As if homeless dogs don’t already have it bad enough, this one in particular used to have a family but was abandoned at a beach in Newport, California. To make matters worse, he was carrying around an extra 46 pounds of weight, due to a tumor that was growing on his side.
Luckily, a Good Samaritan spotted the dog, now named Henry, roaming the beach, and called Valerie Schomburg of Newport Beach Animal Control.
The rescuers from NBAC are used to picking up stray dogs in poor condition, but nothing could have prepared them for what Henry looked like.
The tumor was so big that it was pushing on his right front leg in his shoulder area which was hindering him from being able to walk. Not only did he struggle to find food, but he had difficulty getting around.
Despite all of the hardships that Henry has faced in such a short period of time, he still had a zest for life. He was always smiling and wagging his tail and he loved every person he met. Whenever anyone got close enough, Henry would slobber them with kisses.
Thankfully, Schomburg was able to gather enough money, with the help of grants, for Henry to have surgery to remove the giant tumor. Although the tumor wound up being cancerous, it didn’t spread anywhere else.
The surgery was a success and Henry literally had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. With the tumor removed, he weighed 78 pounds and could finally walk around with ease. After his surgery, he went to live with a loving foster through the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, and happily made up for lost time.
Henry became a local celebrity as the media picked up his story, with fans all over the world. People from all over the globe sent him gifts and treats to thank him for touching their heart with his story.
Sadly, Henry passed away peacefully in his sleep, but he was able to make the most of his time left on Earth and had finally felt love for the first time, He had pure enthusiasm for life, which was obvious by his constant tail-wag and his contagious smile.
Although his passing is sad news, some good news has come out of this. After doing more investigation, they were able to track down Henry’s previous owner. She has been charged by the OC District Attorney’s Office and her criminal case is still ongoing.
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