Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center to open in Roanoke

ROANOKE, Va., (WSET) — Virginia Tech now has an Animal Cancer Care and Research Center open in Roanoke.

You can take your pet to the center to be examined and treated.

They say this is the first of its kind center in the area.

The center focuses on radiation therapy, surgery and clinical trials - with an emphasis on bone, liver and pancreatic cancer.

The center allowed Sandy - a golden retriever who recently underwent surgery and radiation -- to recover from bone cancer.

"It’s a win in terms of treatment and care for her, but also we feel very good about being part of the process that can help with treatment in the future," said Dwight Shelton, a dog owner.

Doctors say studying cancer in dogs can help strengthen their understanding of cancer in humans.