I never thought I would be writing something like this, but we are asking for help for our family dog, Tank.

My daughter bought Tank when she was just 16 years old with her very first paychecks. He was only 8 weeks old at the time, and from that moment on, he became so much more than just a pet. He has grown up with her and has been by her side through so many important moments in her life. He is now 12 yrs old

Tank has always had such a tough spirit. Up until just recently, we truly had no idea anything was wrong. He’s always been a little overweight, so when he started slowing down, it wasn’t immediately alarming—and even the vet could not feel anything during his initial exam.

But when he stopped eating and became very tired, we knew something wasn’t right. We brought him in, and X-rays revealed a very large mass in his abdomen that was preventing him from eating.

He needed immediate, extensive surgery. The mass had grown so large that it had to be removed along with part of his intestines, which then had to be reattached. It was far more serious than we ever could have imagined.

Tank made it through surgery, and we are incredibly grateful for that. Right now, he is recovering at the vet and being closely monitored while we wait on biopsy results to determine whether the mass is cancerous and what his future care will look like.

Tank is deeply loved and has such a big personality. He loves snuggling, going on long “walks” (which mostly consist of sniffing everything), and barking at any noise he hears. He always needs to be on someone’s lap in the car, or he’ll whine until he is, and if you move too much while he’s laying next to you, he’ll let out the most dramatic sigh. Like most Chihuahuas, he thinks he’s much tougher than he actually is.

It has been incredibly hard watching him go through this. We have had many sleepless nights worrying about him and just want him back home where he belongs. While we know he is being well cared for, it doesn’t make the waiting any easier.

So far, his care—including exams, X-rays, hospitalization, and surgery—has cost around $4,000, and there may be more ahead depending on his diagnosis and recovery.

Tank is family. We are doing everything we can to give him the best chance at recovery and more time with us.

If anyone is able to help, it would mean so much during this difficult time. And if not, sharing this or keeping Tank in your thoughts is just as appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story, .