Cancer survivor, 8, wants to repay therapy dogs

By Christy Barritt

Correspondent

Great Bridge

The first month and a half after Justin Ashbey was diagnosed with leukemia, he never smiled. It wasn't until a therapy dog visited Justin, then 2, in the hospital that he began to grin again.

And grin and grin and grin.

Now 8 and in remission, Justin wants to do something to help future therapy dogs.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., he'll be holding a supply drive for the Chesapeake and Norfolk animal control shelters.

The drive will take place in the parking lot of Greenbrier Animal Care Center, 1813 Greenbrier Pkwy., at South Military Highway.

He's asking for supplies such as bleach, unscented laundry detergent, dog and cat treats, canned food, kitty liter, towels, blankets and office supplies. Not needed are collars, leashes or dry dog and cat food. He will also have pictures of adoptable animals from both shelters available.

"A number of us plan to be there to support this little boy and show our appreciation to him," said Kathy Strouse, superintendant of Chesapeake Animal Control. "We were just overwhelmed when we heard about this idea. What a wonderful little boy to have gone through what he's gone through and think of the animals that can't speak for themselves but who made such a difference in his life."

Shannon Brown, 36, is Justin's mother. She works as a caretaker at the city-run Norfolk Animal Care Center. This summer, Justin volunteered there and fell in love with the animals. He's even fostered a ferret and a rabbit.

"I just want to help the animals," said Justin, a third-grader at Great Bridge Intermediate School.

Justin was a patient at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters for long stretches of time as he battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Brown first became worried about her son because he bruised easily, always looked pale and, by 2, still wasn't walking. She said the diagnosis was devastating.

For eight months, Justin was on a feeding tube. He also underwent 3-1/2 years of chemotherapy. At one point, he was in the hospital so long he lost his ability to walk. The therapy dogs always cheered him up, though.

"When that Irish setter came into his room, it was the first time we'd seen him smile in a month and a half," said Brown, a 1990 graduate of Indian River High School. "It helped his morale."

Today, Justin is healthy. He's even playing baseball for the Southern Chesapeake Athletic Association.

The family, which includes 16-year-old Tori and 18-year-old Reyn, lives in Great Bridge. They have a dog named Snoopy, two birds, fish and mice.

Brown is proud of her son for wanting to do this drive for shelter supplies.

"It's a good lesson," said Brown. "It teaches good values, about helping animals and other people."

Brown wants to encourage others to volunteer at their local animal shelters.

"We can always use tons of volunteers at the shelter," said Brown. "We need people to walk dogs, to help socialize the cats, things like that. Not every volunteer has to clean. The shelters are open six days a week."

Strouse said she is always looking for volunteers for her city-run shelter on Cook Boulevard in the Cavalier Industrial Center.

For more information on volunteering at Chesapeake Animal Control, visit: www.cityofchesapeake.net/animalcontrol and download an application. The next volunteer orientation, which takes place four times a year, is Nov. 15.

For more information on the drive for supplies, e-mail Brown at shannonb72@cox.net. The rain date for the event is Nov. 9.

Christy Barritt, 651-6166, christybarritt@cox.net