By the time Wednesday, a now 9-year-old female German Shepherd mix, was rescued by Steve Napolitano in 2021, she had already been placed in a kill shelter and rejected by two families, only to be diagnosed with cancer after finally finding happiness in a safe home.

After seeing multiple specialists about the oral malignant melanoma diagnosed in her right jaw, Wednesday ultimately landed at the Oncology Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in early 2025.

Blood tests and a CT scan confirmed the melanoma – a large oral mass which had invaded her right jawbone.

Oral melanomas are the most common oral tumors in dogs and tend to be locally aggressive, including bone destruction. Melanomas also have a high rate of metastasis to the regional lymph nodes and the lungs. Thankfully, there was no evidence of metastasis in Wednesday. Tumor size is related to prognosis, and dogs with larger tumors tend to have shorter survivals than dogs with smaller tumors.

Napolitano chose to pursue palliative radiation therapy. The local control rate with radiation therapy is very high, meaning that the tumor does not grow back after radiation, but most animals with larger tumors develop metastasis within a year. With a palliative course of radiation therapy, the local control rate is approximately 80% for six months. This therapy delays a tumor from becoming more uncomfortable or larger for a short period of time while maintaining a good quality of life for the patient. Palliative radiation is not a type of radiation that can “cure” a cancer.

Wednesday underwent five radiation treatments within a week in February 2025, which ultimately resulted in significant shrinkage in tumor volume.

“Wednesday’s oncology team at UC Davis was so knowledgeable and kind every step of the way,” Napolitano said. “She received excellent care.”

While Wednesday’s tumor shrunk significantly over the spring and summer of 2025, her tumor grew back by August.

“By now, her pet insurance had capped for the year, so all her care came completely out of pocket,” said Napolitano. “As the bills escalated, and another round of radiation was needed, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to complete the therapy for her and have to let her go due to the expenses.”

However, Wednesday’s journey was not over. Napolitano qualified for financial assistance through a generous grant from the Petco Love Foundation, in partnership with the Blue Buffalo Foundation. The grant helps support treatments for companion animals suffering from cancer. The project is designed to support pet parents with limited resources or pet parents whose pets provide a service to others.

With the grant, Wednesday was able to complete a second round of radiation therapy in September, and she continues to fight her cancer.  

“I am deeply grateful to Petco/Blue Buffalo for this life-saving help,” said Napolitano. “Wednesday is back home and is still doing well with no melanoma spread to anywhere other than her jaw. She loves her walks and her visits with neighbors. I can’t thank both UC Davis and Petco/Blue Buffalo enough. Wednesday had a hard life before coming to me, but she has opened her heart in her time with me. She is truly a sweet, wonderful dog.”

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