A Perfect Last Day

Today at the dog park, Isaac and I met a very nice dog named Jake. Jake had a large area on his right side that had been shaved and his owner explained that he'd had cancerous tumors surgically removed recently and went on to say that unfortunately, they'd grown right back "fast and furious" and so Jake was scheduled to be euthanized tomorrow. She'd decided that for his last day on this earth, they would go to the doggie beach and swim, and then on the way home, stop for a cheeseburger.

It was sunny and gorgeous at the lake today. Jake played fetch with a frisbee and swam and had a great time. His owner waded into the lake up to her knees and wiped away tears while she took picture after picture of him, so she could remember his last day. I stood in the hot sun and wiped away my own tears. The other dog owners and I told her how beautiful her boy was, and how brave and kind she was to let him go before he suffered too much, and how sorry we were.

It was heartbreaking, but also heartbreakingly beautiful. What better last day on earth for a dog? Sun and water and dogs to play with and a frisbee and people to tell you how beautiful you were and how much you were loved and a cheeseburger.