Beacon, the beloved therapy dog who has brightened hearts from Pasadena to the USA Olympics, now finds himself in the same care and comfort he’s brought to so many, as he battles an unknown illness.
The 4-year-old Golden Retriever was admitted to a local pet hospital on Sept. 3 after suffering from stiffness, labored breathing and a fever. That same night, hospital staff drained 700 ml of fluid from his chest cavity, according to a GoFundMe page that was set up to cover his medical expenses.
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Beacon was discharged on Sept. 7 after spending four nights in the hospital. He is due for a follow-up checkup on Wednesday. However, his diagnosis remains unclear as doctors await results from various tests, which could take one to three weeks, his owner, Tracey Callahan Molnar, said in a phone interview this week.
In the meantime, Beacon is limited to minimal walks and is treated to plenty of rest as he continues to recuperate at home.
“He’s kind of status quo right now,” Molnar said. “So, we’re just sort of going out for a five- to ten-minute walk, that’s it…… the plan is to have him lay low and continue to try and work on his appetite and those kinds of things.”
A silver lining amidst the uncertainty is that initial fears of cancer are no longer a concern.
“No, they have ruled out any cancer,” Jacqueline Fealy, a friend of Molnar for more than nine years who launched the GoFundMe page, confirmed in an email on Wednesday. “Still no diagnosis but he is improving and is home.”
And despite his illness, Beacon remains true to his nature.
“I’ve had some friends over to visit and that really lifts his spirit because it’s sort of everything that Beacon is about, loving people so much,” Molnar said, “…and even at the Emergency hospital, he wants to say hi to the staff and to the other people that are there with her.”
As if on cue, she added, “he’s just walking into the room with the stuffed animal in his mouth right now…so, there are glimmers of Beacon, it’s just that he is sick.”
Beacon, with his cheerful demeanor and a tail that never stops wagging, has charmed his way into the hearts of many people, including members of the USA Gymnastic teams, patients and staff at the Huntington Hospital and the Caltech students.
He is a beloved presence at local organizations, particularly Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, where he brought relief to patients and staff across multiple departments.
In May 2023, Beacon began traveling across the country with Molnar, a Pasadena resident and a 40-year veteran of USA Rhythmic Gymnastics, offering comfort to athletes (and coaches) at multiple competitions and training camps.
His presence quickly made multiple national headlines, and he has been photographed alongside many famous gymnasts, including Simone Biles. Beacon’s impact earned him the recognition as the USA Gymnastics first therapy dog and an official credential of “Goodest Boy” from the team.
As a testament to overwhelming love and support for him, Beacon’s GoFundMe page has raised nearly $30,000 as of Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Molnar said she didn’t expect to receive such an outpouring of support, especially from many strangers. “So many of these people have been so kind…I don’t know that I could help him in the same way if I didn’t have people supporting (me) financially,” she said.
Messages of prayers and well-wishes continue to flood Beacon’s Instagram account, @goldendogbeacon, where Molnar regularly shares updates with the canine’s more than 57,000 followers. Molnar said she even reads the social media messages to Beacon, finding comfort in the process herself.
“Actually, I read Beacon a lot of the messages on social media because it’s a chance for me to read them too, whether he understands it or not,” she said. “I just wish he could fully understand how much support he’s getting from so, so, so many people. It’s incredible.”
