When Nancy Baker heard the rhythmic jingling of her dog Izzy’s collar in the darkness, she instantly knew what was happening. Their 10-year-old, 50-pound Australian shepherd/husky/cattle dog mix was having a seizure. 

Nancy and her husband, Lucas, were heartbroken. The nightmare they’d lived through with their previous dog, Berit, who had died of brain cancer, was happening again.

But this time, the outcome would be different.

Izzy had required patience and dedication from the start. The rescue dog arrived in their home with severe separation anxiety, a fear of men, and health issues from living as a stray. She required two rounds of professional training, but ultimately, she transformed into the smart, quirky companion who slept with her legs straight up in the air and loved watching hockey games with Lucas.

When Nancy first heard that brain surgery might be an option for Izzy’s tumor, her reaction was immediate.

 “Are you nuts? We’re not going to put our dog through all of this,” she recalls. 

But after seeing Izzy’s response to seizure medications during that initial weekend, something shifted.

“I feel like this dog wants to live,” Nancy remembers thinking. “She has a lot of life in her.”

What followed was a seamless collaboration between three Twin Cities veterinary practices. Michelle Masselink at Lake Harriet Veterinary planted the seed that surgery was a possibility. Christina Wolf at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital performed Izzy's MRI and referred her to neurosurgeon Susan Arnold at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), who did the brain surgery. 

Izzy had a meningioma, which is a primary brain tumor arising from the protective layers surrounding the brain, and was different from their previous dog’s glioma tumor.

“Meningiomas in dogs tend to be more aggressive than meningiomas in people,” explains Arnold, director of the Canine Brain Tumor Program (CBTP) at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). “Surgery alone can stall their progression for several months, but it is not a long-term solution on its own.”

The surgery itself went remarkably well.

“It was actually a lot easier for her than recovering from any other kind of surgery,” Nancy recalls. Izzy emerged with a six-inch row of hot pink stitches on her forehead—looking like Frankenstein, according to Nancy—but her personality remained fully intact.

After the tumor was removed, Arnold advised following an innovative vaccine protocol developed by her predecessor, Liz Pluhar, using Izzy’s tumor tissue to create a tailored vaccine. It’s one of the only anti-brain tumor vaccines still used today.

“These vaccines are given in a series of six total injections under the skin on the nape of the neck,” Arnold says. “The combination of surgery with the autologous tumor lysates has been just as effective as radiation therapy, without the need for repeat anesthesia.”

After Izzy’s initial round of vaccinations over 12 weeks following surgery, Arnold updated the Bakers when new research emerged suggesting that ongoing boosters every 6 months could extend the benefits. That proactive communication exemplified the care that made the Bakers feel supported throughout Izzy’s treatment at the VMC.

“As a pet owner myself, I can empathize with what pet owners go through,” says Amber Carron, a certified veterinary technician specialist who worked with Izzy. “They are part of the family, so we treat clients how we would want to be treated if we were in the same situation.”

The timing proved unexpectedly fortunate. COVID-19 lockdowns meant Lucas was working from home, giving him plenty of quality time with Izzy. They watched countless hockey games together, and Izzy got treats every time Lucas clapped at the TV.

“That time that we got with Izzy was incredible,” Lucas says, his voice breaking.

Izzy lived for 2.5 years after surgery, which was right in line with expected outcomes for dogs with meningiomas treated with surgery and vaccines. She remained playful and happy until a final seizure in September 2023.

After Izzy’s death, the Bakers sent cannolis from Mike’s Pastry in Boston to the University of Minnesota team—a tribute to their dog’s full name, Isabella Michaela Cannoli. They also donated to VMC funds, including one for brain tumor research.

“They gave us time that’s priceless to us,” Lucas says. “We can’t thank them enough.”