A Golden Retriever named Henry was discovered abandoned on a California beach, carrying a significant 46-pound tumor on his belly.
This tumor made it difficult for him to walk and severely impacted his quality of life. Animal control officer Valerie Schomberg suspects that Henry’s owner neglected him and ultimately abandoned him due to his condition.
Officer Schomberg stepped in to help Henry, securing $500 in grant money to assist with his veterinary expenses. The funds enabled Henry to undergo surgery to remove the massive tumor. Following the successful surgery, Henry’s weight was recorded at 78 pounds, marking a significant improvement in his health and mobility.
According to Schomburg, “It pushed on his right front leg, in his shoulder area,” adding that “He was starting to have a difficult time walking because his front right leg was turned inward. Walking was a struggle for him.“
Despite his discomfort, Henry’s loving nature was clear — he warmed up to every person who crossed his path.
Even though mobility was a challenge, Henry still had a strong will to live. As Schomburg says, “He couldn’t move around very much, but definitely still wanted to live life… His zest for life was still there. He was just weighed down a little.“
The tumor was confirmed to be cancerous, but thankfully, the cancer was localized and had not affected any other parts of his body.
Schomburg remains hopeful about Henry’s future, noting that “We think that he’s going to have some real good years ahead of him… now he’s making up for lost time.“
With recovery well underway, Henry will soon be ready for adoption — in about a month, he’ll begin his search for a forever home. As Schomburg believes, “It’s not going to hard to find the right home.”