A Senior Dog with a Massive Tumor
- Florida Urgent Rescue
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
This sweet little senior chihuahua has endured more than any dog should. We don’t know exactly how long Ruby was suffering, but we do know one thing: she didn’t deserve to be discarded like trash when her medical needs became “too much.”
We’ve seen it time and time again. When animals become sick, injured, or just inconvenient, some owners simply walk away. Whether they can’t or won’t pay for veterinary care, they abandon the ones who trusted them most. We can't prove it, but we've seen it countless times before and we believe that’s how Ruby ended up at Bradford County Animal Control—confused, hurting, and alone.
When we saw her, we couldn’t look away. Ruby had a massive tumor on her leg—and sadly, that may only be the beginning. We don’t yet know what else she’s facing, but we knew we had to help.
Yesterday, Ruby’s rescue began. Torena Rowe picked her up from the shelter and met Kelly Powell halfway, who then drove Ruby to Palm Valley Veterinary Center. We reached out late Tuesday night to Dr. Mack, and—without hesitation—he said, “Bring her in.” He always does.
Ruby stayed in medical boarding, awaiting surgery pending her bloodwork. Her condition is serious, and her needs are unknown—but what we do know is that she deserves comfort, care, and love for whatever time she has left.
Ruby's surgery to remove the tumor was successful, and she's now recuperating in a foster home with Miriam Melcolm.
This is why we need monthly donors.
Emergencies like Ruby’s don’t come with a warning—and we don’t have time to wait for a fundraiser to finish before stepping in. Monthly donations give us the ability to say yes right away. Yes to the dog hit by a car. Yes to the cruelty case. Yes to a senior like Ruby, who was thrown away when she needed help the most.
Join our Monthly Giving Program and help us be there for dogs like Ruby. Link is in the comments below.
And one more thing—we need a foster for Ruby. A quiet home. A soft bed. A kind human who will spoil her and show her what love really feels like. If that could be you, please reach out.
No animal should ever be treated as disposable.
Let’s show Ruby she was never meant to be thrown away.