Samson the German Shepard has passed

[gcode]

Some of you may remember I found a young German Shepard in my front yard one morning about 4 years ago.
I can't link to the old eMC topic and photos because Off Topic is gone.
He started acting like he didn't feel good Monday, barely ate Tuesday and stopped eating Wednesday and Thursday.
I was planning to take him to the vet tomorrow, but changed my mind and took him to the local animal hospital this morning
They said his belly was full of blood, probably due to an aggressive cancer that blew up the liver or spleen
Diagnostics were quoted at $4 to 6K, surgery and post surgical treatment another $15 to 20K with the overall
prognosis rated as poor.
It think he was 5 to 6 years old and wouldn't have put him through all that even if $30k was an affordable sum.
He was a magnificent animal, happy, friendly, very smart and fiercely protective of my wife and our 5 small dogs
I will miss him   

[JParis]

Sorry Tom...

Sux losing a good family member that way 

[BrianP.]

Very sorry to hear Tom. Animals become a part of your family. RIP Samson.

[mkd]

That was an epic eWC post of your wife chasing him down and tiring him out.
Sorry to hear

[gcode]

That was an epic eWC post of your wife chasing him down and tiring him out.
Sorry to hear

That was Buddy..he died in 2017.
Samson turned up 9 months later.
German Shepards are a very popular breed in this area

[Jim at Gentex]

Sorry for your loss, Tom.
Yes, they do become part of our families for sure.

RIP Samson, and thank you for being a faithful friend.

[Del.]

So very sorry G. Thought 2 times I would have to put our little Yorkie down recently. It just rips your heart out. I know Samson had a good home with you.

[RobertELee]

So sorry to hear that G.

I hate seeing a good pup have to suffer that way, you made the right decision.

[champshire]

Sorry to hear this. Our pets become our family for sure. My condolences.

[mowens]

I'm very sorry Tom. I lost my last dog in 2020. I still miss them all.

[Incogneeto]

Sorry G, I know you loved him.

[neurosis]

I remember the original story and I wondered if you were going to keep the dog.

Funny how these pets become big parts of our lives and leave a hole when they go.

Sorry G. 

[Brian]

Hi Tom:

Somehow I missed this yesterday-I apologize. I'm sad to hear that Samson has died! Our pets really are family, and I hope they always know that! It sounds like you were all lucky to know each other, even if it wasn't for as long as you'd like.

Hang in there!

[gcode]

Thanks for all the kind words.
There is a big hole in our house now.
My wife's eyes are leaking this morning.
My wet nose in the ear morning alarm clock doesn't work anymore.
Buster the Pug Dog, second in line for Alpha Male is a mess cause he doesn't want the job
Lady the Poodle is furious with me cause I took her boyfriend off somewhere and didn't bring him back
Barney, the malti-poo, survivor of a year alone in coyote country is back to hiding under the furniture
Toby, the 16 year old blind Shitzu is confused cause he can't find his giant heating pad/snuggle buddy
and Little Guy misses his morning boxing match over breakfast.
It's crazy how attached you get to these creatures and how much it hurts when they leave us.

[Brian]

"It's crazy how attached you get to these creatures and how much it hurts when they leave us."

I totally get this, and wish I could say something that would help somehow! About 12 years ago we lost Tasmania, a wonderful Maine coon kitty who amazingly made it to the ripe old age of 23 (despite numerous battles with raccoons under the house, a severe fever that nearly killed him as a kitten, and all sorts of other stuff that comes with the territory). He comforted my wife after her mother died, and was known throughout our neighborhood by many folks-he was a presence. The house really seemed empty when we came home after he died.

We just kept trying to remember how lucky we were for having known each other at all.

Could you post a picture of Samson?