Jane and David Hoover’s dog, Granit, is more than a pet. 

The 7 1/2-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever is David’s service dog.

David, who lives on the North Hill in New Castle, suffers seizures caused by post traumatic stress syndrome as a result of serving in Vietnam. 

Granit is able to warn David when a seizure is coming. He will jump on him and lick David to distract him from going into a seizure.

“My husband would get so bad he would have to be hospitalized, but he hasn’t been in the hospital since he has had the dog,” Jane explained.

Yet, Granit began experiencing his own health problem.

Suffering from arthritis and a degenerative bone disease in both elbows, Granit had surgery in 2004. However, it was not successful. Because David is dependent on his faithful dog, he wanted to make sure Granit would receive the best care to restore his health.

While reading the July 14 issue of Time magazine, David came across an article about Vet-Stem Regenerative Veterinary Medicine. The San Diego-based Vet-Stem Inc. processes Vet-Stem regenerative cells to treat horses, dogs and cats suffering from tendon, ligament and joint injuries.

Immediately, David took the article to Granit’s veterinarian, Dr. Melanie Sumney of New Wilmington.

“Dr. Sumney was a little hesitant at first and told David she would research it further,” Jane admitted.

Instead, Sumney immersed herself so much into the research that she eventually became certified to offer stem cell therapy to animals.

According to Jamie Hampton of Vet-Stem Inc., the small animal online credentialing course became available in January.

“I was surprised that I could do this just being a general practice veterinarian,” Sumney said.

Yet on Aug. 11, Sumney made a surgical incision and collected cells from Granit’s adipose fat tissue. The cells were sent via Federal Express to Vet-Stem in California. The cells were then isolated and harvested, then returned to Sumney on Aug. 13. She then injected the harvested cells into the dog’s elbow joint. 

If successful, the cells will cause regeneration of the joint tissue.