In the bustling streets of Mettupalayam, India, a heart-wrenching sight stopped a seasoned rescuer in their tracks — a stray dog with a massive, swollen growth consuming the top of his head, wandering the town alone.
But behind the heartbreaking image was a soul just as massive — one that would soon touch the hearts of animal lovers across the globe.
In India, seeing a stray dog is nothing out of the ordinary – with tens of millions of them roaming the streets, alleys, and public spaces across the country. But when a dog named Biggie was spotted wandering alone, it was impossible to look away, especially if you have a soft spot for homeless animals.
When rescuers spotted a stray him wandering the streets of Mettupalayam, India, their hearts shattered.
Sadly, Biggie had a massive growth overtaking his head. Locals had seen him wandering aimlessly, his head too heavy to lift, his spirit clearly fading.
But what happened next would become one of the most heartwarming animal rescue stories of the year.
Biggie’s guardian angels came in the form of a veterinary team from Worldwide Veterinary Service, who were working thousands of miles from their home base in the UK. Their mission: provide care to the world’s most vulnerable animals, no matter how extreme the case.
And Biggie? He was about as extreme as it gets.
“We’d never seen anything like it”
Veterinarians at WVS’s India center rushed to treat the seven-year-old dog, who despite his suffering, still wagged his tail and leaned into gentle hands.
The team quickly gave him fluids and pain medication before performing X-rays—astonishingly, the 2kg (4,4 pound) mass growing from his head hadn’t yet penetrated his skull.
That gave them a fighting chance.
Just two days later, Biggie was wheeled into surgery. The tumor, wrapped tightly around a large section of his skull, was removed in an intense operation. When weighed, the mass came in at around 2kg — more than 10% of Biggie’s entire body weight.
Had the tumor gone untreated, Biggie wouldn’t have survived.
A gentle fighter with a giant heart
Despite his traumatic condition, Biggie never lost his sweet spirit.
“Biggie has been the most affectionate dog I have ever met,” said Dr. Shreya Bahl, one of the vets who cared for him. “We are thrilled that he can now start a new life as a much happier and healthier dog.”
Following the major surgery, Biggie required two more reconstructive procedures, plus ongoing wound care and recovery support. But through it all, he remained loving, patient, and full of life.
“He’s the star of our center,” Dr. Bahl said. “We’re spoiling him with lots of love and attention — just as he deserves.”
Latest update
Biggie is now recovering at the WVS India center, where he’ll stay until he’s found a forever home. He’s gaining strength each day, playing more, and — most importantly — he can finally lift his head to look his rescuers in the eye.
Once overlooked and burdened by pain, Biggie is now a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of compassion. The latest update from WVS is that Biggie now lives at their center in Ooty, where he’s being showered with love and attention from staff, volunteers, and visitors at the International Training Centre.
For anyone wondering if one act of kindness can make a difference — just look at Biggie. His story is living proof that love really can heal.
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