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A Sick Boy’s Wish for Dog Pics Goes Viral

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Two women posing with a large dog named Anthony in a hospital bed.

A teenager in Phoenix is receiving a whole of love from dogs all around the world.

Sixteen-year-old Anthony Lyons is undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

To help him get through the ordeal, he has requested to have dogs visit him through the hospital’s Animal-Assisted Therapy Program. Unfortunately for Lyons, these pups aren’t able to visit him every day. So, to cheer him up, family friend Roberta Lucero-Koron set up a Facebook page called “Photo Doggies for Anthony” and asked people to share photos and messages of their dogs.

“I thought if I create this event, you can post a picture of your dog to help make him smile,” she posted on Facebook.

Related: St. Bernard Dying of Cancer Gets a Very Special Last Experience: Her Own Snow Day

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To say it was a success, is a slight understatement. As of publication, the page has received more than 900,000 posts! (UPDATE: As of right now, the original page was taken down because “one person decided to bring his negativity upon a great thing”)

And Lyons couldn’t be happier, as Lucero-Koron notes:

“I cannot express the joy we have gotten from these photos. We have looked at each and every photo and video and we laugh and sometimes cry just from the outpouring of support. I will never be able to thank you all enough and all of you are the amazing people that have your best friend pets by your side day in and day out. We are so incredibly thankful for you sharing and loving your pets as much as we love ours. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Want to post your own picture? Just head over to the new Facebook page and upload.

Here are some of our favorites but there are PLENTY more adorable, inspiring pictures on Facebook.

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Related: A Woman Dying of Cancer Has Only One Wish: To Play With Puppies

 

By Andrea Huspeni

Andrea Huspeni is the founder and CEO of This Dog's Life. Her mission it to help dogs live a happier, healthier and longer life. When she isn't working, she spends time with her two dogs, Lola and Milo. She resides in Brooklyn, NY.

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