SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A family dog is in need of a big surgery, but her owners can’t afford it and they are now asking for help.

Eight-year-old Coco has a tumor on her stomach that is growing by the day.

The yorkie still has all of her energy, despite having the tumor.

“I just pray someone out there can help us and have a heart, because we really want help for her. She’s so sweet,” said the pup’s owner, Denise Knockum. “Look at the love she has for me. She loves me so much and I don’t want to lose her over health problems.”

The surgery she needs will cost Knockum and her family close to $5,000 — money they say they just don’t have.

“I just pray someone out there can help us because I really love my doggy,” said Knockum.

Coco is more than just a pet — she helps Knockum’s son Dy’zon who has autism.

She has helped to improve his social skills and his communication.

She’s a dog the family says they do not want to have to live without.

“Kids with autism have a lot of challenges and his first challenge was social skills and Coco actually plays in the park with him and his first words instead of daddy was dog,” she said.

Coco has seen a number of vets and the cost of surgery is the same everywhere she goes — thousands of dollars to remove the tumor.

If you would like to help Coco, the family requests you send money directly to Ocean Avenue Vet in San Francisco.

Instead of money being sent to them, they would like the money go right to the vet so Coco gets the attention and the surgery that she needs

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