A Day of Remarkable Dogs
Norwalk celebrates the second annual Smokey's Day

By Cindy Mindell

NORWALK - Two years ago, Norwalk veterinarian Dr. Gerry Post lost his Miniature Schnauzer to cancer. In honor of Smokey's life and courage, Dr. Post founded Smokey's Day, an annual event to raise awareness about animal cancer and support ongoing research to find treatments.
Dr. Post is one of approximately 130 board-certified veterinary oncologists in the U.S. He helped found the Veterinary Oncology and Hematology Center in Norwalk, and the Animal Cancer Foundation / The Ruth and Sam Newman Initiative.
Last year, 300 participants and their dogs huddled under a tent in Taylor Farm Park in the rain to mark the first annual Smokey's Day. On September 16 this year, thanks to sunny weather, nearly 600 humans and 300 canines turned the Norwalk park into a festive, tail-wagging celebration of remarkable dogs.
Dogs wowed visitors as they navigated the Good Citizen Dog Agility obstacle course, demonstrated how the Norwalk K9 apprehends criminals, and soared over hurdles in team Fly-Ball.
Major sponsor, The Blue Buffalo Co., led the Celebrity Dog Walk, featuring Jill Rappaport of NBC's "Today Show," Dr. Bernie Siegel, and former New York Knicks forward Mel Davis. Ms. Rappaport's German Shepard, Jack, is a patient of Dr. Post, and one of the vet's success stories. After being diagnosed with bone cancer a year ago, Jack survived the amputation of his front left leg, and five months of chemotherapy. "Even though you never know if or when cancer will rear its ugly head again," Rappaport said, "every time he runs to the door with his tail wagging, begs for food, leaps up the stairs, rolls in the mud, plays with my other three dogs, jumps up to kiss the horses on the lips, or cuddles up in my lap snoring away, I know I did the best thing for my precious Jack. And so does he."
A noted cancer therapist, Bernie S. Siegel is a firm believer in the healing benefits of therapy dogs. "Pets and humans have the same needs, and respond to the same healing power of touch," Siegel said. "People get busy and their pets get sick. When people stay home, they see their pets get well." During the event, Siegel distributed copies of the foreword he wrote to the recently published "The Lazy Dog's Guide to Enlightenment" by Andrea Hurst and Beth Wilson. In the piece, he writes about his dog Oscar, who years ago developed cancer so severe that the veterinarian recommended euthanasia. "Our children said since I didn’t do that with my patients, I couldn’t do it with Oscar," Siegel writes. "So home he came to my love, massage, shared vitamins and hand-fed meals. In a week he was on his feet and out the door. He lived for years with no sign of the cancer. He lived in the moment. The doctors involved, including me, were the problem, living in a tragic future."
Dogs are enlightened healers, Siegel writes. "They seem to have it figured out so much better than we do. All they want is to love and be loved. The only other need I would add perhaps is the need to accomplish what you were put on earth to accomplish and actually they probably do that as well since they were probably put here to love and be loved and maybe even to teach us a few things. I would say definitely to teach us a few things."
Mel Davis, the onetime New York Knicks forward, lost two Schnauzers, one to cancer and the other to arthritis. "I have an affinity for animals; I wanted to be a veterinarian," he said. "But I grew seven inches in one summer, and ended up playing with the Knicks instead." Davis participates in animal-related events when his schedule permits, and supports several animal shelters.
"When I retire, I will have a dog again," said Davis, who oversees fundraising for a new sports arena at St. John's University, his alma mater. "And I will adopt – there are so many dogs available."
Animal Cancer Foundation and PAWS were the main charity beneficiaries of Smokey's Day. For more information on animal cancer resources, visit www.oncovet.com.