Dog’s no-laser therapy is almost as good as the real thing

Swing aka Swinger, Swingster, Swingaling, and Swingsteen (best nickname ever). These are just a few of the nicknames for Swing, a handsome dog with glossy black fur and four white “shoes” on each foot. Snazzy. Swing came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary from a nearby shelter, and because of past behavior challenges, the Sanctuary is now his permanent home, where he’s surrounded by a loving family of caregivers and volunteers.

Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill in 2025, and that means working together with shelters to save pets like Swing who need extra care.

These days, his black coat is sprinkled with gray, and a bit of arthritis has set into his hind legs. Laser therapy coupled with hydrotherapy sessions helped ease his aches and pains. And boy, did he love laser therapy. Really, really enjoyed it. So much so that he often drifted off into a peaceful slumber during sessions.

But Swing was recently diagnosed with cancer, which means laser therapy is no longer safe for him because it can accelerate the spread of cancer cells. The solution? Let the pretend therapy begin.

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“I had gone to laser therapy with him when he was still getting the real treatment, and he just loved it so much,” says longtime volunteer Sandi Gillis. “He still gets all the attention and love; we just don’t turn on the machine. His tail never stops wagging, and the kisses never stop coming.”

He even still wears the cool shades that protected his eyes during the real laser therapy sessions.

The type of cancer Swing has is inoperable, but he doesn’t know that. He’s just enjoying all the attention and love from his loyal fan base. And he’ll continue to receive pretend laser therapy and (real) hydrotherapy for the rest of his life. Caregivers and volunteers vie for the chance to give this sweet, goofy boy all the attention he deserves, including an epic birthday party with tasty dog-friendly cake, an adorable hat, and all his favorite people. Swing's social calendar is full, and he couldn’t be happier.

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“Sometimes enrichment for the dogs goes beyond a walk or an outing and involves amazing creativity from the folks who love them,” says caregiver Tracy Berrian.

It’s clear that this very special boy’s golden years are a swinging good time. And Swing returns the favor of pretend laser therapy by doling out copious amounts of slobbery kisses. Sandi says, “We all sit around him on the floor, and he’ll just keep walking around in those little sunglasses, kissing everyone, licking everyone, just loving everyone.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.