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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLATHE -- The Salvation Army's 20,000 shiny red kettles are no unusual sight on a crisp December day, and neither are their trademark bell-ringers.

But one volunteer is distinguished by a fact no other kettle-manning helper can claim. She's a dog.

Providence, a 6-year-old German wire-haired pointer, is in her third season as a Salvation Army volunteer.

She's able to do all the things her colleagues do. Providence rings a bell with her mouth and has also learned to take donations and put them in the kettle.

''This is not a drooly-mouth dog,'' said her owner, Penny Shaffer, of Olathe.

For a while, however, it looked as though the dog's charity work would end.

In April, a tumor was discovered on the roof of her mouth. It was removed, but another one appeared 12 days later.

Surgery removed Providence's second tumor, three teeth and part of her upper jaw. The dog's mouth was reconstructed, but Providence had to be on a feeding tube for more than a month.

She went through 18 radiation treatments, but they appear to have been successful. There's been no recurrence of cancer.

And on Thursday, Providence returns to her bell-ringing post.

Theresa Whitfield, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army, confirmed that Providence is the organization's only nonhuman bell ringer.

Shaffer said she's not sure how much her dog has collected for the agency. One resident of a retirement community handed Providence a $100 check in her first year.

Providence's work on behalf of others is expected to continue beyond the Christmas season. She is training with the Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association, which helps law enforcement and emergency agencies.