Today is the last Give Cancer the Paw blog hop. We have been happy to participate in all the hops, and to be part of a successful endeavor. This hop raised awareness of cancer, we learned about studies and treatments, and many stories were shared to help and support everyone who has had a pet whose life was affected by cancer. Thank you to our hosts Peggy at The Writer’s Dog and Jackie of Pooch Smooches for having this great idea. For the last hop it was suggested that we keep it simple by sharing a photo or a little story about a pet who is battling or has survived cancer, or who has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. It could be our own pet, a family member’s or friend’s, or perhaps a blogger we admire.
Suggesting a blogger we admire immediately brought to the surface something that has always stuck in my mind. I will never forget the day just over 13 months ago when our golden retriever Moses was undergoing surgery to hopefully remove a tumor on his spleen. The hope was that the tumor was benign and could just be removed. We also knew there was a possibility the cancer had already spread.
I was sitting at my computer trying to occupy my mind by perusing my news feed on Facebook. My blog was not yet a year old then, but I had already started following many other blogs and one of them was Tales and Tails, which many of you might be familiar with. I read the blog and followed the page on Facebook. I was shocked and dismayed to read that Blueberry, one of the greyhounds featured on the blog, had just passed away from osteosarcoma (bone cancer) that day. Literally, as my fingers raised to write a condolence message, the telephone rang. It was our vet telling us that Moses’ cancer was spread throughout his organs and there was nothing to be done to save him.
Cancer does not discriminate.
- Blueberry was 13 1/2 years old, Moses was 8 1/2.
- Blueberry was a greyhound, Moses a golden retriever.
- Blueberry’s cancer was osteosarcoma, Moses’ was most likely malignant hemangiosarcoma.
- Blueberry lived in the Midwest, Moses in the Northeast.
- Blueberry had already survived another form of cancer once, Moses was healthy throughout his life, other than very infrequent seizures.
However, these two dogs did have one very important thing in common: they were greatly loved by their families and are extremely missed to this day.
Thank you to Carrie from Tales and Tails for allowing me to use her wonderful photographs of Blueberry.
Geez, I’m crying over here. What a lovely, lovely, post.
Sorry to make you cry, but thank you, Jodi. When I was emailing Carrie to ask her about using Blueberry’s photos, I was already tearing up then!
this was a very special tribute to two lovely dogs, has me in tears, sorry for each of your griefs.
Thank you so much, JoAnn.
Great post and a beautiful tribute. I’ve lost 3 dogs to cancer and too many humans … It certainly does not discriminate.
Thank you. I’m sorry to hear about all of your losses, Sue. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it?
What a beautiful post. Cancer sucks big time…a horrible, horrible disease.
Yes, it certainly is horrible. Thank you, Melissa!
What a lovely tribute, and your words about Blueberry made me misty-eyed. I think you did a great job illustrating the point that cancer does not discriminate, not with animals or people. As hospice volunteers, Bunny and I attend a meeting once a month and the cancer patients right now vary in age from three years old to ninety nine. None of us knows how much time we’ll have!
We certainly don’t know. I am so glad I was able to include Blueberry in my tribute. It seems like such a cruel disease to attack those so young! I’ve been lucky that it hasn’t affected many people in my life, other than an aunt who has actually beat it. But I know odds are I will be encountering it at some time with people, though I think I’ve had enough of it with pets!
Cancer stinks. Pets and people, it all stinks.
You got that right.
I am sorry I never had a chance to get to know Moses 🙁 I didn’t know you then, and judging from the photos, he was a very happy dog! I’m so sorry, and for BlueBerry as well. Beautiful tribute to the pups and great awareness, thank you for sharing. ♥
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Thank you, Jenna. I wish you could have known Moses too, he was a big sweetie!!
Cancer certainly doesn’t discriminate. Moses was beautiful, I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story. Cancer really sucks, lets hope for a cure in the near future.
Thank you so much. I am grateful for all of the wonderful organizations out there that are doing what they can to try to find a cure.
This surely brought tears. Knowing you and Blueberry’s families have so many great, loving memories to help ease your pain is the only good thought. Moses was a wonderful dog, I miss him.
Thanks, Lynn. Moses was such a big sweetie, and such a love, and he always reminded me so much of Bear too!
Both great dogs… love this tribute for both of them.
Thank you, Ann.
I’m sorry that you lost your precious Moses and thank you for sharing his pictures and remembrances. Golden Retrievers have a higher chance of getting cancer than any other breed, we learned, when we lost our 12 year old golden Brooks. I, too, was sorry to read about Blueberry. You’re right, cancer BITES.
It is the worst, and seems so unfair that Goldens get it more than other breeds! We were also told when Moses was diagnosed that it was very common in their breed. It’s hard not to worry about Sheba and I’m sure you feel the same about Ike. But they are the best dogs, aren’t they?
I was not able to know Blueberry or your Moses because they left for the Rainbow Bridge before we met you both. What beautiful dogs they were. I’m so sorry for the loses. Cancer sucks!!!
Thank you, Melissa! It surely does suck, and it invades way too many lives.
Thank you for joining our last hop and for all the support over the course of the hop’s little life. Love your post. Cancer definitely does not discriminate. Even with Abby’s osteosarcoma, she wasn’t the “typical” type of dog that should get it. She was a mutt and (as far as we knew) not one of the breeds that usually gets it. Cancer sucks. But it can’t take our memories of our beloved pets.
It’s so true that you just never know. Our first dog, Shelby, was a mutt also and lymphoma got her at only 6 years old. It seems especially unfair when they are so young.
I’m glad I could participate in the hops and look forward to the day they can beat this awful thing.
Cancer is so cruel! One never knows when it may hit. With Trine she was fine one day and the next she wouldn’t eat and a week later she was gone. Mom hates cancer. Your Moses was a handsome fellow who will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Emma! I am glad I had started the blog so everyone could get to know him a little bit before he was gone.
It can be so sudden and so unexpected….it really is so cruel. We hate it too.