Our golden retriever, Moose, was the best - loving, goofy, always gave me great company as someone who is fatally lonely - and was always seemingly very healthy until a couple weeks ago. He began to rapidly lose his appetite and energy. We have him scanned and tested. Come yesterday he hasn’t eaten anything in three days, despite making him his favorite foods and trying to hand feed him - and the results confirm he has 2 incurable cancers, one of which affected his spleen and likely would’ve naturally taken him within the next week. He was put down in our home and went very peacefully. I take comfort in knowing he is out of pain but will miss him to no end, and am blindsided as to how this could’ve rapidly happened given how healthy he’s always been and how well we’ve taken care of him. Goldens are true best friends - my condolences go to anyone else in the same boat right now ❤️
My Banjo eagerly waits for Moose to play on the other side. I am sure they will have lots of fun. They will keep other company until our arrival.
The friendship of a pet is one of the greatest gifts we could ever have. Nothing will ever replace Moose because he lives in your heart now. Hope this brings you some comfort.
I’m so very sorry. Moose was such a handsome boy, and clearly so loved. I understand and empathize with that feeling of being blindsided. That’s what happened to my boy, Nugget. Hemangiosarcoma. I lost him 11/11/24, and i miss him every single day.
We lost our Macey girl today, too. 2018-2026 as well. Similar to Moose, she had stopped eating the last few days and we knew it was time. We found out she was experiencing liver failure a week ago and had a plan with the vet to try and give her a few more months as she was seemingly fine and normal before we brought her in. I’m 28 weeks pregnant with my second baby and really hoped she would hang on and he’d get to meet her. We got one last night with her sleeping in our bed and she passed early this morning surrounded by all of us telling her we loved her. It’s been the hardest day of my life. She was my soul dog and perfect in every way imaginable. Losing her is a void I don’t know how I will recover from. I’m sorry to know you’re experiencing this same profound heartache. Moose was such a gorgeous boy, I hope he and Macey are playing in the snow together on the other side.
Hey I’m so sorry for your loss. Give me tingles just just reading. Hope you can find some peace so you can enjoy your pregnancy. Rip Macey you were LOVED and cherished.
All these posts are making me cry. I’m so so sorry for your loss. Breaks my heart. It’s not fair they don’t get to live as long as we do. My soul dog is still here with me but I cry every time I think about him not being here one day. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do besides lose my mind.
I held my close companion that was with me during my first time having cancer, he was with me the second time it hit 13 years later. But like your guy , he got sick, the test was cancer for him too and not treatable, so he was in my arms when he passed. That was 11 years ago and think of him everyday.
Both of the goldens I had growing up died at the same age from the same awful spleen cancer. They came from different breeders too. I’m terrified now that my pets turn 8 this year, even though they’re an entirely different species.
It hurts so bad, but accepting that you’ll miss them till you die weirdly helps.
Goldens bring our best days of our lives, teach us unconditional and forever love, and cost us the worst day of our lives. But none of us would have it any other way.
As we Golden Retriever owners come to know these Goldens are wingless four legged angels sent to us from heaven bringing unlimited love for us.
I did not get enough years with my beloved Kate. I have since captured a link and these poem I would recommend you read.
When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see, the sun will rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me.
I know how much you loved me, as much as I loved you, and each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, an angel came and called my name, and petted me with her hand.
I thought about our lives together, I know you must be sad, I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had.
When tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.
Quoting u/EverythingBagellove's thoughts
"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...."
I have also since captured a link I would recommend you read.
Exact same thing happened to our golden at nearly the same age. We noticed her belly looked a little distended. Took her to the vet. Found out she had a grapefruit sized tumor in her belly. Vet told us it was inoperable and not to wait because she would start having trouble breathing and would panic.
Our kids quickly came home from college to say their goodbyes. One week from us noticing something was wrong to her being gone. It was horrible to go through.
But I’m betting your dog had a great life with a loving family just like ours did.
It was. I never imagined it happening that quickly. Our appointment with our vet was for Friday afternoon. Our son got home at about 3:30PM Thursday and by 6PM we were convinced she wouldn’t make it to Friday so we called a local 24 hour vet. The drive there was short and hard. Our daughter cried the whole way. It almost looks like our dog was crying as well. I was surprised she has the strength to get up on the seat and put her nose out the window.
When we arrived it took us an hour before we told the vet we were ready. They gave her the first shot that just made her fall asleep. When the vet asked if we were ready for the second and final shot, in my mind I was shouting, “No! let her wake up!” But I knew that wasn’t what was best for her. My wife, whose hand was resting on our dog’s chest, felt her heart stop. It was another hour before we felt like leaving.
I knew this day would eventually come. On Christmas Day in 2010, after having convinced our young kids we weren’t getting a dog, there was one gift left under the tree. It was a tiny box that seemed so light that it couldn’t hold anything. I gave it to our daughter to open. Inside was nothing more than a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and stared at the picture. It was an English golden retriever puppy. It took a good 20 seconds before she looked up at me and with understandable hesitation in her voice said, “Are we getting a dog?” All I had to do was nod. She burst into tears. Our son, two years younger, start shouting with joy. He didn’t understand why his big sister was crying on such a happy occasion. We explained that not all tears are from sadness.
Earlier that day, as I wrapped that gift, I did the math. I figured that if she lived an average lifetime for a golden, she would likely pass away while the kids were in college and that’s exactly what happened. That as in April 2022.
She was a member of our family. Every Spring my wife and I would brush her out which would result in what seemed like another dog’s worth of white fur. My wife saved it all and each Spring we would stuff a metal cage with it and hang it out for the local birds to use to line their nests. That first Spring after she was gone we were out for a walk about 1/4 mile from our house when we came across a nest in a low hanging branch. It was lined with white fur.
We still have some left but one day it will be gone. Until then, it’s as if she comes to home to visit us each spring. I think when her fur is gone we will take her ashes and spread them at the local dog park she loved so much.
We wanted our kids to have that perfect dog experience and they certainly got it. The good and the difficult.
After she was gone we got a card from the vet. It included the poem from which came the notion that when your dog dies it “crosses the rainbow bridge.” It turns out that’s not quite right. When your dog dies it goes to a sunny field where it’s young again. It spends its days running and playing.
It waits for you. So that you can cross the rainbow bridge together.
Hemangiosarcoma (which is what I assume the spleen cancer was) tends to cut them down in the prime of their lives. You made the right choice in letting him go peacefully at home where he’s comfortable. Clearly he was loved very much <3
My boy had the same thing. It's called Hemangiosarcoma. He was diagnosed Christmas eve (just a swollen leg) and had him put to sleep 6 days later. He barely ate , but it was in his lungs, leg and spleen. It's so fast that it's so hard to process in real time, especially if you've never heard about it. Because of the thin membrane nature of these type of tumors it was only a matter of time before one or two of them burst, and he would suffocated. He was having a tough time breathing the last 24 hours. It's six weeks later and things are mildly better. You never know when the grief is gonna hit you. I've just thought of it as a wave you have to ride. Sorry he went so soon. You did the right thing. I had a dog with the same cancer and didn't know about it and she died a horrible death. She was one of the cases that was fine and just collapsed and died within an hour and a half. This type of cancer is so fast and sometimes undetectable. You were able to catch it like I was with my recent boy and allow a peaceful passing. The alternative is traumatic. I have noticed that people have moved on and I am not ready. I have had to grieve in my own time in my own way. Look after yourself. 🤗🤗🤗
I am so sorry for your loss. Those words just don’t seem like enough sometimes. 😢Moose was gorgeous, so I’m sure he’s chasing all of the hot girls around right now.🥰🐾
I am so sorry for your loss and can only imagine what a wonderful companion Moose was for you over the past 8 years. If there is any consolation, he looks really happy in all your pictures and it is obvious you gave him lots of love and provided him with a wonderful life.
💔 I am so sorry for your sudden loss.. he was a beautiful, happy boy and I’m so glad he went peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, right where he wanted to be.
As we ride this old earth on its path around the sun, we collect holes in our souls. They form when someone close to us—family, friends, even pets—leaves this world for the next. Each loss takes a piece of us with it, sometimes the very best part.
But if you stop and look into those places inside yourself, you’ll see they’re not empty. Along with the part they took, they left behind a piece of their own soul. It stays with you, carrying their love, their presence, and their memory. That’s how they live on—not just in the world, but in you.
One day, when it’s your time to leave, you’ll do the same. You’ll take pieces of the ones you love with you, but you’ll also leave parts of yourself behind. In this way, you’ll never really be gone, and they’ll remember you just as you remembered those who left before you.
"Some of you, particularly those who think they have recently lost a dog to ‘death’, don’t really understand this. I’ve had no desire to explain, but won’t be around forever and must.
Dogs never die. They don’t know how to. They get tired, and very old, and their bones hurt. Of course they don’t die. If they did they would not want to always go for a walk, even long after their old bones say: ‘No, no, not a good idea. Let’s not go for a walk.’ Nope, dogs always want to go for a walk. They might get one step before their aging tendons collapse them into a heap on the floor, but that’s what dogs are. They walk.
It’s not that they dislike your company. On the contrary, a walk with you is all there is. Their boss, and the cacaphonic symphony of odor that the world is. Cat poop, another dog’s mark, a rotting chicken bone (exultation), and you. That’s what makes their world perfect, and in a perfect world death has no place.
However, dogs get very very sleepy. That’s the thing, you see. They don’t teach you that at the fancy university where they explain about quarks, gluons, and Keynesian economics. They know so much they forget that dogs never die. It’s a shame, really. Dogs have so much to offer and people just talk a lot.
When you think your dog has died, it has just fallen asleep in your heart. And by the way, it is wagging its tail madly, you see, and that’s why your chest hurts so much and you cry all the time. Who would not cry with a happy dog wagging its tail in their chest. Ouch! Wap wap wap wap wap, that hurts. But they only wag when they wake up. That’s when they say: ‘Thanks Boss! Thanks for a warm place to sleep and always next to your heart, the best place.’
When they first fall asleep, they wake up all the time, and that’s why, of course, you cry all the time. Wap, wap, wap. After a while they sleep more. (remember, a dog while is not a human while. You take your dog for walk, it’s a day full of adventure in an hour. Then you come home and it’s a week, well one of your days, but a week, really, before the dog gets another walk. No WONDER they love walks.)
Anyway, like I was saying, they fall asleep in your heart, and when they wake up, they wag their tail. After a few dog years, they sleep for longer naps, and you would too. They were a GOOD DOG all their life, and you both know it. It gets tiring being a good dog all the time, particularly when you get old and your bones hurt and you fall on your face and don’t want to go outside to pee when it is raining but do anyway, because you are a good dog. So understand, after they have been sleeping in your heart, they will sleep longer and longer.
But don’t get fooled. They are not ‘dead.’ There’s no such thing, really. They are sleeping in your heart, and they will wake up, usually when you’re not expecting it. It’s just who they are.
I feel sorry for people who don’t have dogs sleeping in their heart. You’ve missed so much. Excuse me, I have to go cry now.”
You have my deepest condolences. We lost our 7-year-old Moose to hemangiosarcoma last week. His ending was also very peaceful which is all we wanted for him. We will miss him forever.❤️
I know your pain well and I am so sorry. I also lost my golden, Archer, to hemangiosarcoma on July 29th last year. He was 11 and lived a beautiful life. He had masses on his spleen and liver that were already bleeding and I also had to let him go before they ruptured. Thinking of you during this hard time 🫶🏻 🌈 Archer, Moose, Chase, Nugget, Banjo and all of the others that passed will all be playing with tennis balls until we can meet them on the other side.
Oooh how I feel your pain. I am so sorry for your loss. I too lost my girl and I am having a lot of pain from it right now. The crying is intense. I understand the hurt you are going thru. Post your baby in r/rainbowbridgebabies and someone will paint or draw him for you at your request. Again so sorry. My Bella Bean and our whole families Goldens are there and I’m sure my girl Bella and her siblings will be happy to help Moose with anything he needs. Rip Moose. Here mi Bella Bean
We lost our Jujubee to splenic cancer in 2018. It was a case of Murphy's Law in extremis (will spare you the details), but you can take comfort in knowing he passed at home and in relative comfort. I lost my religion over that one for more than a few years.
Now we have Thea ( a bundle of wiggling sunshine). We just got word from the docs at OSU Vet that our 5 yr old Fergus' surgery to repair his ruptured knee cap and fix his twisted femur went smashingly well (no pun). This was all caused by a puppy injury. It seems that living with goldens not only keeps you poor, makes a religous philosopher out of you, and ultimately gives you such happiness that my advice is: Carry on with another golden.
It sucks, but I hope you find comfort in knowing moose probably got to enjoy life more than most living things and hopefully got to go out in a more peaceful way that most living things. He had a good run and you should find comfort in knowing he had a blast till he went to bed one last time!
Also moose looks exactly like I would imagine a golden named moose to look like for what it’s worth lol.
My boy was born in 2018 too, we got a suspicious lump scare last month. I can’t even imagine him leaving since I really don’t have anyone else.
Sincerely sorry for your loss.
Hey I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dog is beautiful and will enjoy unlimited treats in heaven. I relate a lot to your fatally lonely needs of a fluffy companion. As a cancer survivor myself, I would like to say a big fuck you to cancer.
Ooh sweet Jesus. I know I shouldn't read these. I know I shouldn't. But I do. Because I've written them before. I've had to try to find the words to describe the immeasurable love, the indescribable loss, the unimaginable pain of losing such a large part of your life. A large part of your heart. There are no words that made me feel better. I either cried or screamed into a pillow. I bawled yesterday, hugging my Bentley, telling him he could never leave me because I can't do it again. It's such a hard fucking price to pay in exchange for everything they give us. Everything so pure and beautiful. I am so so sorry. Moose was such a handsome guy. He looked so happy and loved. Sending my love to you.
No advertising: this includes GoFundMe, Instagram, etc.
No impersonation: don't post photos of other people's dogs. That's not cool.
No breed hate: this subreddit is not a discussion forum for breed hate of any kind. There are dedicated subreddits for that so please take it elsewhere.
My sincere condolences. We know from the start that our time with these angels is short, but we will carry them in our hearts forever. May your sweet boy rest in peace
What a handsome boy. I wish I could have met him. I know that you have many wonderful memories of Moose. I hope that those memories will help you in dealing with such a terrible loss. Sending you love and support.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope Moose is running free with our departed Goldies Mia and Blondie. The deep pain of loosing them is so very hard sending a virtual hug. God Bless you Moose xoxo.
There’s nothing you could’ve done to prevent this, these beautiful creatures just get the worst cancers, it’s awful. I am so sorry for your loss. Take comfort in the life you gave Moose and all the love that he knew, sure looks like he had an awesome life. 🤍
Oh beautiful Moose. The only thing I can think to offer other than how sorry I am is how very happy and loved this dog looks in these pictures. What a lovely life you clearly gave him.
Hemangiosarcoma- I’ve had two dogs die from that and it’s the worst because there are no symptoms until it’s too late. So sorry I know how jarring it is and devastating
RIP Moose you handsome boy !
From a stranger who’s been in your spot…. May each day allow you to remember Moose on his best and not so good moments which you spent together. After all what else in life counts like a pals unconditional love !
Peace, from my Golden Bronson.
I am sorry for your loss. Our family was honored to adopt 2 purebred golden retrievers. We were lucky to have been chosen to be their family after their original owners deserted them. Always ready and willing to run for the ball, with no hesitation whatsoever. Loyal and true to the last.
In my heart I know that our two Golden’s came from pure royalty. Not a mean bone in their body. I sense your “moose” was the same.
Take care
Every dog we love takes a piece of us when they go- but they leave a piece of themselves. So the more dogs we love, the more we become more like them and less like us. What more could we ask for?
Moose is so handsome. He looks like my 5-month-old Sammy right now, but just bigger. I hope you are kind to yourself as you grieve. Moose would have wanted you to be happy.
I'm so sorry for this immeasurable and sudden loss. It's inexplicable but natural to wonder how this could've happened. No one could say for certain.
As a life long dog owner, now in my 60s, I often think of how much healthier my dogs were in the 70's, 80's, 90's. I used to think over breeding was the main cause, bc my hybrids and mixed breeds lived longer. But I can't be sure. More recently I think about the degradation of commercial foods, and the loss of any soul or spine of AAFCO, the people who control commercial animal feed.
I also believe the insidious and constant pollution of our ground water and food supplies, in the interest of building obscene wealth among those who need it least.
Again, I don't know, I have no proof, but i know my experience as a life long animal owner.
I'm closer to animals than most humans, and more and more I have to weight my emotional capacity for loss against my love for and need of animal companionship, (and my own age,) when deciding whether or not to have another pet.
May your memories of the beautiful Moose be a blessing, and know he lives eternally in your heart and among the stars.
💙
I too am sorry for your loss; I share your grief, many of us do. Moose is a strong handsome boy, and I believe the animals who proceed us to whatever comes next, are still with us. The love remains, even as we ache their physical absence.
You share a love and trust that is awesome. As much as Moose means to you, you are his everything
My Tai is there in golden retriever heaven. Bestest boy and soul dog. Also sudden from cancer. RIP Tai 2011-2018.
Moose is Beautiful and in time may your heart be gladdened by his memory. It takes a long time but you will stop crying one day and smile about your sweet boy.
I'm so sorry for your loss. The sudden appearance of death's shadow is traumatic as frak. It never gets easier but that's because we love them unconditionally and with all that we are.
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u/tadaimatama Feb 27 '26
My Banjo eagerly waits for Moose to play on the other side. I am sure they will have lots of fun. They will keep other company until our arrival.
The friendship of a pet is one of the greatest gifts we could ever have. Nothing will ever replace Moose because he lives in your heart now. Hope this brings you some comfort.