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Man Surprises Dog Cancer Survivor With 100 Giant Tennis Balls

Written by: Molly Weinfurter
Molly Weinfurter is a writer for iHeartDogs, and she’s passionate about helping animals in need. She volunteers for Bailing Out Benji and a local dog rescue.Read more
| Published on May 25, 2020

Rocky Kanaka, host of the YouTube show Save Our Shelter, has a strong passion for rescuing dogs. He currently has two rescue dogs: a Boxer named Flip and a smaller dog named Zoey. He’s even caring for a blind foster puppy at the moment.

He always wants what’s best for dogs in need, so when he discovered that Flip had cancer, he knew he couldn’t give up. Many vets thought that the young dog wouldn’t make it, but now, he’s defying all odds. So, Kanaka decided that his brave pup deserved an extra special celebration.

Flip’s Story

Flip was dropped off at the shelter by a breeder because no one wanted to buy him. He was sick, but it wasn’t clear what was wrong with him at that point. However, despite his condition, Kanaka fell in love with him and decided to adopt the young puppy.

Image: @rockykanaka/Facebook

When he brought Flip home, the dog acted more unusual than expected. He was very weak, and he seemed to have a hard time breathing. Kanaka imagined many scenarios about what could be wrong with the pup, but it was even worse than he thought. Poor Flip was soon diagnosed with cancer.

Flip had to go through surgery to remove the tumor. It wasn’t easy, but Kanaka continued to do whatever he could to help his sweet dog. The road to recovery was long, but eventually, Flip pulled through and beat cancer! Now, he’s such a healthy, happy pup. It’s all because his dad refused to give up on him.

When a person survives cancer, they often get a celebration, so the same should be true for dogs. Kanaka thought long and hard about what he could do for Flip. Then, he thought of the one thing that Flip loves most: tennis balls! So, he came up with a plan to surprise Flip with 100 giant tennis balls.

Image: Screenshot, Rocky Kanaka YouTube

The Tennis Ball Reveal

When the tennis balls arrived, they had to be blown up since they were so big. With the help of his pregnant wife, they got to work. Flip knew something was up, but Kanaka made sure he didn’t peek. He didn’t want the surprise to be ruined.

After lots of hard work, there were 100 giant tennis balls scattered throughout the yard. Kanaka gathered them together and built a tennis ball pyramid. Then, he covered the tennis balls with a sheet, ready to create the best surprise video ever.

Image: Rocky Kanaka YouTube

When Kanaka went to go get Flip, he grabbed a small tennis ball to lure him outside. Flip thought he was just going outside to play fetch, but then, it got even better. Kanaka took the sheet off the giant tennis balls, and sure enough, Flip was shocked. He dove right into the pile and began playing.

In the process, Flip ended up popping a few tennis balls, but he was having the time of his life. Kobe, their blind foster pup, even joined in on the fun. However, Zoey wanted nothing to do with the tennis balls. She simply took one small ball from the yard and ran off.

Image: Screenshot, Rocky Kanaka YouTube

This event was the perfect way to celebrate Flip’s recovery. The fact that he’s alive today with a loving family is truly incredible. Congratulations, Flip! You deserve all the tennis balls in the world.

Watch the Full Video Here:

H/T: menshealth.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, Rocky Kanaka YouTube

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