Dog-loving boy becomes Internet star
Print Edition
WHAT started out as a simple Facebook request for photos of dogs for a 16-year-old cancer patient has since turned the pet-loving boy into an Internet celebrity.
Anthony Lyons’ love for the therapy dogs that greet him during his treatments for leukemia led a family acquaintance to put up a Facebook event page the week before Christmas to re-create the experience online. The request, “Photo Doggies for Anthony,” resulted in thousands of pooch pictures and cheered up Anthony, but it has also evoked gifts and gestures in the real world.
The attention has brought Anthony offers for donations of actual dogs. People have mailed him stuffed animals. Someone offered New York Yankees tickets. Businesses wanting to capitalize on the attention have also come out of the woodwork as they try to profit from the story.
While it might be tempting to use the notoriety to get money for medical and household expenses, Anthony’s mother said she is adamant about not turning the page into a for-profit operation.
“No one is benefiting other than just their own happiness. And that makes me happy right now,” Kristen Lyons said. “This is honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to us — ever. It’s given us something to do besides lay around and wait for the next ‘sick’ thing to happen.”
Anthony was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July. He has been undergoing chemotherapy but has a good prognosis, his mother said. Anthony said the photos that people have posted have helped him feel better. Some have also posted photos of pets stricken with cancer.
“It’s reassuring because you look at the pictures of the dogs; they’re sick all the time but they’re still happy. They’re happy to be alive. I’ve never met a sad dog,” Anthony said.
The teenager said he’s been trying to go through the more than 500,000 images and is apologetic that he can’t “like” and comment on all of them.
The page was taken down yesterday after someone posted a photo of a dead dog, but it was back up a day later with a new page.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
