Said goodbye to a friend

On Friday my family had to let go off our sweet, sweet Rigby Boy. He was only 3. He was a handsome boy with a personality that will never be matched.

He came up limping in March and we found out he had Osteosarcoma. A tumor was in his hind leg. We opted to have his leg amputated. It was a tough decision, but one I would do again. He never missed a beat with just 3 legs.


The plan was to have 4 chemo sessions every 3 weeks. Between the 2nd and 3rd, he developed a mass off center in his chest and in his lungs. (Osteosarcoma will usually show up secondary in the lungs with dogs.) The oncologist switched to chemo pills. After a month his mass disappeared and lungs got clear. Dr. was ecstatic with the results. So we kept him on the pills and planned on a 6 week check up. About a week before his check up, he began to have a different type of limp. At his appointment we found that he had formed a mass above his front shoulder. We had a 3rd type of chemo that day and that one put a hurt on him. A week after that treatment I noticed that the lump at his shoulder was really getting bigger. But it was actually fluid from an infection that was deep in his tissues. While waiting for the culture of the infection, almost over night he lost the strength in his other hind leg. I knew that was it but I still held out hope. Im a firm believer that you go down fighting and always have hope.
So I began to carry him outside and he would lay or sit up, smelling the air, watching the birds and butterflies psss by. We even tried to use the K9 cart my sister had for her shepherd. But he wasnt digging it.
The culture came back as a MRSA infection, with really no way to treat it that wouldnt destroy his kidneys or possibly be harmful to us. So we decided to keep him comfortable and let things take its course.

I scheduled an appointment with a service that comes to your home last tuesday and couldnt get a time late in the day until last friday. It was a long week watching him decline. I didnt want to move him to take him to the vet because of causing him severe pain.

We buried him under the dogwood tree overlooking the creek, close to his swimmimg hole. Which was one of his favorite places to go.
Our home is eerily quite and our hearts have a deep void. Its going to take a long, long time to get over this one. If ever.

 

So sorry to hear of your loss. Cancer is so destructive to families. Thanks for posting the pictures of Rigby boy

 

Aw man, I'm really sorry to hear that. Dogs really are mans best friend.

 

Sorry for your loss Biddleman he was a pretty boy and from the looks of it you gave him a great life!!

 

Excellent tribute Biddleman.

It sucks that our bodies often fail us too soon, two-leggeds and four.

 

Really sorry to hear about your dog, its probably one of the toughest things to do, having to put your pet down. I've had to do the same thing, they become so much of you, i feel for you, and, you did do the right thing for him, never forget that. So very sad to read this. You'll NEVER forget him, and you will see him all the time around your place, he's still there in spirit.

 

So sad that he had to go at such a young age. But he had his best life, living with you.

 

Sorry for your loss. They are such a strong part of the family. I have done it before and will do it again. They say it’s better to have loved than to never loved at all but it’s hard in the time of loss. My family is praying for yours.

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. 3 years old is way too young to lose a dog.

 

We feel your pain, Biddleman .
Sorry for your loss.

 

So sorry for your loss Biddleman . Our last such loss liked to have killed us both. He looked like a Happy Lad during the good times so try to always remember the best times!

 

Terrible..... So sorry to hear the news. I'm sitting with Emma on my bed right now.

Can't imagine what were going to go through without her... Your in our prayers tonight.

Mark

 

Sorry for the loss Biddleman
Beautiful eulogy for him...

 

Horrible things happen to the best of them. Been there before. Our 14 year old lab had a drastic decline and we made the decision in July. It still hurts when I read something like this. You gave her the best life with what was given. Funny how dogs don’t care as long as they know they hey are loved as much as they love. Time will heal but you will never forget that special dog that taught you new ways of coping with what’s dealt.

 

Always so painful to loose a family friend/pet. Been there many times. You did more for your friend than a lot of people get done for them. So sorry for your loss.

 

That photo of him in the water with the stick could have been our Kobe, who we had to put down earlier this year. I still miss him. Sorry to hear of your loss.

 

my condolences, looks like he was well loved and cared for and couldn't have had it any better.