Service dog needs some help of its own

Seeing-eye guide requires surgery to remove tumor, save life

Chikako Mochizuki and her seeing eye dog, Comet, on a trip to New Mexico in 2009. Last week Comet had a tumor removed by clinicians at the Kansas State Veterinary Clinic on April 13. With help from community donors, Mochizuki was able to raise the ,000 needed for the surgery.

Even with a malignant tumor, Chikako Mochizuki’s seeing eye dog, Comet, keeps working, guiding her around as she has for nine years.

“She’s a real trouper,” said Mochizuki, a Kansas University doctoral student in history who’s from Japan.

Comet, a yellow Labrador retriever, was diagnosed with a tumor, called thymoma, last week. Mochizuki is seeking donations for the $6,000 surgery to remove the tumor, which is between Comet’s throat and heart. Without surgery, which would be performed at the Kansas State University Veterinary Clinic, Comet could have less than six months to live.

Comet has been a constant companion for Mochizuki and the dog is well known throughout the history department. Eric Rath, a professor of history, recently sent out an email to the department asking for donations.

“We all hope that Comet will continue to be her companion for many years to come,” wrote Rath.

Mochizuki will defend her dissertation this summer, and she hopes to bring Comet, who’s been with her since she started at KU.

“I do hope Comet will be there,” she said.

Donations can be made at Commerce Bank, where Mochizuki has opened a special fund for Comet, or checks can be made out to Mochizuki and sent to Sandee Kennedy at KU’s history department, 3650 Wescoe Hall, 1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045. For further information, email Mochizuki at mochizukichikako@ku.edu.