today is a sad day :(

the Dyck family and Freespirit lost a beautiful companion this morning. His name Charlie, only 18 months old. His dad and I have spoken a few times over the past 6 months because Charlie had developed a lump on his neck. I advised to watch it and if it grew or bothered Charlie at all take him to the vet. Well like the wonderful puppy owners that the Dyck family are they did just that. When Charlie's lump continued to grow they took him to a vet, the vet put charlie through a battery of tests including blood work and biopsy only to receive reports back that all was negative. There was no sign of cancer in any of the testing it was simply an abnormal growth of some kind. Relieved with the news Charlie didn't have cancer (and completely trusting the vet which any of us would do) they gladly took their puppy home. The lump didn't seem to hinder Charlie in anyway, he still took his daily walks, played and visited. However, Charlie's lump continued to grow as did the sense that something was wrong with this situation. Charlie's Dad was struggling with the vet report and diagnosis that nothing was wrong. Upon a visit to a different vet the news was very grave indeed, Charlie did in fact have cancer and it had spread to his lungs and there was nothing anyone could do for him except make him comfortable. Charlie's family was devastated as were we, but they diligently gave Charlie some medicine to make him comfortable and spent some extra special time with him until this morning when his dad took him back to the vet and stayed with him while he went to sleep and left all his suffering and pain behind.
Charlie's Dad phoned me to let me know that Charlie was sleeping now and I tried hard not to cry on the phone because well they certainly don't need someone crying to make the pain worse. But Charlie's dad called with more than that he had a message he wanted to share with everyone and we feel it is an important message. Charlie's family wants us all to remember to not mess around with anything unusual in our four footed friends. We know our dogs better than anyone else. We know their temperaments and their bodies and we know when something is not right with that.  Charlie's Dad is even more devastated because he believes if he had dealt with it differently and sooner perhaps his house wouldn't feel so empty right now. We deeply regret not saying go to the vet NOW. So he wants us all to never mess around with anything we know to be unusual to our dog, and if the first vet doesn't give you any answers to explain what's going on go to the next one, DON'T WAIT don't waste time because it's time you may not have.

We are devastated that something so heart wrenching has happened to one of our puppies and one of our wonderful puppy families. Our love and thoughts are with the Dyck family and their inconsolable loss, we grieve with you, but we are happy that they made the choice to not let Charlie suffer any longer.

With Love and Sadness
S~~~