A Dog is Many Things, But Never "Just a Dog"

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(Biskit, at NC State during his cancer surgery.)

Many years ago, when I lost my dog Charcoal, a man who was supposedly a good friend said to my face, "Bill, it was just a dog."

Just one thought comes up every time I remember that comment, and you'll excuse my language. IYKYK. 

Insensitive asshole bastard. 

A few days ago, the world lost an icon, and heaven gained an angel.

Tucker Budzyn, Golden Retriever extraordinaire, went to the Rainbow Bridge after succumbing to a sudden, rapid internal infection from a complication of his chemo for lymphoma The devastating part is that the chemo was working, beating back the cancer and healing Tucker.

I can only imagine what his family is going through right now. Two-and-a-half years ago when we almost lost Biskit to cancer and an e-coli infection from his punch biopsy, I was a mess. My heart goes out to Tucker's family, friends and fans.

If you're not familiar with Tucker and his antics, you have to check out his social media. Absolutely hilarious and heartwarming. A very welcome option to most of the useless drivel that invades your feed.

We, as have many other of his followers and fans, have adopted terms like "chimkin" and "hecken" into our daily vocabulary. 

There have been very few of my 67+ years on this rock when a dog has not been a part of my family. 

A dog is many, many things. But a dog is NEVER "just a dog."

IYKYK

Run free Tucker.

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