Trainer hopes story can aid others

By Andrea Cavallier -- Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune

RANDLEMAN -- When Ally and Lincoln Thomas randomly picked a puppy to be their "demo dog" -- a pet that demonstrates what a well-trained canine can do -- they had no idea what would be in store for them.

"Being a dog trainer all my life, I have my own theories and little tests that I like to perform in order to pick just the right pup to fit my needs," said Ally Thomas, owner of the Thomas School of Dogs in Randleman. "Well, all that went right out the window when my husband just bent over and scooped up one of the little guys and said, 'Maverick, you're staying with us.'

"That was the beginning of our incredible journey."

Ally Thomas has trained all kinds of dogs. A resident of North Carolina for 15 years, she has devoted most of her time to three dogs in her career -- Bear, a female German shepherd; then Gracie, a Belgian Malinois; and now her son, Maverick, another Belgian Malinois who is 11.

A dog trainer's demo dog must be special, she said. "They have to be social, well-behaved and eager to learn, work and show off their stuff at a moment's notice. If they have the right stuff, they will become remarkably dependable and become the other part of who their trainer is."

Maverick is very involved in community. When he is not busy checking in on the obedience classes at the dog school, he is visiting local elementary schools, demonstrating obedience, tricks and "acting" in skits.

He has showed his stuff at Dog Fest, a Canine Corps fundraiser, and has performed for several of the Humane Society of Randolph County functions.

"Most of all he is an inspiration to everyone he meets," Thomas said. "When people meet him, they can see for themselves what their dog is capable of of achieving."

In early July, Maverick was taken to the vet because he was limping. The family vet, Dr. Teena Byrd of Randolph Animal Hospital, located a cancerous mass about the size of a lime in Maverick's chest near the trachea. She referred the Thomases to several specialists.

That began an odyssey that eventually led to Maverick having his front left leg amputated during an operation last week.

"I don't think this surgery will slow him down," Thomas said. "He'll just do everything on three legs now instead of four."

The oncologists who performed the surgery, Dr. Dave Ruslander and Dr. Buck Clark, are based in Cary. They were referred by Dr. Byrd and the Ashley's Angel Fund, a nonprofit organization providing monetary assistance for veterinary care for dogs with life-threatening conditions.

"I kept thinking, I don't know how we'll afford all this," Thomas said. "We were selling everything we owned just to get the doctors Maverick needed."

Though the Thomases have already spent thousands of their own money on Maverick, now that they are with specialists, the Ashley fund, in conjunction with the Zach Memorial, will pay half of those expenses. The Zach Memorial is a special fund administered by Ashley's Angel Fund that provides monetary assistance to state dog owners whose pets have cancer.

The community has also been very generous in giving back to Maverick since learning of his cancer.

"The people of the dog community have been so generous and so caring," Thomas said. "It's been very overwhelming with all the cards and gifts. Some from people who have only been in a couple classes at the dog school. But they can relate."

The Thomases found one of the gifts a few weeks ago as they returned home -- a St. Francis medal on their porch for Maverick left by Pam Cooper, a member of the Canine Corps, during Maverick's latest operation.

Since Maverick's surgery, a recent biopsy has shown that not all of the mass was removed. Because it is located so close to the spinal cord, radiation and chemotherapy seem to be the only cure.

"We're not sure if we're going to go through with it," Thomas said. "Radiation is not something I want my dog to go through. He doesn't even realize he's sick and, besides having to adjust to three legs instead of four, he's just as active as before."

They are leaning toward taking him to chemotherapy treatments, then letting nature take its course.

"It seems like he could get through anything," Thomas said. "He's strong, athletic, like the Lance Armstrong of the canine world.

"I just want to encourage people in this same situation to check out all possibilities before deciding anything drastic. The Ashley Fund is out there to provide financial assistance and continue the bond between people and their pets."

For more information on Ashley's Angel Fund, visit or send an email to .

continue the bond between people and their pets."

Contact staff writer Andrea Cavallier at 626-6140.