WATERLOO — “Mouse” is a little girl with a big problem. Her newly found friend, Paula Smith, said she hopes someone out there can help “Mouse” out of her misery.

A few days ago the eight-year-old Dachsund was dropped off at the Lawrence County Dog Pound because her elderly Ironton area owner did not have the money to have a grapefruit-sized tumor removed from her lower abdomen.

“One of the workers at the shelter said the old man cried and cried about it,” Smith said. Knowing the Waterloo woman often rescues pets and volunteers for the shelter, Smith was called and she agreed to take the dog.

“She is just the sweetest dog,” Smith said. “She’s eight years old but she gets around well and she is so quiet. She is just the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen.”

Smith is asking area veterinarians to either volunteer to remove the tumor or help her set up a payment arrangement for the surgery. Smith is a cancer patient on a fixed income. Having had dogs of her own, she suspects the tumor that has been growing for two years is benign. She said she is willing to return the dog to her original owner if the tumor can be removed.

If the tumor can’t be removed and “Mouse” can not be helped, Smith said she hopes others who read this story will consider helping other dogs and cats by donating to the dog pound. Smith can be reached at (740) 643-0487.

Lawrence County Deputy Dog Warden Shannon Neal said the pound does try to find homes for pets and is thankful Smith was willing to help.

“She does a lot of good things for us, she really does,” he said. “I wish we had 30 or 40 more people like her.”