Senior Dogs who have Cancer
Today we received the news that Big Donut, a 13ish senior dog who we rescued from the South Los Angeles Shelter less than a month ago, has malignant melanoma and mast cell tumor, which was removed when he was neutered last week. We will have chest x-rays done to see if the cancer has spread, so we can get a better idea of how much time he has left.
Big Donut stole our hearts when DDR volunteers met this old dog and tested him with a variety of big and small shelter dogs. He has an amazingly stable temperament with dogs and people, and is so grateful to be rescued. It’s clear that whoever owned him, loved and socialized him until his owner died. Family members brought Big Donut to the shelter, and reported his age to be 18 years old, however the shelter estimated him to be 10 years. Our guess is that he is somewhere in between 13 or 14 years, and despite having cancer, has a good appetite and energy.
Sadly, Big Donut’s diagnosis wasn’t the only cancer news we received, our senior dog Bruno has hemangiosarcoma and possibly melanoma, which will require surgery. We rescued Bruno as a puppy and he had a wonderful home until his owner died about three years ago. Unfortunately, his owner had only a brother, who could not take care of Bruno, so he was returned to us as a senior dog. All of the DDR dog walkers and kennel staff love Bruno. He is comfortable and happy at our kennel, which is set up like a home, but it’s not a loving home.
We hope that someone reading this post is interested in fostering or adopting Big Donut or Bruno, giving them a real home for the time that they have left to live. If you can’t foster, can you consider making a donation to help cover the cost of their surgeries and follow up care? We are dedicated to rescuing senior shelter dogs. It’s only through your support and generosity that we are able to open our hearts to dogs like Big Donut and Bruno.
Bruno with Dr. Ramirez at Los Angeles Veterinary Center
ess anxious in new situations. Her discomfort in the world did not go away quickly and perhaps it never will entirely; however, she is very smart! She learns slowly and gets it. Then about a year ago, Daisy was adopted. Unfortunately her adopters added another dog to the home who was challenging. Living with a dog who did not like her, plus moving into a small space requiring several walks a day, was too much stress. Daisy was returned to us more uneasy around dogs, and better suited for a peaceful, nice life without other pets to share a home with. She would prefer not to tag along on errands with you, and instead stay home and greet you excitedly when you walk through the door.
As DDR the rescue group, we’re all about second chances. We believe all animals deserve a second chance, and we stand by each of our rescue dogs. They are worthy souls living up to their potentials, some getting there easier and quicker than others. And yet there are a few dogs that stand out because they have unique needs, because they’ve been with us so long, or because they’ve been patiently waiting for the right family to call their own. Daisy’s story is the forth and last in our four-part series called 1st Picks for 2nd Chances. We sincerely hope you will read each of these tales, share them widely, and open your hearts.
