12 years ago, our family found ourselves at the Foothills Animal Shelter looking for a new friend. Little did we know, we would leave that very day with the best dog we could ever imagine bringing home. He was a 2-year-old lab mix who loved everyone and had a big personality. We were beyond blessed to have him as a part of our family for 12 wonderful years.
Last week, he sustained a traumatic fall resulting in two broken bones. After consulting an orthopedic surgeon, it was revealed that the underlying cause of the break was osteosarcoma, with a tumor at the site of the fracture. We were surprised by the diagnosis, as he was otherwise healthy and spry for his age. We were suddenly faced with what seemed like extreme choices: surgery, amputation, or euthanasia. It was clear that the first two would have been difficult for him to recover from due to his advanced age, so we made the decision to say goodbye to our cherished family member.
We wanted him to have his final moments where he was happiest, in his yard, in the grass, with a tennis ball in his possession. We were referred to Caring Pathways and set up a time to say our goodbyes. Dr. Joanna Anzelmo-Rump and her assistant, Chloe, came and compassionately shared the details of what we could expect. We are a medical family, so we wanted her to explain what was happening as things progressed.
Our final moments were emotion-filled, yet peaceful, as we knew he would no longer be in pain or be subjected to a growing cancer. Dr. Joanna was so professional and empathic, but primarily concerned for Malone’s comfort. We even had a few laughs as we shared some funny stories about him. She and Chloe were truly a light in a dark time.
I am grateful to her for making our last time with Malone so beautiful. I can’t thank her enough and will recommend her and Caring Pathways to anyone having to make this hard decision for their beloved furry friend.