Meet Ice the dog who saved Market Drayton owner's life

Pat Lacey, from Market Drayton, said she owes her life to her Staffordshire bull terrier after doctors only discovered she had skin cancer during tests following the fall.

"I feel very lucky. Ice is wonderful and I call him my little guardian angel," the 73-year-old said.

Ice, who is nearly 10, was chosen by the couple as a replacement for their former Staffie, Rosie, who died aged sixteen and a half.

After having Ice just eight days, Pat, who has now been given the all clear following treatment, fell heavily on her left arm after tripping over him whilst out walking with her husband Les.

"None of our previous four dogs had tripped her, but there was no major damage," Les said. "It was only when she got up the next morning that she reported her hand heavily swollen, turning black and a bit painful."

Pat then made an appointment to see a nurse at the health centre.

Les said: "It appeared to be simple bruising, no broken bones, but as a standard precaution, the nurse took her blood pressure. It was high. She had to return two days later to check any change, but it was still high.

"This was repeated six times and her blood pressure remained high. It needed an ECG to identify the problem and a course of treatment advised. What luck we thought. Had we not rehomed Ice, she would not have tripped over him and her condition not identified, possibly not for many months. He had a little extra fuss and attention."

A week after the ECG Pat went for an appointment to find out the results and what she needed to do.

"On taking her blood pressure again, the doctor noticed on her arm a small brown blemish, which she considered a mole and never gave attention to," Les said.

"The doctor thought different and made arrangements for an appointment at St Michael’s Skin Clinic in Shrewsbury.

"Two days later the clinic called in the early evening and made an appointment two days ahead. The doctor told her the 'blemish' could be something serious that needed immediate attention and could she come back that night.

"The doctor operated and removed a section of tissue, saying the results would not be known for another seven days. Two days later a letter arrived with instructions to make another appointment. That rang alarm bells.

"The doctor told her that they had removed a melanoma, a serious cancer and caught in the nick of time.

"Had they not taken immediate action the cancer could have spread to other areas of the body and currently there was no cure.

"All this from tripping over our rescue dog. It went from thankful that he was responsible for Pat discovering she had a high blood pressure problem, to believing that in some way Ice had saved her life."

The couple are both members of the Market Drayton and Whitchurch branch of the Guide Dogs charity.

"Since we have had Ice, we have found him so gentle, tolerant of other dogs and people, that we often take him along when we are collecting for Guide Dogs.

"His unusualness makes him stand out and he seems to generate more donations than the other dogs who help. And he certainly encourages and promotes the loving nature of the breed, and changes a few misconceptions," Les added.