I havent been on here for a while- my 9 year old golden/lab mix, Parker,  had her right front leg amputated last July after she was found to have a peripheral nerve sheath tumor.  I got some great advice from members of this website during her recovery time and I thank you for that!  She bounced back and did everything she did before and was back to loving life. 

This past February, she began coughing and I took her to the vet bc the surgeon who did her amputation told us that if he did not get all of the cancer (he was pretty positive he did) that it would eitehr come back in her spine or in her lungs, and she would be coughing if it was in her lungs.  I took her to the vet mostly to relieve my fears bc I was sure it was not cancer again. Unfortunately, I was wrong.  A chest xray was done and she had a huge mass on her left lung. I was told she only had weeks left.

She became the most spoiled dog in the world!!  Treats galore, table scraps and all the love she could handle!!  Up until the past week, she really wasnt showng any signs except for coughing. But, we began to notice her appetite decreasing, she was losing weight and her breathing was becoming more labored. This past Sunday nite, she was in very bad shape and at one point, she got up and looked at my husband and I and stared in our eyes- she was trying to tell us it was time.  That nite, we put her in the bed w/ us and loved on her and cried alot. I was going to call the vet the next am- we foudn a vet who would come to the house and put her to sleep.

HOwever, when I got up the next am, she seemed better- she came outside w/ me to feed our horses and looked better.  My husband and I had an appt. that am to take drop our car off to get some work done- we left at 10 am and then went to teh groc. store. We had decided that we would see how she was when we got home, and then call the vet to schedule it. 

When we got home at 1 pm, she had died on our dining room floor. We were devasated.  She looked like she just went in her sleep which is what I hope for- I just wanted so badly to be there for her in her final moments, to hold her. I hope that our other dog was a comfort to her in someway.  My husband and I buried her on our property under a huge,old maple tree.  And we buried her w/ her favorite things: a stick, her favorite toy, a rubber onion and her favorite thing ever, horse poop! She loved to eat it and roll in it!! 

She was the sweetest, most loving dog ever and she was part of my life for 9 years- I got her when she was a 6 weeks old.  I just watned to share her story w/ everyone. She was a fighter to teh very end.  And, I think she died the way she did bc she didtn want me to have to go through that with her, although I wish I could have been there to hold her, on her way to doggie heaven!!  She will be greatly missed. 

RIP Parker.

Thanks for letting me share,

Tara