Wed, August 22, 2007
Sick boy's wish to keep dogs
UPDATED: 2007-08-22 01:50:57 MST

Cancer patient forced to choose pets or home

By NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA



Parker Anderson-Stanley has spent three years fighting for his life and now the young cancer patient wants his mother to put the same fight into keeping the dogs who have added so much to what little time he has left.

The six-year-old, who is receiving palliative care, was given the two dogs in June by people trying to fulfil the wish of a sick kid, but the family's landlord, Calgary Housing Company, told them they have to get rid of the pooches or move out, Parker's mom, Alex, said.

"Parker wants me to fight for the dogs," Alex, 36, said yesterday.

Parker, his mom and brother Brody live in a Calgary Housing home -- which at $265 a month is an affordable option after Alex gave up her job and home in Canmore to be with her son in his fight against high-risk neuroblastoma.

The single mom recently got a memo giving her seven days to get rid of the dogs or face eviction.

"They have rules and I understand that," she said.

"I'm a single mom, with no job and a sick kid and Calgary Housing gave me a place to live when no one else would ... but I'm hoping they are making an exception."

Ald. Ric McIver, Calgary Housing's chair, said a final decision will be made today.

He said an exception to allow the dogs to stay has not been ruled out.

"We understand this is a very special case that merits very special consideration and it's going to get that special consideration," he said.

Parker was first diagnosed with cancer when he was three, on Alex's birthday.

This spring, doctors put Parker's prognosis at eight months to a year.

Parker, who had to give up his dog Cooper when he was first diagnosed, never forgot the love of a pooch and repeatedly asked for another.

When his mom said no, he would tell anyone who would listen about his wish.

Then, in June, two people Alex barely knows showed up with two dogs, within two weeks of one another.

"They thought 'let's give him his dream dog,' " Alex said.

"I seriously said no, but they kept at it and Parker really wanted a dog."

Alex said she hopes an exception is made so the dogs -- Rudy, a great Dane, and Cooper, a vizsla/black Lab cross -- who give life to her son and often leave him rolling on the floor "kicking, screaming and giggling" can stay. "I love them," Parker said. "Because they love me."

Alex is allergic to the pair but said she sees the "stress-reliever" daily difference they make for the entire family.

"They are a royal pain in the ass, I'm picking up poop bigger than my head and I don't get to sleep in but it's all freaking worth it just to see the look on Parker's face," she said.

"I did know better," she said of the no-pet policy. "But put yourself in my position, my son has eight months to a year, you only live once and you've got to try to put as much joy in as possible."