California's first dog Sutter critically ill with cancer

WASHINGTON (KGO) -- California Governor Jerry Brown's dog has cancer and faces a bleak prognosis.

Sutter, a Welsh Pembroke Corgi, has been a constant companion to Brown and his wife for the past six years.

He suddenly got sick Friday and underwent emergency surgery, but veterinarians couldn't remove all of Sutter's cancerous masses.

"As you can imagine, this is a very hard time for the governor and the first lady. Sutter is a very important part of their family. He's a very important part of the governor's office family, really, and the entire capitol family. So we're all pulling for him. He's a fighter. We're hoping he'll pull through this," Brown's spokeperson Deborah Hoffman said.

Sutter turned 13 last month, which is about the average life span for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.