Jake, a Labrador Retriever, was discovered wandering the streets of Waco, Texas one summer. His plight was heartbreaking, as he bore a massive salivary gland tumor, a condition that drew the attention of kind-hearted individuals.

Local rescue group Long Way Home Adoptables stepped in to help Jake when they found him. They were taken aback by the dog’s condition, having encountered various medical cases stemming from neglect and abuse, but never one with a tumor as substantial as Jake’s. April Plemons, the rescue’s founder and executive director, mentioned, “We’ve seen some crazy medical cases from neglect and abuse, but we’ve never had a dog with a mass that big.”

They named the dog “Jake from State Farm” in a nod to the insurance spokesman. Jake was placed in a foster home, and his journey to recovery began with medical treatments for the tumor.

Given the tumor’s size and tricky location, they sought the expertise of the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. A CT scan revealed a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, a rare tumor of the salivary gland. Dr. Vanna Dickerson, an assistant professor at VMBS, explained, “Salivary gland disease is pretty common, but cancer of the salivary glands is not. In Jake’s case, saliva built up because he had this big tumor obstructing his salivary ducts. And it’s certainly quite uncommon to have it get as advanced as it was in him.”

While it’s unlikely that Jake can be completely cancer-free due to the tumor’s size and location, surgeons managed to remove most of the mass, significantly improving his quality of life and likely granting him several more years.

Photos taken after the surgery show Jake looking much healthier, with the majority of the cancerous mass safely removed.

Dr. Dickerson remarked, “It was very instantly gratifying in that he came off the OR table looking so much better.”

The story takes a heartwarming turn as Long Way Home Adoptables set out to find Jake a forever home. Luckily, he was adopted by a loving family who cherishes him.

“Jake is the absolute best boy and really is living his best life,” said Josie Brown, Jake’s new owner, who also works as a veterinary practice manager. “He never seems to be in pain and he enjoys being with his people.” She revealed that she has been able to manage Jake’s condition by draining the fluid from the tumor once a week.

“Jake settled in with us instantly; it was like he was meant to be here all along. We are very thankful for Long Way Home Adoptables and Texas A&M for everything they did for Jake.”

Jake’s story is a heartwarming tale of resilience, compassion, and skilled medical intervention that led to a happy ending. The story even went viral, and the real “Jake from State Farm” from the commercials reached out to offer him a new bandana, collar, and leash.