Nikko Is Fighting Cancer With Everything He Has

What initially looked like a grouchy personality turned out to be a painful tumor hiding beneath the surface.

Nikko came to Husky House after being found as an overweight stray in New York. This older boy had some behavioral and medical needs, and his caregivers initially knew him as a crabby, grouchy little guy who was working on losing weight through a healthier diet and regular walks.

Then his veterinarian discovered an internal tumor on his anal sac, and suddenly some of Nikko’s behavior made much more sense. He hadn't simply been grumpy. He had been living with a painful medical condition.

Nikko was admitted to Garden State for further testing, including an ultrasound and chest X-rays to determine whether there were signs that the cancer had spread. Thankfully, both came back clear, allowing his veterinary team to move forward with surgery to remove the tumor.

His surgery went well, and within just days, his caregivers saw a completely different dog emerge. With the painful tumor gone, Nikko began enjoying his walks, running around the play yards and showing everyone a much happier side of himself.

But removing the tumor was only the beginning of Nikko's fight. After his diagnosis, his veterinary team recommended chemotherapy, and Nikko has now begun treatment as Husky House continues doing everything possible to give him the best chance moving forward.

Cancer treatment can be a long and costly journey, especially after already undergoing advanced imaging and major surgery. Through it all, Nikko has shown just how much life he still wants to enjoy, and Husky House has committed to standing beside him every step of the way.

Donations to Nikko's fundraiser will help with the cost of his tumor-removal surgery, diagnostic imaging, chemotherapy treatments and continued veterinary care as this happy little guy takes on cancer.