A small warning, I suppose, but this is somewhat involving euthanizing pets and their health complications. If you'd rather not look that direction, then go ahead and find some amusing memes. Maybe catch up on some book-reading you might want to do. If you're certain to continue reading, scroll on down.

















I have kept a bit quiet about it for sake of mulling my thoughts over and to be certain I'm at peace with this. What happened was February 17th 2023, my pet dog had been identified as having lung cancer; inoperably invasive lung cancer. The months prior, the previous vet had ignored a gradually worsening fatty-growth upon his chest that was opening into sores, and was assumed to be the cause for this. In addition, this beloved dog had been present in the family since rescue on May 16th, 2010 (at the time, roughly 3 or 4 years old), and age along with a previous surgery removing a tumor on the legs has weakened his hips. Even if they could survive a week or more, the life lead would simply be constant pain and leaking fluids, all while struggling more and more to even get up to get to food or the outside until they probably die at home when most of the family would be out and not able to do anything about it.
For the next week, we did what we could to come to terms with this and plan when we'd be putting him to sleep. As expected for many others who have pets ailing, it was an emotional weight that inevitably comes with all pet-ownership. For my part, I ensured they got as many walks around the neighborhood and local park as could be managed, all the way until their appointment.
On February 26th 2023, they were brought to sleep with sedative overdose, sleeping to never wake again. I still do miss my dog, but I do have a keepsake with their dog-tag and this was likely for the best to avoid them being miserable. I am at peace with this, and perhaps things will be better as things go.

Rest in Peace, Buddy. Whenever my due with the reaper comes, be sure to show me to all the cool places you found. Maybe we'll figure out how to play Fetch while we're at it.