After a week of not feeling well, Nick and I took Tater Tot to the vet, where tests and an ultrasound revealed a large mass—about the size of a grapefruit—on his spleen. We were shocked, especially given how small he is. Surgery is needed to remove the mass and determine if it’s cancerous. Thankfully, with a new diet and anti-nausea meds, he’s already showing signs of improvement. The vet says he’s a strong candidate for surgery and his recovery will be quick once the mass is removed, and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen. Our main concern is the potential of the mass rupturing which will put Tater at a higher lethal risk.

We placed a claim to the vet insurance and they can only cover $2,000 out of the potential $10,000 of the estimated amount. Originally, we heard that insurance can cover 70%-80% but that is not the case for us. The amount quoted includes the surgery, vet stay, biopsy, and all the post-op medications.

We originally booked the surgery for Saturday, August 2nd but will have to wait until we have the full amount to be able to reschedule. We are trying to see how much we can raise and get him the surgery as soon as possible. Tater just needs his spleen and the mass removed so he can have a better quality of life. The vet expressed that he is strong and healthy, that the mass despite being large is very common and would be more concerning if it was smaller masses around the spleen. We are hopeful that once removed, he will bounce back and recover nicely.

We just want to give our brave boy a real chance. When Sissi rescued Tater Tot in January 2023, he was underweight, terrified of people, loud sounds—even the rain. But over time, he found his courage. He started eating regularly, learned to navigate the noisy streets of Manhattan, and slowly let his guard down. Now, he happily demands extra food, struts through the rain, and refuses to come inside on sunny days. He’s come so far—and we’re not ready to give up on his story.

We're not sure what the first few years of his life were like, we do know they were tough and he's struggled along the way but this brave little guy has a lot of fight left in him.

We’re doing everything we can to make sure Tater Tot gets the second chance he deserves. If you’re able to donate—no matter the amount—it would mean the world to us. Every bit helps us get closer to surgery and closer to giving him a healthy, happy future. If you can’t donate, sharing this page is also a huge help.

Thank you so much for reading, supporting, and loving our little fighter. Tater Tot may be small, but he’s got a big heart—and thanks to people like you, we’re hopeful he’ll pull through this and get back to enjoying sunny walks, belly rubs, and life as the joyful pup he was meant to be.

Thank you from Nick, Sissi and of course Tater Tot ♥️