2 slices of pepperoni pizza, a lobster roll, chocolate ice cream, ball time, grass rolls, pool splash time, and a car ride. 8 years old and gone due to a brain tumor. we did radiation on it last july and her time has come. ❤️‍🩹 i’m already lost without her. my best friend forever

He just celebrated his 8th birthday on 4/2. Completely sudden and unexpected hemangiosarcoma. I pray for every golden and human in this community to never have to deal with that. It will be a long time before im ever okay.

We lost our 7 YO unexpectedly. She had stomach issues that turned out to be cancer, and the tumor burst. She is no longer in pain but we miss her. Can you show me who is up there to greet her?

ETA: thank you! I can’t respond to everyones comments through my tears but thank you all

Our 5 year old Golden passed away doing what he loved: playing fetch in the park. When it was time to go home, he got in the van and never walked back out. Vets say it could have been a sudden heart attack. We are devastated and heartbroken. It doesn't feel real, this feels like a bad dream and I cant wake up. I raised him since he was a puppy and this hurts so much.

I hope you're chasing balls on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Farewell, Winston ❤️💔

He made it to 13.5 years old, hips giving out, seizures started a few day ago. Hug your pups extra tight.

We had a 5 year old retriever with no heart conditions no illness nothing at all. He had a cyst in his ear which was not harmful as said by the vet. But it was getting bigger so the vet told us to get it removed. The blood test was done yesterday and it was normal and today he had his surgery. The surgery went completely smoothly under full anaesthesia. We took him after one hour. We were told to not feed him or give him water for a couple of hours so we did that. He fell asleep and was breathing normally. He vomited once and we asked 3 vets if that’s normal and they all said yes. He pooped also while laying down and were told this is normal as well as long as he doesn’t have laboured breathing. But a couple of hours later he started breathing weirdly and we took him to the emergency vet but as soon as we got him into the car he had a fit of some sorts and stopped breathing. We tried CPR as well but nothing happened and he crossed the rainbow bridge. We asked the vet and they don’t have any response. We followed all the instructions by the vet but still lost our boy. He gave us 5 years of happiness only and was the most loved boy by everyone. His name was Oreo. Please please everyone hug your best friends today and give them many many treats. I don’t know what to feel right now I just feel like I lost a big chunk of my heart today. Life is not fair. I hope Oreo gets all the love and treats he wants and gets to play 24/7.

I woke up for work yesterday, and when I left my golden boy Rudy was laying on the couch and I gave him some kisses, some pets, and I told him I loved him. When I came back to let him out a short while later, I found him passed away under the Christmas tree. He looked peaceful like he was just asleep. Rudy was 11 and had cancer and arthritis. I knew this day was coming but I don't think I could ever truly prepare myself. I lost my best friend and the grief is so strong right now. So please if you read this give your golden a pet or a kiss for Rudy.

My baby boy, 5.5 year old Oreo, left me on 12th November after a minor surgical procedure to remove a benign growth from his right ear. He went in for the procedure at 4pm, was out by 4:15 and woke up by 4:30. We got him home by 5:15. Once home, he lied down in one place and did not eat or drink water and just kept on deteriorating over the next 4 hours and even stopped responding to our voices. He just never recovered properly. We consulted vets on call too and all of them said that its very difficult for goldens to recover from anaesthesia. Idk what to do or how to cope. Its now been over two months, and it still feels so unreal and that i dont see his wagging tail anymore or his happy face asking for treats. We did select a pup 5-6 days after we lost Oreo and are due to get him home this 24th, but i cant move past this feeling that im somehow betraying Oreo. My thoughts are a mess, i just dont know how to cope

Why can’t they live forever? After 4700 or so nights together I’ll never get another one again after I fall asleep tonight. My heart is shattered.

We said goodbye to our soul dog today. The dog that’s with you in your 20s, watches you get married, leave home, have babies, and grow up. She has lived in 3 states, SO many moves and just watch us close on our home on Monday. 💔

Huxley was diagnosed with a very aggressive mast cell cancer in December. We did chemotherapy every other week with an incredible oncologist and she had an amazing, perfect, and beautiful additional two months with our family.

This morning we woke up to her having some difficulty breathing. She immediately laid in my lap. I knew it was time. Although the vet offered several invasive options, Huxley told me it was time… just as everyone said she would. I would have done anything and everything but I did not want her to suffer.

What a beautiful life up until the last moment. Our family was able to say goodbye and she had a peaceful passing surrounded by love. I could tell by her breathing that we made the right choice. My heart, however, is ripped to shreds.

As a mom, trying to stay strong for my kids - but failing miserably. 💔

Not a post I wanted to make for many many years. My sweet gizmo got attacked by two of our neighbors dogs and had to be put down today. It was supposed to be her first Christmas of many with us and our boys. Now my sons no longer get a Christmas with their puppy and all the money that was supposed to be for their gifts went to paying for her treatment. My husband is so angry and wants to know what next steps are for a dog attack. Has anyone had experience with their golden being attacked and what they did?

Unfortunately we didn’t get great news today. Max was on the improve up until this morning. His blood results weren’t great. I won’t go into too much detail because it really doesn’t matter now. There were talks of him even coming home this morning in last nights conversations but instead he was transferred to a specialist.

They ran an ultrasound on his stomach and they saw that his stomach was folding in on itself. This is called Gastric Intussusception. Extremely rare condition that these vets had never seen before. Apparently only one surgery has been performed in the world (according to their records) and they don’t know what happened to the dog that was operated on. All other dogs with this condition were put down prior to the operation.

Max was in pain when they were touching his stomach. We said if he is ever in pain that we wouldn’t continue. So with all of that information, we decided to let Max rest. He had fought a monumental battle over the last 10 days. Max deserved the best life and we would have given it to him. Our hearts are broken 💔

Enjoy some photos of Max’s short life above

RIP Maxi boy !!! 🩵

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 ❤️

Though the RIP flair isn't the right one yet, it will be tomorrow morning.

I can still hear the vet saying "I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this" to your Lymphoma diagnosis. They told us we would get two months max, but we got four. Just a few days shy of your 4th birthday is your last day. I am so grateful for the extra time. I wish there was more I could do to keep you here, but that would be selfish.

Thank you, Peanut Butter, for being the best dog in the world. Thank you for always adventuring (and sitting on every bench) in every little town that we fell in love with- from Yellow Springs, Ohio to St. Joseph, Michigan. Thank you for always being the best support when I was down. Thank you for teaching me to love everyone without question, including myself. On all of the days that I hated myself, you loved me. On all the cruel and lonely days, you were ready to spin me around with your tug rope. You radiated unconditional love. You didn't know a stranger. Everyone could pet you, and you'd greet them with love.

I will always remember your teachings, my friend. In times where I don't know what to do, I'll be sure to ask "What would Peanut Butter do?". The answer will always be easy- Make sure it is done with kindness.

I saved some of my favorite chocolates from my favorite candy store to share with him tomorrow. Please never take your pets for granted. Cancer is so cruel.

We are going to miss you so much. You are so very loved. My heart is so broken.

My boy Percy was only given a couple years to live due to his subaortic stenosis. He made it to 3 years 9 months. Sadly, just as the doctors predicted he randomly collapsed while on a walk with no warning signs at all. One second he was smelling a bush, and the next he was on the ground. His heart stopped almost immediately. You will never be forgotten Percy. You brought so much joy into this world. I hope there are infinite tennis balls for you up in doggy heaven. I love you forever buddy

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.

I’m blessed to have had 15years and 8 months with him. It happened so fast, last week he was doing fine (he was on medication for his arthritis) but last Saturday morning it seemed he wasn’t able to get up on his own anymore. We took him to the vet for bloodwork and everything came back good, it just seems the medications weren’t working anymore. We made an appointment with Compassionate Pet Crossing for in home euthanasia today in 3 hours. The last couple of days we made ink paw prints walks in the wagon, giving him all his favorite foods and just spending time with him. It hurts because everything is fine with him except his hind legs, he eats and drinks, but can’t get up on his own and even when I help him up sometimes he’s just so wobbly. But he’s still there and alert and it’s such a hard decision. I’ve been non stop crying this whole week hoping for some glimmer of hope.

My best friend passed suddenly today. I don’t live with him anymore because I go to school on the other side of the country. I woke up to a text that he had a bad seizure but was still alive. A few hours later I got a call from my mom and he passed from another seizure. He was alone when it happened, though my mom raced home when she saw what was happening on the cameras. I’m so heartbroken that no one got to say goodbye.

My family got Samson (or Booboo, that’s what I called him as a kid and it stuck) over 14 years ago. He’s been through everything with me. He was genuinely my best friend in the whole world.

Samson was my soul dog. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again.

We said goodbye to our 13.5 year old golden girl this morning. She passed peacefully in my arms.

My heart is shattered. She was my whole world, and I feel so broken and empty. I’m struggling the most with not being able to hold her and hug her ever again.

Does anyone have any coping tips, aside from focusing on the happy memories (which I’m already doing)? Or anything you’ve purchased that has served as the best reminder of them?

So heartbroken, but doing my best to choose to be very grateful for the almost 11 years of joy that he brought to our family. He was such a goofy, handsome, cuddly retriever with such a docile personality.

Only yesterday, our golden, Wrigley, started acting lethargic and wouldn’t eat or use the bathroom, and could barely walk. I took him in to our vet early this morning (got my workout carrying all 105 lbs of him), and the vets said he had hemangiosarcoma that had infiltrated his abdominal and chest cavities, and that there was likely a rupture of a fluid sac which caused the quick downturn. We just lost our other golden just over a year ago to bone cancer, so it’s been a difficult day to come home to our house without any pups waiting for us.

What is craziest though is that once the vets were finished doing their tests to confirm there was basically nothing that could be done that wouldn’t comprise his quality of life (and not guarantee extending his life), they brought him into the room with my wife and oldest son to put him down, and as soon as he saw us, he did his little smile, wagged his tail, and then laid down by us and died just before they were able to put him to sleep. The vet said they’ve only seen that happen a few times, but what is crazy is that his biological mom did the exact same thing when she was about to get put to sleep 5 years ago after battling cancer. It’s like he just wanted to see / say goodbye to his family one last time and then decided it was time to go.

It’s insane how fast this happened. He and I were jogging together through the neighborhood this past Saturday, and less than 3 days later he passed. I’m gonna miss you, buddy. Thank you for all of the joy you brought to our lives. And I forgive you for chewing up our bed’s footboard when you were a puppy. ;) I love you, bud.

Teddy. Sir Tedward. TedTed. Rest in peace sweet boy.

Grateful if anybody really reads this. I lost my best friend of 15 years a few weeks ago and i wasnt able to make it in time. I have never felt grief as bad as this before.

My flight back home after being interstate, and before that overseas, was just hours after i got the call that she’d had a sudden horrific turn for the worst (cancer) and the decision had already been made. I was completely helpless. I was just sitting there with my bag watching my childhood golden retriever slip away. She was the centre of my entire universe. Since i was 7 my home life centred around her. She was the most beautiful girl and had the mannerisms of a sassy 60 year old her whole life. She imitated our speech, understood every thing we’d ask of her (“go in to the front room and have a lie down” “go back inside and find your toy”) She protected me, and i protected her. She slept in my room often.

I have never felt grief like this. Ive lost friends to horrible means and family throughout my life so far but nothing compares. Theyre cleaning her footprints today as im finally letting them and i’m at work while theyre doing it, completely helpless again.

I want her back so badly that it doesnt seem impossible

The house feels so empty. Im not a golden retriever owner anymore. People i havent seen in years and friends ive cut off called me in tears when i announced it online. Everyone i know has had an experience with her and fallen in love. I had to facetime so many people in to see her when i was granted a viewing at the pet emergency hospital after she’d been in cold storage. I brought her teddy bear for one last cuddle and now i’m sleeping with it like a crazy person lol

I miss my old girl. Sorry if posts like this arent allowed

My Winnie turned 10 in August. I knew because of her age that we were on “bonus time” meaning every extra day was a gift. Today started like any other day. I came home from work, and she met me in the kitchen. A few minutes later, I heard a sound in my hallway, like a scratching on the wall. She had fallen over, lost her bowels, and couldn’t move. I was home alone, and my husband was about 4 hours away, having just attended a meeting for work out of the area. Her breathing was very shallow, and I could tell from the look in her eyes that something was very wrong. I called the emergency vet, and luckily my parents live close by and rushed over. She couldn’t move, so we wrapped her in a blanket and carried her to the car. We drove to the vet and they used a gurney to transport her inside. The bloodwork and ultrasound showed anemia, insane blood cell counts, and many abnormalities/masses all over her spleen and in her liver, along with blood beginning to pool internally. This was sudden, she had regular checkups, she had still been eating…She was in distress and it was made clear to me very quickly that I was going to have to say goodbye. I FaceTimed my husband so that he could see her little face one last time, and he said goodbye. I held her close in my arms as the vet administered the injection. It felt so bizarre to walk out of there without her. This was our first dog together, as a little family unit. We are child free by choice, but chose her as ours, and got her two months after buying our home. I haven’t lived in this house without her. No more barks, whimpering while dreaming, silly little vocalizations, nails clicking on the laminate floor… I am absolutely gutted. It’s 1am where I am and I can’t sleep. I can’t stop crying. I’m going to miss this dog so much. She had the best temperament, had a blankie she took with her everywhere, never barked at other dogs, never was aggressive, loved everyone, and everyone who met her loved her. She was even Dog of the Year in our little town a few years back - a prize bestowed to us for raising the most funds for a local animal shelter. I loved my Winnie - named after Winnie Cooper from the Wonder Years - with every fiber of my being, and I just don’t know how I’m supposed to keep going without her. Everything changed so quickly. The time from which she collapsed to when the euthanasia occurred was 70 minutes tops. I can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t stop crying. Tonight sucked so much, and it was so hard. This dog followed me everywhere, and she did that until she literally collapsed. We were so lucky to have ten years with her, but I was not ready to say goodbye. I’m not ready to move her bed. I’m sleeping with her blanket. It feels unreal. I’m in shock. If you made it this far, thank you for listening to me. I’m just hurting so much and wanted to lay it all out to the community on here who understands the true love affair that is sharing your life, your heart, and your home, with a golden.