Rescued dog with 3.2 kg tumor on face has tumor removed and finds a “wonderful” forever home
The Humane Society of Pinellas in Florida successfully removed King the dog’s facial tumor and prepared the animal for adoption
Pinellas Animal Welfare Association
King, the rescue dog after (left) and before his tumor removal surgery
For several reasons, King the dog now finds it easier to hold his head up.
The five-year-old dog arrived at the Humane Society of Pinellas (HSP) in Clearwater, Florida, in the summer of 2024 after “escaping a life of neglect,” the shelter said in a July 8 Instagram post.
When King arrived, he was struggling with a 7-pound tumor on his face, a mass that made up 10 percent of his body weight and caused the dog’s head to hang low and close to the ground.
“It was impossible to say how long it had gone untreated,” HSP added on social media. “Nevertheless, King’s spirit was unbroken; although he was uncomfortable and in pain, he had an inspiring, optimistic attitude and just wanted to be loved.”
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Pinellas Animal Welfare Association
King the rescue dog recovers from surgery at the Humane Society of Pinellas
Shortly after reaching peak age (HSP), King underwent a “difficult but successful” surgery to remove the mass on his face. After the surgery, the shelter’s veterinarians determined that it was benign.
After his surgery, King began heartworm treatment and the search for a permanent home.
“King has shown us incredible resilience and a heart full of love and he deserves a permanent home where he can truly be the King he is,” HSP said.
In a July 26 update, the shelter noted that King would be best off in a supportive home that understands the dog is “still learning to be a dog outside of the world he came from before.”
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After weeks of patient recovery and waiting, King found a friendly and loving adopter thanks to a sweet moment of introduction.
HSP shared how King’s adoption came about in an Instagram post on August 12. According to the shelter, an HSP employee was recently walking King outside and passed by the area where a construction crew was working on HSP’s new Sjouwerman Adoption Center. One of the construction workers spotted King as the dog strolled by and immediately formed a bond with the dog.
Pinellas Animal Welfare Association
King, the rescue dog, with his adopter
When a storm recently passed through the Clearwater area, the construction worker asked HSP if he could take King in during the storm so the dog wouldn’t have to ride it out alone.
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“He fell in love with him and fate intervened and King was adopted by this wonderful man. Congratulations to King and his forever family!” HSP wrote on social media about the adoption.
To support and learn more about the lifesaving work of the Humane Society of Pinellas, visit the shelter’s website.
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