met by an act of fate, when Victoria was rescued by the organization that Lauren founded.
Lauren’s group, Magic’s Mission Beagle & Hound Rescue, Inc., is dedicated to helping as many dogs in the area as possible. The woman founded the organization just after rescuing Magic, a tri-pawd pup with a huge heart. She adopted the dog, and together the two sought to aid other animals in need.
“Lauren and her family are committed to adopting and rescuing senior dogs and wanted to expand their efforts,” the rescue website shares. Now another dog has come into Lauren’s life – Victoria – and the two have saved each other.
After welcoming her new pet into her home, Lauren developed a red spot on her nose. She initially thought nothing of it, but her dog grew quite worried.
Days went by, and Victoria would not stop sniffing the spot on Lauren’s nose. Finally, the woman took the hint. She made an appointment with her doctor to get the bump checked out. She could not believe what the doctor found.
It turns out that this spot was basal cell carcinoma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, this “is the most common type of skin cancer.” Had it gone unchecked, Victoria would have been in for a world of suffering.
Fortunately, her dog sniffed out the cancer with enough time for Lauren to take action. She had the bump surgically removed, stopping the cancer from spreading any further. She was so grateful that her dog had prevented a real nightmare from occurring.
“It really is amazing that my dog was so persistent in sniffing the area that was skin cancer,” Lauren explained to SweetBuffalo716. “The surgery itself has changed my face, and if my dog had not picked up on it, I may have ignored the spot, which could have risked further disfigurement. Hounds have a keen sense of smell but I never thought that I would personally benefit from it!”
Lauren shared photos and updates of her journey on Instagram. She believes she got the bump because of her time in the tanning beds, so she warns teens not to partake in this dangerous activity.
“My advice for teenagers and others considering tanning bed use is – don’t,” Lauren insists. “There are many other options available, like spray tans, to help improve cosmetic appearance. The cost and the damage you do to your skin is way too high, and even though growing older seems a world away, once you are older, you will pay a price for tans and tanning beds.”
AAD shares that “while basal cell carcinoma often develops on skin that has had the most sun, … people who use tanning beds also get BCC, and they also tend to get it earlier in life.” Clearly the costs of this beauty treatment far outweigh the benefits.
Lauren has certainly had a tough journey, but now she is cancer free and stronger than ever. Through this experience she has developed even more faith in her animal friends.
“I am so thankful for Victoria,” Lauren told Love What Matters. “She and I have always had a close bond and she senses when I’m upset or stressed; I had no idea she’d be able to detect that I had cancer lurking underneath my skin.”
“What is particularly rewarding is that I adopted her through the rescue that I founded and devote much of my life to saving hounds who have been abused or neglected. It seems Victoria and her keen skills are the way that the hounds decided to give back to me.”
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
