This Dog Followed Police Cars for Safety After Years of Being Chased Away for His Tumors

For a long time, nobody knew his name.

People noticed the tumors first. The way they covered his small body. The way they made him look sick, untouchable, easier to avoid than help. On the streets of San Martín, Panama, that was enough to make him invisible.

The dog was later named Polito. He was barely two years old. And for years, he survived by staying close to danger because it felt safer than being alone.

Locals watched him trail police patrols through the streets. Not trained. Not fed. Just following their cars for a few quiet minutes where no one chased him away. When hunger became unbearable, he drifted toward food stands, hoping scraps would fall. Most days, they did not.

Behind the tumors and fear was a dog who still wanted to belong. His story, later documented by rescuers, would reveal what abandonment looks like when it stretches on for years. It would also show what can happen when someone finally stops and sees the suffering right in front of them.

The Streets Had Already Given Up on Him

Polito had wandered San Martín for most of his short life. His illness shaped how people reacted to him. The tumors made strangers uncomfortable. Fear replaced compassion. Again and again, he was pushed away, not because he was aggressive, but because his pain was visible.

The rescuers would later say his eyes were impossible to forget.

“His eyes told the story of a life filled with rejection and pain,” the team shared. “It was impossible to look at him and not feel how much he had suffered.”

Even so, Polito kept going. He slept wherever he could. He avoided conflict. He survived quietly, learning which streets were safer and which people would chase him away.

Then a message arrived that changed everything.

A Video That Could Not Be Ignored

Defensores Animales PTY received a desperate plea for help. The message included a video showing a sick dog alone, trembling, and hiding. The location was familiar. The team went immediately.

What they found was worse than expected.

Polito was wedged beneath a drain, weak and terrified. Reaching him safely took hours. He was cornered and defensive, reacting the only way a dog who had known pain could.

When they finally freed him, there was a pause.

“Rescue achieved,” the team said afterward. “No longer hidden in fear and loneliness. He was finally safe in our arms.”

That moment marked the end of Polito’s life on the street. It also marked the beginning of a difficult medical fight.

The Ride to the Clinic

Polito was rushed to Servivet Veterinary. His body shook the entire way. Years without care had left him exhausted and fearful. For his safety and the safety of the veterinary staff, a soft tie was gently placed around his mouth. Not as punishment. As protection for a dog who had learned that hands often hurt.

Inside the clinic, the reality became clear.

The Diagnosis That Broke the Team

Polito was diagnosed with canine transmissible venereal tumor, known as TVT. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, TVT is a contagious cancer that spreads through direct contact between dogs and can grow aggressively when left untreated.

Veterinary guidance also confirms that chemotherapy is often effective when treatment begins in time, though advanced cases can become life-threatening if ignored.

X-rays revealed more damage. A luxation of the femoral head. A fractured tibia. Severe anemia.

The American Kennel Club explains that anemia in dogs can cause extreme weakness, loss of appetite, and collapse because the body lacks enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen. In severe cases, dogs may stop eating entirely, which slows recovery and raises emergency risks.

“This poor soul has endured so much suffering,” the rescue team said. “Every rescue is not only about healing the body. It’s also about mending a heart broken for too long.”

Because TVT is contagious and Polito’s body was fragile, he had to remain isolated at the clinic. Sixty days. No other dogs. Limited contact. Eight planned chemotherapy treatments.

The First Days Were the Hardest

At first, Polito refused food.

His hemoglobin levels were dangerously low. The team fed him through a syringe, one slow swallow at a time. Every movement was heavy. Every pause felt like a risk.

“It broke us to see him like this,” they shared. “Struggling just to take in a little strength.”

The American Animal Hospital Association warns that extreme weakness, pale gums, and refusal to eat are emergency signs that require immediate veterinary care. Polito lived inside that danger zone every day.

And yet, he stayed.

Learning That Hands Could Be Gentle

Then something changed.

One day, Polito ate on his own.

The next, his tail moved. Not much. Just enough to notice. Soon after, he leaned into a touch instead of shrinking away.

“Step by step, we showed him that not all humans are cruel,” the team said. “It took patience and endless love to see his eyes change from fear to hope.”

Chemotherapy continued. Week after week. The tumors began to dry and shrink. His appetite returned. Strength followed.

The dog who once hid beneath drains began greeting caregivers with kisses. He learned neck massages. He smiled.

“Thank you, Polito, for trusting again,” the rescuers wrote. “Your courage inspires us all.”

A Body That Finally Healed

Polito completed all eight chemotherapy treatments. He remained hospitalized for more than two months. Against the odds stacked against him, the tumors disappeared.

There were no signs of cancer left in his body.

“Polito is proving that love and hope can truly heal,” the team said. “He is our little warrior.”

After discharge, Polito moved to the foundation. There, he bonded deeply with another rescued dog named Nube. Side by side, they rested. Two survivors finding comfort in quiet moments.

The Ending He Waited For

Healthy. Calm. Safe.

Polito gained weight. His eyes brightened. After years of rejection, he was ready for a life that no longer required survival skills.

After 309 days, that life arrived.

Polito was adopted into a forever home. Vaccinated. Healed. Castrated. Safe. A large home. A gentle family. A future built on kindness.

“What happiness to know he now has a forever home,” the rescuers shared. “Exactly what he always deserved.”

Why Polito’s Story Still Matters

Polito is not rare.

He reflects countless animals still living unseen, sick, and alone. His survival shows what can happen when someone stops scrolling and chooses to care.

Special thanks

This rescue story exists because of the work of Defensores Animales PTY, whose dedication, patience, and compassion gave Polito the life he deserved.

If his journey moved you, consider watching the original rescue video and sharing his story. Awareness helps animals who are still waiting to be seen.

Watch Polito’s rescue here:

Video source: The Moho YouTube Channel

If Polito’s story stayed with you, please share this article so more dogs like him have a chance to be seen before it’s too late.

Also check out these rescues:

His Skin Looked Like Cement, But Poleng’s Heart Was Still Beating and Waiting for Love

She Spent 10 Years Locked in a Cage. One Open Door Changed Everything