I joined Tripawds when Scooter, my Golden, was diagnosed with bone cancer in early 2012. Front right leg amputated May and 6 rounds of chemo through the summer. No side effects. None. He was happy the day after the surgery. He began running for his beloved tennis balls one month after surgery. 

Scooter played "the cancer card". He knew, that for some reason, people were nicer to him. He went up to small children in the park, begged (not much) and received their snacks and ran through the sprinklers with them. But always keeping an eye on me to be sure I'd be watching. Everyone wanted to pet him. We took a daily walk too. He couldn't walk as far as he used to, as we live in a hilly neighborhood. But he was happy and was still taking the large front porch steps two at a time.

Leaping unto the couch. Still smack me with his one front paw when he wanted me to pet him. Barked at feedbag dad when he came home from work. Everything was so good until the summer of this year, 2013. Midsummer, Scooter didn't want his breakfast so much. Well, he's 10+ I thought to myself, it's hot, just wants to cut back. He finished it up during the day. Ready for dinner. Then he didn't finish it up. In my heart I knew something was wrong. Scooter ALWAYS ate. 

One day in August, 2013 he had a hard time getting into the van after chasing balls. I noticed a slight limp. But I'd read here, on Tripawds, that so many cancers returning, return in the lungs. Not the legs. I brought him to the vet. Another Golden lover and a friend. She felt his leg. No lumps. Probably a sprain. Total rest for 2 weeks. That worked fine because my daughter and husband were taking a 2 week trip to Europe. So Scooter and I would have the place to ourselves.

I will be forever thankful to God for giving me those two weeks with Scooter. We did everything together. We slept together. We watched TV together. He stole a new bag of Greenies and ate the whole thing!! Just let out a big burp.

But still limping. 

Stole 2 new boxes of cookies, opened carefully and quietly and ate them all. I was happy he was hungry. Just a burp.

But still limping.

My daughter, 20, returned home with dad and we went to the vet the next day to the vet. We left Scooter there for X-rays. The call came and we both listened. My vet said his lungs were clear, but a massive return of the bone cancer to his leg bone. It was close to shattering. My daughter, who had been 9 yrs old when we got Scooter, looked at me and started crying. Our vet said Scooter was still dopey from the drugs for x-rays. There was no option to take off the leg. Wrong side. Unreal. I knew she was saying "it's a good time to put him to peace" .  I said the hardest thing ever " we'll be over very soon". I called my 25 yr old son who begged me to wait til he got there. Husband-same. We all got there and surrounded Scooter, hugging  and petting and crying. When I entered, his head rose and I got one final big wag of his gorgeous golden red thick tail. It was his last. With all of us saying "I love you Scooter" , he left this part of his journey within the cloud of our love surrounding him. September 17, 2013. I know the pain is gone. I know he endured a lot of it to stay with us longer than he should have been able to. I know he wanted us to be happy. I know that we are having a Goldendoodle join us in May 2014 and Scooter will be happy that we have a new member of the family. He always wanted us to be happy. He made us laugh. He was in our hearts. He remains in our hearts. There will never be another Scooter. For that reason, I have been able to put a deposit down for a dog not even conceived yet. Scooter's ashes are in a beautiful carved wooden box with an engraved brass nameplate on it, a gift from our vet. She had to put down her own Golden an hour after Scooter. When I picked up Scooter's ashes, and saw the box and heard about her loss, we just hugged and cried, with Scooter between us. Would I have done anything differently, no. Do I think Scooter would have wanted it differently, no. For 18 months after the diagnosis, Scooter had the time of his life. I appreciated it because I was always aware of the enemy possibly lurking to take Scooter away. The enemy ultimately won. But not without a fight and a dog who inspired many and showed that fighting can be a very good thing. 

My heartfelt thanks to the Tripawd community. Knowledge is power. I felt so alone when this all started. So many of your postings helped me to understand our options. I will forever be grateful. The piece of jewelry I have with Scooter's name on it from your site, will always be worn with pride and loving. Love is what this is all about. Really. When we love we put ourselves in the path of hurt and loss. But I cannot imagine a life that didn't have Scooter in it. Now the memories of Scooter are what hold my heart from breaking. I will heal more with time. But I will never forget. And for that I am thankful. 

Ronnie~ aka Scooter's mom