ND Sen. Conrad's dog battling cancer

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad says his pet dog Dakota is responding well to chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma.

Conrad adopted the bichon frise (bee-SHAHN’ free-ZAY’) almost three years ago. The senator often takes him to work, and Dakota is a celebrity on Capitol Hill.

Conrad says blood tests show Dakota's cancer is in remission. He says the chemotherapy is now needed once every three weeks, instead of every week.

He and his wife are deciding whether to continue the chemotherapy, get radiation treatment or have the dog undergo a bone marrow transplant.

Conrad says the dog's current treatment should extend his life by up to 24 months, but there's only a one in seven chance of a cure.

Conrad estimates the treatment has cost about $9,000 so far.

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