A family is desperately trying to save their beloved family dog who only has months to live.

Ria, a nine-year-old Staffy, was diagnosed with cancer only four days ago after vets found a mast cell tumour.

Now, her devastated family are doing all they can to keep her alive.

Channan Wheeler, 30, said the operation to remove the tumour is estimated to cost between £1,100 and £1,300 – money she does not have.

“I would sell the last thing I own to make sure my dogs have what they need”, she said.

Ria Ria (Image: Channan Wheeler) Although Channan and her husband Robert and daughter Kyra, nine, are putting money towards the procedure, they do not have the benefit of time on their side.

Channan said: “Ria is provisionally booked in for the surgery on April 24 as the vets want the tumour out as soon as possible.

“And to remove the other three lumps she has, that will cost between £250 and £300 each.

“I want to find that money, but we do not physically have it, but I also understand times are tough for everybody right now.

“Ria is only nine, she is not ready to go yet.”

Loveable Ria was welcomed into the family as a puppy to be a companion for Staffy Rex and Channa’s husband Robert, who suffers with agoraphobia and anxiety.

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She massively helps Robert with his mental health and has been instrumental in its improvement, Channan said.

And being born only two months after Kyra, Ria has formed an unbreakable bond with the young girl.

Kyra and RiaKyra and Ria (Image: Channan Wheeler) “Kyra has seen so much death recently, after we lost Robert’s stepdad to cancer, and shortly after that Rex died last summer”, Channan said.

“She saw Rex throwing up pools of blood, and I do not want her to see anymore death because of money.”

She added: “Ria changed our lives as a family, and she has helped all of us in more ways than she knows.

“It breaks my heart that she could die because of money.”

A fundraiser has been launched to help pay towards Ria’s surgery.

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-ria-our-sweet-girl-fighting-cancer to donate.