Help Needed For Bongo The Dog

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK - The News On 6 received an e-mail last week.  It contained a plea for help.  It read:  "Please, is there any help for Bongo?"  Bongo is a 100 pound Italian Mastiff, and was the subject of one of Rick Wells' favorite dog stories.  Bongo could pick-up and run with a 16 pound bowling ball in his mouth, but now, Bongo is really sick.

The past two years have changed everything for Bongo.

"He's got cancer of the bone," said Terry Henry.

Terry Henry works at Pete's Garage on East Pine, and for eight years Bongo's been his constant companion.  Several weeks ago Bongo started favoring that left hind leg. Terry thought he'd hurt it around the shop.

"Just kept getting worse and worse as time went on," said Terry Henry.

He took Bongo to the veterinarian to have his leg X-rayed and the news wasn't good.

"About 2 inches up from his ankle it was black on the X-ray.  Said it was bone cancer," said Terry Henry.

Henry was told there was nothing that could be done about it.  And, that's when Terry's aunt sent The News On 6 the pleading e-mail, hoping there might be help somewhere.

"I took about four days off.  I came to the realization of it," said Terry Henry.

The vet said Bongo would probably live a few more months, but Henry is hoping there is some help out there somewhere that can save his old friend.