Husky named Diesel, NIU's 'mascot emeritus,' has cancer - Chicago Daily Herald
"He's tolerating it," Bonnevier said Wednesday. But the illness has put a crimp in Diesel's retirement schedule -- the usual three or four walks a day through his Round Lake Beach neighborhood are on hold, and he's no longer greeting kids at the bus stop most afternoons. "He's lived a good life," Bonnevier said, a small catch in his voice. "Being the NIU mascot for nine years was great for him -- he met a lot of people and went to a lot of places. Bonnevier and his family got Diesel in 2005, a 2-year-old husky pup from the Free Spirit shelter in Harvard. Two years later, when NIU was thinking about having a mascot, his daughter, Cassie, was cheerleading. Diesel took to his mascot role like one born to greatness. As the NIU football program got more TV exposure in recent years, Diesel became a national media darling. The cancer has slowed him up greatly, but Bonnevier says just Tuesday he took his longest walk since he fell ill, past the end of their cul-de-sac. Bonnevier says Diesel's prognosis is unclear but by no means hopeless. Cassie (Bonnevier) Cleary and Tom Bonnevier created a Facebook page for Diesel, where they invite Diesel's friends to post and share, and where they'll post occasional updates on his condition. Source: www.dailyherald.com
