After 2-year cancer battle, Fort Erie, Ont., man reunites with dog he never thought he'd see again

Fort Erie, Ont., resident Mike Nayler never thought he'd see his "four-legged daughter" Minnie again after surrendering her to a shelter two years ago. 

At the time, Nayler was diagnosed with terminal cancer and "gave up" on life, he told CBC Hamilton. 

Last week, however, he and the mastiff mix reunited — with a tackle and many licks to his face.

Minnie might not know it, but Nayler credits her with saving his life.

"She helped me through every single hardship in my life," Nayler said.

Nayler said he met Minnie when she was born. He adopted her 6½ weeks later and were inseparable, Nayler said.

But after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, his life changed.

Originally diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, he later discovered he had a rare intestinal cancer that he had a greater chance of surviving. 

"But Minnie was there right through thick and thin, like she always is," Nayler said.

Nayler's health quickly declined and soon he was unable to take care of Minnie.

His family would try to care for her, but Nayler said that as his health deteriorated, Minnie became harder to manage.

He said Minnie wouldn't leave his side. Sometimes, he had to force himself to move so Minnie would eat something.

"It wasn't fair to her," he said. "She wasn't getting her runs in and playing outside … I could see a change in her."

She was placed with the Humane Society of Greater Niagara (HSGN) in October of 2022 under its 30-day humanitarian boarding program, which would have seen Minnie return to her home after a month.