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Man Charters Chopper To Take Ill Dog To Animal Hospital

UPDATED: 6:59 am MDT June 27, 2005

A dog whose owner went above and beyond expectations to get the animal treated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at N.C. State University was released Friday.

Alden Thornton's 8-year-old dog, Elle, was having unexplained seizures and was near death when her owner chartered a helicopter from Virginia and flew her to Raleigh. It is the first time in the school's history a helicopter has delivered a sick pet.



Thornton said his main focus was not the money, but making sure Elle lived.

"I'm with her more than any other living, breathing thing," he said.

After an MRI and spinal tap, doctors ruled out a tumor or cancer.

Thornton's "best friend" is expected to survive; however, doctors will keep her on seizure medication for the rest of her life.

Elle went home to Kitty Hawk in a much less dramatic fashion. She made the trip by car.

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