A “rock star” service dog is facing an untreatable cancer and the diagnosis is devastating to many.

The yellow Labrador, Baron, was days away from being placed with his “person” when he started having symptoms.

The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs owner Abby Hill shared the news in a recent Facebook post, saying the nearly 2-year-old dog “has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bladder cancer that is not treatable.

“This news is devastating for all of us that love him dearly and for the one student that was about to have their world changed by him,” Hill shared.

The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its goal is to provide psychiatric service dogs to disabled teens and young adults, empowering them to complete their education and opening up their world to the life they want to live, according to its website, exceptionalsidekick.org.

According to The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs board member Sandy Lee, dogs in the program live with different fosters over their training, starting with a puppy raiser. When the dogs are ready, they are placed with “their person,” who they will support. Many clients are homebound, and the dogs not only learn to mitigate individual disability symptoms, but they also offer companionship. Baron, Lee said in a phone interview, “is the epitome of a loving service dog.”

Lee has known Baron since he was a puppy. He stayed with her while one of his fosters was out of town.

“He is what started my love of the organization and my love of dog training,” Lee said.

Dogs, Lee observed, are like people in that when you meet certain ones “you look into their eyes and you know they are special.” Baron is one of those dogs.

“He is just the most exceptional dog. And his ability to sense his surroundings and his obedience and desire to work is just in him,” said Lee.

Lee was not alone in describing the “sweet and loving” boy as the perfect service dog.

Former Board of Education member Laura Roche said after her youngest child graduated high school, she and her husband Ken were “facing empty nester mode.” After serving on the school board, she wanted to do something to continue to support children when the couple learned of The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs through another family.

Baron is their first dog through the program. When he arrived to live with the Roches he was four months old.

“It’s truly heartbreaking and very hard to process,” Roche said. “He is a very special, incredibly loving, sweet boy. He is loved by so many.”

Through the program Baron stayed with other families, including a more recent visit with Lee. Friends of those families know him. Even though he will now never be a service dog, he has touched many lives.

“Baron is just a love,” Roche said. “We got him from a family who adored him and took great care of him. He has been a rock star since day one. He just has a lot of love and is adorable. He really is good with children.”

Later she said, “He’s what the program is all about. He’s just a special dog. He’s very, very smart. I feel like he has trained us more than we have trained him.”

Her husband, Roche said, oversaw most of Baron’s training while the dog has lived with them. And when others would meet Baron, the question many would ask her is, “How are you going to let this dog go?”

‘All The Good They Can Do’

At the start of the process with The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs, Roche admitted that she did not know the answer to that question. But then she saw other dogs in the program working to do “all the good they can do for their person” and she realized, “You know they are going off to do great things. And that gives you purpose.”

She saw first-hand that there is a need for service and therapy dogs.

Other than sharing his love, Roche said, one of Baron’s favorite things is food.

“He loves his treats and he loves to eat,” Roche laughed.

When he recently stayed with Lee, she noted that the cute, adorable puppy had grown into everything he had shown promise to be.

“He is energetic and always on cue,” Lee said. “He always wants to go and he is happiest when he is busy and working.”

Yet he was also happy to sit and cuddle on Lee’s lap to watch a movie.

This “exceptional boy” was days away from meeting “his person” when he started showing signs of not feeling well.

Roche said that at first an infection was suspected, and after a visit to a veterinarian, Baron was treated for a urinary tract infection (UTI). He perked up for a bit, but he was still having issues urinating. Then he had a sonogram.

While Roche was “in denial,” the veterinarian explained cancer was expected. He received a “bladder scope” in New York City, and the surgeon said a biopsy was needed. That confirmed Baron had cancer.

“It is inoperable because it is so large and on his bladder... and it will not respond to [chemotherapy],” Roche explained.

The doctors say Baron has three to six months to live.

Now special attention is being paid to make sure Baron lives the best last days of his life. Some other dogs from the program have visited with him. There is playing outside. He chews on toys. People have come to spend time with him.

“We’re just trying to take him out and spend a lot of time with him,” said Roche.

The diagnosis has impacted The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs, according to Roche, who said “feeling love from [our] community and the support would be phenomenal.”

Lee explained that Baron not being placed with “his person” has now impacted the already long list of people waiting for service dogs. There are more dogs training, but the program could use both more volunteers and funds to support more dogs.

“To honor Baron and his work, the best thing we can do is keep moving forward,” said Lee.

Hill explained in the Facebook post, “We are heartbroken and blindsided by Baron’s diagnosis. Now that we know how to best care for Baron, we unfortunately need to address another very serious problem: the financial implication. While we provide service dogs for free in Newtown and at a reduced donation throughout Connecticut, the loss of the expected donation for Baron is financially devastating and will impact the speed at which we can help all of the kids on our waitlist.”

For more information about The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs and ways to support the organization, visit exceptionalsidekick.org; or to donate in honor of Baron text “BARON” to 44-321, according to Hill.

Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.