St Roch is a 14th century Italian saint who dedicated himself to helping victims of the bubonic plague better known as the black death.  He traveled throughout Italy and eventually contracted the deadly disease.  To avoid infecting others, St Roch went into the forest in a self-quarantine.  There he was slowly dying, but God provided for him by sending him a dog who licked his sores and brought him bread each day.  Eventually St Roch was healed and continued his ministry of helping the sick.