Singer Fiona Apple has announced the cancellation of her upcoming tour dates because her pet dog, Janet, has got a tumour growing in her stomach and she needs to be home to care for her.

Janet, who was rescued at 4-months-old by Apple after being a victim of dogfighting in Echo Park, is now 14 and needs constant medical attention due to her condition

Apple has now confirmed that her South American dates will be a "little while later" than originally planned and in an open letter posted to her website earlier today (November 20) she explained:

"I am not the woman who puts her career ahead of love and friendship. I am the woman who stays home and bakes Tilapia for my dearest, oldest friend. I am staying home, and I am listening to her snore and wheeze, and reveling in the swampiest, most awful breath that ever emanated from an angel. And I am asking for your blessing."

"I have a dog Janet, and she's been ill for almost two years now, as a tumor has been idling in her chest, growing ever so slowly. She's almost 14 years old now.I got her when she was 4 months old. I was 21 then, an adult officially - and she was my child," she continued.

Watch her music video for 'Every Single Night' below: