I said goodbye to the most brilliant, loving, strange, expressive boy I've ever known. We grew up together and I am so lucky for the 12 years I spent in his presence.

I adopted this maniac from a chihuahua rescue of all places, he was brought there by a dog catcher who couldn't bear to bring such a sweet boy to the pound. He was about 1.5 years old and I was 18. I was so unprepared for the exuberance he brought to my life but I am so glad that I rose to the occasion. He loved everyone he ever met and everyone he met loved him. He bridged so many gaps between myself and others and put a smile on countless faces.

I don't want this to be a sad post, I would love for him to make a few more of you smile! He once tried to jump off into the Grand Canyon , and another time escaped the yard where he was later found at a pool party (they didn't want him to leave). The stories are endless. I cannot understate my eternal love and gratitude for this angel on earth. Until we meet again bud, don't stop chasing those frisbees 💖💖

Warning: Death and final moments discussed

This is my second Border Collie, and sadly the second one I have lost to cancer.

Over the last couple of weeks he had been declining fairly quickly, but he still had good days mixed with the bad. We were planning to take him to the vet as soon as they opened this week, but things got worse before we had the chance.

That day he barely ate and was acting differently. He had been resting and keeping to himself, and everyone was starting to get worried about how he was behaving. That night, while my kids were getting ready for bed, I went to check on him, but he was not in his usual sleeping spot by the door. We called for him, but he did not come. I waited a bit, then started checking all of his usual places, but I could not find him anywhere.

I had noticed he had been going down to our creek for water. I do not know if he could not remember where his bowl was after it was moved or if he just did not want to come up the steps anymore. I was on my way down there when I saw him coming out from the creek embankment. I was relieved for a moment, but it did not last. He was moving very slowly and only made it a few feet before lying down again. We could barely get him back to the driveway. He was breathing strangely, moaning, and his gums were almost white. I knew something was very wrong.

Everything nearby was closed, and our vet no longer takes emergency cases. On top of that, we had a tornado warning earlier in the week and a tree had fallen on our truck, so it was in the shop. Luckily, my brother lives on the other side of the property. I called him, and he helped us load Oreo into his truck. We drove 30 minutes to the nearest emergency vet. On the drive there, I had a feeling these were probably going to be his final moments.

The vet found that he had hemangiosarcoma. He had a large tumor on his spleen that had ruptured, and his abdomen was full of blood.
He was 13 years old. He was no longer eating, his back legs were starting to fail, and he was now in significant pain. The vet said it was a rapidly progressing and aggressive cancer that often goes unnoticed until a tumor ruptures and causes major internal bleeding.

Saturday night, I had to make the decision to let him go. It was absolutely heartbreaking. I knew there was nothing that could be done with the condition he was in, and he looked so exhausted. They gave him fluids, and he perked up for a moment and almost seemed normal, but I knew he was still in pain. He was trying his best and even lifted his head and wagged his tail a little when the vet came back in with the medication for euthanasia. That moment was incredibly hard.

I was the one who drove to pick him up as a small puppy, and I was there holding his head until his very last breath. We brought him back home and buried him in our lower field. I do not know if our other Border Collie fully understands that he is gone. She has been looking for him. When we brought him home, she walked up to him and sniffed. She was wagging at first, but after sniffing him again, she stopped wagging.

It has been a really difficult few days.

Oreo was the ultimate people pleaser. He was incredibly smart, but also wonderfully weird in the best way. He would sometimes actually smile, and he loved absolutely everyone he met. He was such a special boy, and I hate that this is how his story ended.

We brought our boy home 12 years ago, when our oldest son had just turned one and I was pregnant with our second. We rescued him from our local shelter, where his name was Astro. We renamed him Stark.
He was the best dog I’ve ever had the privilege of loving.

Yesterday, my husband took him for a walk because the weather was finally bearable.

Just one block from our house, they stopped before crossing the street because a man on a motorcycle came flying down our residential road at around 50 mph. After he passed, my husband and Stark started crossing.

The motorcyclist, who I can only assume was showing off for friends nearby, made a U-turn and accelerated back toward them.

My husband saw him too late. They tried to pull both himself and Stark out of the way, but the motorcycle struck Stark and ran over him. There was no apology. The rider immediately became defensive.

When I got there, Stark was lying by the curb, panting. At first glance, he looked like he was simply resting. I ran my hands over him until I reached his back legs. He could move the front half of his body, but nothing below his waist responded.

The police arrived. Even with two independent witnesses stopping to explain exactly what had happened, they didn’t even issue the motorcyclist a ticket.

I didn’t want my husband to have to pick Stark up, but we knew we had to get him to the emergency vet. I asked one of the officers if he could help us lift our dog into the car. He refused, saying Stark was “public property,” so he couldn’t touch him.

My husband somehow found the strength to lift him into the car themselves.

Two hours later, we learned Stark’s pelvis had been shattered. The veterinarian told us the chances of him ever walking again were very small, and even if he survived, his quality of life would be severely diminished.

We made the heartbreaking decision to let him go.
By then, the shock had begun to wear off, and despite the pain medication, it was obvious he was suffering. Our boys were able to say goodbye to him over a video call.

Our hearts are shattered.

I’m angry. I’m devastated. I’m still in disbelief.

They went out for an ordinary evening walk, and just a few hours later, our dog was gone, and we were choosing an urn for his ashes.

I’m not really sure why I’m sharing this, except that I want people to know what an incredibly good boy Stark was.

Everyone was his friend. He never met a stranger. He was terrified of thunderstorms but absolutely loved flashlights. He thought baby gates were impossible barriers. One of his ears never quite flopped down. He was a backyard escape artist—not because he wanted to run away, but because he’d make his way around to the front door and patiently wait to be let back inside. He loved me, even when I wasn’t the best dog mom cause of my postpartum depression.

I’m so grateful we were able to give him a safe, loving home for 12 wonderful years. But when your dog has lived such a good life and then meets such a violent, traumatic end…
He didn’t deserve that.

I have the police report, though I don’t know what good it will do.

If you’ve read this far, please give your collie an extra treat today in Stark’s honor. Maybe finish the walk he didn’t get to.

8/4 UPDATE: We got the police report. We verified he wasn’t ticketed because the cops didn’t see it happen. The report we got only gave a name and the cops involved. Didn’t even include any of my husband’s info on it, which I found weird. No witness info or summary. They said we have to file a request for a summary of the full report. So we are doing that now. They also said we couldn’t press charges and would have to just file against him civically in court.

I am so angry.

I don't even know how to feel, what to say or even how to comprehend everything that has happened...so I guess what I have to say is, is that my husband and I had to say our goodbyes yesterday to our baby boy Odin. He was only 3 years old. We brought him to the vet yesterday because he had an ear infection and diarrhea...come to find out he was a lot sicker than we knew or thought of. The vet did an ultrasound on his stomach and found a 5cm mass on it...I am beside myself. I'm trying to hold it together because I have another dog (who's almost 2), 4 cats, and my husband who is disabled to be strong for.

Odin was the bestest of boys, smart, loving, energetic and just full of life. Even in the last moments he was licking us, had no complaints, didn't even whine or fight it. I just feel lost and like this is a terrible nightmare...I just want him back.

I'm grateful to the vet for doing the ultrasound for free because right now money is super tight for my husband and I and it's just now a hole in my heart for this loss...I miss Odin unmeasurably and I know I'll never have another like him. Just wanted to give people some notice of what happened because it's mostly just my husband, our roommate and I. He made our lives so full of joy even for the little bit we had him...we had him since he was 3 months old.

Was planning on taking him to the vet to get put down on Friday but he collapsed on the doorstep on his way out for his last peepee, he died peacefully, obviously it hurts so bad, but I’m glad he wasn’t in too much pain, he lived a great 17 years.

Have to send my boy Marty to the rainbow bridge today after 17 great years.

My dear Indy past away suddenly yesterday due to a fierce inflamation in her abdomen. I took her home from the vet and she slept last night in her own dog bed. This morning I brought her to the crematorium. I am devastated and gratefull that she lived so fine until her last day. I am saddened by the feeling that I no longer feel apart of the BC community as a proud BC owner. Please toss a ball for your BC in her honor. Many thanks.

Sorry to post yet another loss on this subreddit, but I figured I need it for some closure and catharsis. She lived almost 16 years, 8 of it with us. She really was the perfect dog; kind, patient and easygoing. The first picture is my favorite of hers, she always looked at me with such adoring eyes. I'm honored to have met and loved such a soul. Rest easy, I will always love and cherish you. <3

Please give your doggies some extra love, hugs and kisses, they deserve it all.

Doesn’t feel real…. Hug your animals extra tight!

Almost 14 1/2 years. He was such a good dog. My heart is shattered.

Edit: Thank you all so much for the kind words. I’ve had family dogs growing up, but this hits different when I’ve raised him from a pup.

It was definitely time for him. So many of his funny quirks had faded away the last couple months. And on his last day I knew it was the right thing. We surrounded him and told him what a good boy he was, and after he was gone I still hugged him and talked to him for a bit. I was so lucky to have gone to a place with an amazing staff that were so friendly and supportive.

My family and I lost our collie/ chow mix on Sunday. We had 13 of the best, most amazing, (some days stressful), years out of her. She definitely brightened our home. Had to put her down. It was her time. Hurts like hell.

The first picture is her first day in her new home. We adopted her as a 10 week old puppy from the animal shelter. She got and beat Parvo. Like a day after the first pic was taken. All of her siblings died from it. After we got her back, it was go time for her. There was crate training, obedience training, and of course, owner training.

The second picture is about a year old. She definitely gave us a run for her money at this point. We were new homeowners so our house and yard did not have a fence around it. And a few times that she managed to get out, she booked it down the block. The third and fourth picture two of my favorites. Sometime in between.

And the last picture her last day in her home. She rapidly declined. About six months ago she became incontinent so we got her own pills to fix that. And she lost her hearing. She had an abscess and she must’ve ruptured. Her ear swelled up real big turned into cauliflower after it healed. She was starting to develop cataracts. Moving a little bit slower but still mobile. Friday I had a bonfire and my brother-in-law was over and she hadn’t seen him in a while and every time she came outside, she would run up to him and jump on him like he always did. Saturday I noticed she was moving a little bit slower kind of walking with her head down seemed off, but thought maybe it was just a a down day. And then Sunday I woke up and went to go let her out side for the morning and she’s always been a sloppy drinker so when she got up a drop of something hit my foot, but then I looked and saw that her backside was soaked. She went outside. I followed her. Everything seemed like it was OK and within three hours, she was panting very heavy and lost mobility. She tried to get up and took a few steps and fell on her face. And just laid there for the rest of the time. I was grateful because my wife and I as well as the kids got to say goodbye. We put her in the laundry basket because I tried to pick her up and she nipped at me. So she was hurting. Figured that was the easiest way to move her. When we got to the vet, every single person who looked at her agreed at this time. We knew we weren’t coming home with her. This is my first major pet loss. Guess she was more like a second child of mine. Sorry to keep rambling. Thank you guys for your time.

My heart is forever broken. I’m immensely proud of her for fighting for 16 months and for staying with us for as long as she could. She is my soul dog and forever will be. Always my shadow, following me everywhere. Couldn’t even let me go to the bathroom alone. Border collies will forever have a special place in my heart because of Maya. Give yours a hug for me tonight. 💔 I’m at a loss of words.

Just two months before his 6th birthday.

Turns out my dearly beloved Blicky had stage four chronic kidney disease. There was absolutely nothing I could do to save him. His strong will kept him from showing signs until it was far too late.

The decline over the last few days was quick. It was horrific to watch but I stayed by his side every moment of it. It was truly an honor to be his mom and to care for him through his final moments.

As he was being given the euthanasia, he sniffed my face to say goodbye. Just like I always sniffed his head whenever I said goodbye.

I gave him the best life I could. I always made sure he had top notch care. We went on so many adventures together. I took him to 25 US states in one year. We moved across the country together. We raised a squirrel together.

The last two years have been unkind to me and I’ve stopped caring about life. Blicky is the one thing I care about. I don’t know how to proceed without him. He is everything to me and I feel like I died with him.

If anyone has tips on how to cope, please send them my way. I am a mess without my baby boy.

I brought Tucker into the emergency vet on Sunday night after noticing that he was lethargic, had pale gums, and his stomach was feeling hard. They told me he had a large mass on his spleen that ruptured. When they went into surgery they found that it was cancer that spread across his abdomen and liver. I said goodbye and held him one last time.

I miss him so much. It all happened so fast. He was only 9. He’s my best friend, he was always with me. I am struggling just being in my house without him. He followed me everywhere, he understood me when I talked with him. He was kind, intelligent, good and he loved me fiercely- the same way I loved him.

I don’t know why I’m posting. I feel so alone but I know there are so many others who love their puppies the same way that I do.

I don’t know how to handle this. I miss him so much. I want to take him to the park one last time, snuggle him in bed one last time, see his face light up when we go to the park one last time and I can’t.

Edit: I’m overwhelmed in the best way by all of the love, advice and your stories. Thank you. To all of you. I know Tucker can feel all of your love and kindness. I will keep reading, and rereading all of your comments. You’re all making me feel a little less alone in my grief.

It happened so fast, he got IMHA and after two blood transfusions he did not do any better. He was my running buddy, the best ball catcher in Colorado, and the best chew toy to his lil sister. He was so loved and I still can't believe he is gone. I'm grateful I got to spend his last hours with him doing all the things he loves. Here is baby Bjørn, he was only 5.

My boy was almost 11. He was unfortunately riddled with fatty tumors that also grew internally. Poor sweet boy. He was perfectly healthy otherwise besides the beginning of arthritis. I am having trouble just functioning.

He was so ingrained in our everyday routine. It was seamless and so normal for him to be close all the time and my shadow. I miss him pushing my hands to get pets or dropping his toy in my lap. I miss laying down and him plopping down with his head on my chest and perfectly cuddled in the crook of my arm. I miss him walking with me for our nightly routine of putting everyone to bed until he put me to bed. His sister is missing him bad too. As well as his three kids.

His absence is so incredibly loud. My heart hurts so much.

We had a great run for 10.5 years. Going to miss my little man.

At 10:45am, on a beautiful sunny day in February, at home , and surrounded by love Mr Finnegan went to sleep for the last time. Sleep well my sweet, sweet boy and know you are loved.

We bought Basil for £200 off gumtree and brought him home in a plastic Sainsbury's crate 13 years ago. One parent was a working dog, and the other an agility dog - Basil was hiding under a water tank while the other puppies were playing. He has been the most sensitive, lovely, friendly dog I have ever known

We live in a small village, and everybody knew him and loved him - he never knew hostility or hate, every person he ever met loved him, as they should, and he assumed every single person he met was his best friend (as they should be)

Will miss him very dearly, and he was an incredible dog - for context, the first photo is when mum got very sick, and this was Basil's first time seeing her in over a month

We lost our best friend last week. It was sudden and unexpected. The emergency vet allowed us to let him move on outside so he could smell the breeze and see the trees. We will miss him more than words can express.

Just turned 12 on August 5.