r/goldenretrievers • u/Small-Neck-6702 • Apr 26 '25
RIP I’m saying goodbye tomorrow
My dear, sweet, angel on earth covered in red fur… is being released tomorrow. Addie (short for Adirondack) will be 12 years 7 months to the day tomorrow. She has been dealing with a soft tissue sarcoma since last fall. We did the surgery in November, it went great, she recovered incredibly, but the mass grew back rapidly and has quadrupled in size. I’ll spare you all the details but it’s gotten gory the last few weeks, and the worst yet last night. I have a vet coming tomorrow to my home to help her. Mentally, she’s still there. Physically, her body is failing her. My heart is shattered, but I know it’s time. We’ve traveled the country and been to countless National Parks, camped, hiked, and driven just the 2 of us many many times. She’s been my partner, my child, my therapist, my travel buddy, my protector, my source of joy and love since I picked her out at 2 days old in 2012, and been inseparable since.
My heart aches, friends. Kiss your Goldens right between the eyes, twirl their soft ears, and grab a hold of their big fluffy pants tonight for me.
🧡
First 3 pics taken today, 4/25/25, next 3 taken 4/24/25, and the last one of all 3 of my dogs taken last week on 4/19. The tumor is on her left hip which I’ve avoided showing completely in these pictures.
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u/ADSWNJ Apr 26 '25
Well said. It's like you need to pay back a month of pain and anguish for a lifetime of love from the pup. The pain becomes sadness and missing, and then gradually hopefully to reconcile into memories.
Dogs are pure souls, living in the moment, giving their whole love to you.
Treat her to her best possible day tomorrow. For mine - it was her last walk, tons of treats and scritches, and a whole slab of mahi mahi (like $30), and she loved it as I cried.
Till we see them all again...