The loss of a beloved pet is unquestionably a devastating experience.
In most cases we will do all we can to hold onto that treasure-trove of love and memories, no matter how long or short our time together may have been.
What this family did to say goodbye to their adored dog is probably one of the most moving things you will ever witness.
I ate a lot of hamburgers. We had a party.
Rescue Labrador Dukey had been a member of the Roberts family in Houston for some years before he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and had to have his leg amputated. This was followed by a course of chemotherapy.
Sadly another tumour developed, growing to a size where it began to separate his ribs and leave him in pain.
Owner Jordan Roberts made the difficult decision to euthanise Dukey on 7 July, but vowed to make his last day on Earth as beautiful and fun-filled as possible.
And I laughed.
Of Dukey’s last day, Jordan said: “We struggled with the decision to let Dukey go, but ultimately did everything in our power to protect him from further pain. With the help from our friends, Dukey had a beautiful day filled with love and happiness. We should all be so lucky.”
These moving images were taken by family friend and photographer Robyn Arouty.
Arouty told the Huffington Post: “It was beautiful, really. One thing fell into the next.
“[The day] started with the hamburgers, then the boys came over, then other friends, etc. The splash park was spontaneous. And then Duke walked under ‘The Rainbow Bridge’, which is ironically also a term used for the place where pets go when they die. I felt honoured.”
Rest in peace Dukey, we should be so lucky indeed.
'I Died Today' by Duke Roberts
