Therapy dog rings bell to mark the end of cancer treatment in NC. See emotional moment

A therapy dog rang a bell to mark the end of his cancer treatments, an emotional North Carolina video shows.

Quinn the golden retriever made an “immeasurable impact” as he comforted patients and workers at Randolph Health. But in June, the beloved dog was diagnosed with lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy treatment, the Asheboro hospital said.

Then on Dec. 5, he and his owner — Marsha Rogers — returned to the hospital for a special balloon-filled celebration. The pup wore a cape as he greeted tearful staff and used his paw to ring a bell, symbolizing that his cancer is now in remission, according to a video posted to Facebook.

“Quinn is used to coming and visiting with us and getting treats,” PJ Richards, a spokesperson for Randolph Health, told McClatchy News in a phone interview. “So, he went around the room and greeted everyone. Most of us were crying. And then he made his way back to the front with Marsha to get ready to ring the bell.”

Quinn is 6 years old and started working at the hospital in 2019. He was known as a source of calm, especially to staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During that time of uncertainty and long hours and a lot of distress, he was there and offered staff just a break, a time to hug him and pet him,” Richards said. “It eased their stress and anxiety as well.”

So after Quinn became a patient himself, his owner wanted to mark the end of treatments at the place he loved to visit, the hospital wrote in a news release.

To make it happen, Patty Cox, director of the intensive care unit, reportedly used her woodworking skills to create a custom bell for Quinn. His owner then used treats to teach him to ring the bell, a gesture that human patients often do after finishing cancer treatments.

Quinn is expected to return as a therapy dog at the hospital in Asheboro, roughly 70 miles west of Raleigh.

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