I lost my nearly 16 year old American Eskimo, Sugar on November 24, 2017. He had his front leg amputated in early December of 2012 due to a cancer on the pad of his paw. He did fine and hobbled up and down stairs, jumped into the car, tried to chase squirrels.

Last Friday was a bright and warm morning. He got up as usual and hopped down to the guest bedroom to visit with my son who had come for Thanksgiving. I let Sugar and his ‘brother’, Hank outside. When their breakfast was ready, Hank came in, but Sugar was still attending to his business. A few minutes later, I discovered him collapsed in the yard.

I gathered him up and rushed him to my vet’s. They took x-rays after I had discovered his tummy was tender to the touch and seemed extended. They saw a large tumor near his liver and spots on both lungs. They believe the large tumor had ruptured. Due to his age and the probability that cancer had spread to his lungs and having an enlarged heart as well, I elected to release my sweet tri-paw.

I rescued Sugar and Hank back in 2004. They had been with a rescue group together and so I adopted both. Hank seems lost without Sugar. I’m having a hard time remembering Sugar is gone. His amputation gave him an extra 5 years of life and he lead it with gusto.

Bonnie Davis