One-legged cancer chicken on road to recovery

7:21pm Friday 28th March 2008

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A CHICKEN with one leg who was the first in the country to receive cancer treatment is recovering well at her home.

Eve was given radiotherapy treatment at a leading European veterinary centre in Newmarket, Suffolk at the Animal Health Trust.

Owners Chris and Elaine Denney, of Hatfield, near Worcester, could not face the prospect of having her put down when they discovered a cancerous growth on her healthy leg. As revealed in your Worcester News at the beginning of March, Eve had previously had to have her other leg amputated because of cancer 18 months ago.

Mrs Denney said she has responded well to treatment - which could cost up to £1,400 - and is only expected to have the one course of radiotherapy.

"She is doing very well. She has gone back to the vets and despite a slight infection after her treatment, the vet says he is very pleased with her progress," she said.

Eve is currently being kept indoors until she is healthier and will be returning to the Trust shortly after the easter weekend.

Her owners have also received a certificate from animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for showing their dedication in finding treatment for her.

However, her owners say they were overwhelmed with the amount of interest their story generated within local and national press.

"We have been in newspapers, magazines and on the TV. We were really shocked. We agreed to the story so more people would know about the Trust and their great work," she said.

Sophia Waters from the Trust said: The treatment went really well and she woke up from the anaesthetic with no problems. She was even happily eating blueberries before she left.

"Sue Murphy, head of oncology said that, as this treatment has never been done before in a chicken, or indeed any bird, it could provide important information as to whether this form of treatment could be used in the future to help endangered species, such as a rare parrot. It could be great for conservation," she said.