Producer's Notes: Fido Fights Cancer

Chris Bauer Post on Nov 25, 2008 by
Topics: Uncategorized

brodieI love my dog. For the past ten years, through thick and thin, Brodie has been my happy sidekick, trusted confidant, eager hiking partner and beloved friend. Most of all the kid makes me laugh. He is, I am prone to say, "a glorious twit!" And even though he is getting up in years he can still out-swim, out-surf and out-dig any dog on the beach. I am fat with the tales and wagging tails of our adventures and misadventures. He was the chaperone when my wife and I had our first date. And if I had my way he would have been the ring-bearer at our wedding. My daughter's first word was "Bro-die!" And it swells my heart each morning when he pads into her room, and she sleepily exclaims "Woof-woof." He is simply a valued and integral part of my family.

As special as my relationship with Brodie is to me, I know it's not unique. Many of us know the startling joy of being woken up by a wet nose or a slobbery lick on the cheek early Sunday morning. Everyone who knows and loves dogs will happily tell you about their favorite pooch. The Quest team has Bailey and Carrot and Skinny and Shadow and Bro. We talk about them as we would talk about our children. And even though I haven't met all of the Quest pups, I know them through their favorite people. And that brings me to Quest TV Producer Amy Miller's wonderful German Shepherd dog, Pierre. Pierre was battling cancer as we went into production on this story. Then sadly, by the time we completed this Quest episode, Pierre had been laid to rest. It was a heartbreaking blow to our friend and colleague. And I think all of us felt and understood her loss. Therefore, it is for Pierre that I dedicated this story and now think fondly of all our canine friends past, present and future.

Our time with them is sweet but painfully short. Enjoy every walk, every game of fetch at the park, every romp on the beach and every quiet moment with them curled up under your feet. Put up with their occasional mischievous misdeeds- the drinking out of toilets, getting into the garbage or chewing up your slippers. Remember, they're all good dogs. Smile and scratch them behind the ears. All they give is love and that is all they desire back… that and maybe a little treat.


Watch the Fido Fights Cancer television story online. Also, don't miss our set of behind-the-scenes photos for this story.


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  • http://www.breastcancerdiy.com Karen

    Hi Chris, I understand your bond with Brodie — I had the same wonderful relationship with my Bryndol. She was my navigator!

    Thank you for the informative "Fido Fights Cancer" video – I've posted a link to your information on our Breast Cancer website blog.

    Hope is everything!

  • http://www.angelanimals.net Linda Anderson

    Hi Chris–I really enjoyed your "Fido Fights Cancer" program. Thanks for doing it with so much care. I want to send you the book my husband and I wrote. It has a wonderful story about Kobi. He was the dog of Maria Rios. Her story gives the viewpoint of Kobi's experiences as a cancer-sniffing dog for Pine Street. I don't think anyone has written about what it's like to be the owner of one of these dogs, and Keno was one of the best and most famous of them. If you write to my email address with your mailing address, I'll send the book to you. It's called Angel Dogs with a Mission.

  • Chris Bauer

    New report out that Fido's wet licks might hold more than love. They could provide the DNA keys to findings new treatments for rare cancers and other diseases in both dogs and human patients. To learn more see:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100415080857.htm

  • http://www.homeenergy.org Jim Gunshinan

    Hi Chris,

    Ditto to everything you said about dogs (and I don't just "ditto-head" with anybody. And besides, dogs save energy! See:

    http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2009/07/10/get-a-dog-and-save-the-planet/

  • Chris Bauer

    Parade Magazine had a nice write-up last weekend about the cancer sniffing dogs at the Pine Street Foundation. You can see it here, along with some video links-

    http://www.parade.com/health/2010/06/20-dogs-sniff-out-disease.html

  • Chris Bauer

    STORY UPDATE: When my dog Brodie was diagnosed with cancer, the vet described the various treatments and costs associated with them. She also told me the best and worst case scenarios. I was faced with decisions I’d never have to make if my best pal was a human. You weigh the dollars to donuts and somewhere in there you need to make a painful decision. Do you go forward with a treatment that will cost upwards of $6000 and will give him maybe a year more?

    Here’s an article from someone who faced the same dilemma-

    How I Happily Spent Over $5,000 in a Futile Attempt to Save my Dog- Hard Financial Decisions I Had to Make when My Dog Got Cancer
    By Terry Mulligan
    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9157107/how_i_happily_spent_over_5000_in_a.html?cat=53