15 year milestone for ‘Wonder dog’ after surviving cancer four times

CATS are renowned for having nine lives, but Jessie the Jack Russell has shown that some dogs can more than rival their feline friends. Jessie is now approaching her 15th birthday, having beaten cancer four times and being born deaf. She has constantly surpassed even the most optimistic vet’s expectations and survived her fourth bout of cancer treatment last year. Paul Holt, Jessie’s owner, said: “She has been swimming and running around as she always would. “Last year I took her to do jumping with Dog-Agility, but she’s getting too old for that now.” “She has done so well, considering we were told she would make it until ten or 12 years old. She turns 15 this November, nearly a year after she became cancer free for the last time last December. She has done so well to get to where she is now. “She was lucky to even have the operation due to her age. But, she just walks around with hats and sunglasses on. That’s her personality.” Mr Holt and Jessie’s other owner Lola Butel have constantly praised New Era Vets for the help and care they have provided Jessie, commending Dr Ben Benander, who performed her most recent operation and sent her owners a picture of her sitting up within a few minutes of the operation. Jessie’s exploits have been captured on her own Facebook page, which boasts more than 1,200 followers.