Tres' Hemangiosarcoma Dog Cancer: Help Extend His Happy Life

Hello everyone, I’m trying to raise funds for my lil baby angel- Tres. Specifically for his upcoming chemotherapy treatment, imaging tests and medications.

Tres had emergency surgery about 20 days ago, we almost lost him. My husband and I left for 2 hours, when we came back, we were greeted by Tres normally- he ran around, jumped and gave us all the kisses. Right after he was about to roll in the grass and suddenly stopped, laying down slowly. I checked his gums and they were white- practically grey. We immediately rushed him to the vet.. They removed his spleen, which had a 7cm nodule that ruptured and caused a hemorrhage. Tres lost almost 700ml of blood and needed two blood transfusions. He finally came home and he is doing well- every day has more energy, is playing and running.

BUT, the spleen biopsy results came back and we are devastated all over again. He has Hemangiosarcoma. A super aggressive cancer. He has tumors in his liver and adrenal, but from what I understood it’s a blood cancer so regardless of the tumors he is in danger all around. The treatment is chemotherapy, medications and constant imaging. We have paid for the surgery, the medications post surgery, the hospital stay (he was there for 6 days) ultrasounds, bloodwork, transfusions and the oncologist visit. Needless to say, our funds are gone and we are lost as to how to continue paying for his treatment now.

I would like to tell you a little bit about Tres’ life and story:

Tres went from almost being a “bait dog” to being the sweetest 12 year old baby with cancer. My love.

I rescued Tres directly from the backyard of Latin Kings in the middle of the night in Chicago 12 years ago. Tres was about 6-8 weeks old.

A friend of mine (not my friend anymore after that day) was friends with one of the guys living in this house, where I first saw Tres. I ended up going there with her and when I entered I saw a little Tres sitting on the couch alone looking scared.

I went over to him and held him. He had no emotion, like he was frozen. I asked one of the guys why this puppy was here alone, what his story was. A guy responded, saying there were more puppies in the backyard with their mom, but that Tres was separated because he was “weird”.

I asked why he was “weird” and he said because he doesn’t play, he eats feces, he isn’t social, basically that he doesn’t act like the others.

What he said next killed me…he said Tres would be used as a “bait dog” for dog fight training. I remember looking at my “friend” furiously. I then asked the guy if I could take him instead, I even offered money, and he said no. I pled with him not to do that, the guys were just kind of laughing at me. I told my friend I was leaving.

I went home and called the police, who told me to call animal control. I called animal control and filed a report with them, I gave them the address and all the details I had. I asked if they would be going to rescue the dogs right away, and they told me that it could be a few days or it could take up to two weeks or more. It was night time, I couldn’t sleep or eat. I couldn’t stop thinking about Tres.

So I called my best friend and told her what I planned to do, and for her to stay in the car. We pulled up to the alley behind the house. I jumped over the fence and found the mom with her pups in an area with boxes as a makeshift fence- and Tres was sitting alone in the corner. The mom wasn’t happy to see me and began barking- I grabbed Tres, ran and literally threw him over the fence to the alley. I was about to go get as many puppies as I could but a light turned on. I got scared. I jumped the fence, grabbed Tres and we took off.

A few weeks later I ran into the “friend”

who took me to the house and I asked about the puppies. She said her friend told her all of the puppies, including the mom, were stolen. I think that animal control took them all, and the guy just didn’t want to tell her that. Or maybe another gang took them, or maybe they all died. I have no idea. I hope so much that it was animal control. I don’t want to think of all the horrible possibilities, I want to believe it was animal control or the police.

Well, Tres was in his new home- with me, another pitbull staffy mix (rescue) named Suni and with a cat named Pedro.

It took almost two years for Tres to wag his tail.

It took almost two years for Tres to stop eating his own feces.

It took almost two years for Tres to stop being scared of walks. It took that long for him to poop outside instead of inside too.

He had a one on one trainer for those two years and I worked from home so I gave him all the love and attention in the world. Even with all of this, it took two years to rid him of his trauma.

After about two years, he started opening up, he started wagging his tail…he started smiling, literally smiling. He started running and playing and pooping on walks.

When I tell people he didn’t even wag his tail they don’t believe me, because of how happy he is.

Tres became my angel, he is the most empathetic creature I ever met. He later became a certified therapy dog, specializing in anxiety and panic attacks. He saved me so many times.

Tres became my older dog, Suni’s, best friend. Suni was diagnosed with cancer at 4 years old and they told us he only had a year or two left. Suni lived until he was 14 and died of old age. He had many surgeries and chemo, but I truly believe Tres helped extend his life. Suni was active and happy throughout all his treatments. Tres kept him young and vibrant ❤️

During the pandemic, Suni’s health began deteriorating fast. And the night before he was going to be put down, I was sitting with Suni crying. I looked over my shoulder and Tres was staring at me, I swear he was crying too. I looked at Tres in this moment and he slowly inched himself towards me and gave me a hug. An actual hug. I hugged him back and cried in his arms. It was the most touching moment I’ve ever had with an animal. Suni was just as special, we called him bear because he was like a big cuddly bear who loved children, people and all other animals. Suni’s story is a beautiful one too, and his soul was the sweetest I’ve ever known. His story is for another day.

From having two brothers (Pedro the cat and Suni the staffy pit) his whole life, Tres was now an only child.

With his therapy dog uniform and paperwork, Tres boarded the plane with my husband and I to move 5000 miles away- to Brazil. Where we are now and have been for almost 3 years. He had his own seat on the plane inbetween us.

Instead of an apartment in Chicago, Tres now lives with us on an almost 1 acre property where he spends 90% of his days outside.

10 months ago we found a tiny puppy in a field alone and rescued him. His name is Tug and is the black and white one in the pics. They are best friends.

What we came to realize, is that Tug came almost like Tres came into Suni’s life. Tres arrived when Suni had just been diagnosed, and now Tug is with Tres, keeping him active, playful and happy too ♥️

In the pics- Tres is the brindle, Suni is the tan one, Pedro is the white cat and Tug is the black and white puppy. Danny and Naga are also featured, Danny (my parent’s dog) is a mini pincher mixed with chihuahua and Naga (my brother’s dog) is a Dachshund mix.

If you read Tres’ story (I know this is really long), thank you so much for taking the time ♥️ he is truly incredible.

We are living in Brazil where the US dollar stretches far…even just one dollar helps a lot! Thank you so much for helping us help extend Tres happy and beautiful life! And ensure he is happy and healthy!

if we don’t do the Chemo he is a ticking time bomb, he could have another hemorrhage in any moment- we need to try! Right now he is stable, happy, playing and smiling!

♥️♥️♥️

Thank you so much!!!! I’m beyond grateful for your support. It really warms my heart to see such kindness from such loving humans during this tough time. It’s not easy to ask for help, but I had to for my love Tres. He’s sending you all lots of licks and smiles! Your donation will truly help extend his life and keep him smiling and playing.

I’ll continuously share updates on this page- of paid receipts, pics of him getting the chemo and imaging tests, etc- so you can see how your generosity is making a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being on this journey with us! ♥️♥️♥️