Poppet was a regular visitor to Brock Ward at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital when she was one of the WAG therapy dogs.
That role helped her to find fame when she and owner Ashley Smith were named Carer of the Year at the Pride of Guernsey awards in 2019.
Prompted by Brock Ward on Poppet’s retirement, Queen Camilla sent a letter saying how moved she was to hear about how Poppet has helped patients at the hospital.
‘It was amazing, just incredible,’ said Mr Smith.
‘It’s all down to the ward manager Moira, she has been incredible, and she has been so enthusiastic about having the dogs there.
‘The Queen wanted some pictures of Poppet so we sent some. It’s very humbling.’
Mr Smith rehomed Poppet when she was two-and-a-half, and has now had her for eight years.
‘When I first got her she had a different name. She was called Storm and she just was not a Storm, she is very laid back, quiet and always interested in people,’ he said.
‘She can pick up when someone is not well, so we got involved with WAG and got a Brock Ward placement.
‘She’s got a sixth sense and changes when she can tell there is something not right.’
Poppet has now retired from being a therapy dog as she undergoing treatment for incurable brain cancer.
‘It’s really rare,’ said Mr Smith.
‘Specialists in oncology in the UK have rarely dealt with it before, it’s like a cloud rather than a lump that they can just blast with radiotherapy.
‘She has a treatment plan but at the minute they are going off research done on humans.
‘She has helped so many people and now she is pioneering again as the research has all been recorded to help other dogs and their owners.’
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