Pets and Their People Blog

On Friday, June 21, I took my dog Muppy to see her veterinarian for a suspected urinary tract infection that was not improving. Other than that, she was in fantastic health for being almost 14 years old, running and leaping like a 5-year-old, always smiling and wagging her tail.

After an examination and some lab work, Muppy’s veterinarian explained that an ultrasound revealed a small growth in her bladder, and an analysis of her urine revealed cells that indicated Muppy most likely has bladder cancer. That diagnosis has recently been confirmed with additional tests.

Anticipatory Grief

I was devastated, as Muppy has been my constant companion and shadow since we brought her home in 2013. At the same time, I noticed Muppy could sense I was very distraught, but of course, she did not understand why I was so upset. I was in a deep funk the remainder of Friday and all of Saturday. I should have paid more attention to Muppy’s reaction, because my distress could potentially affect her.

On Sunday morning, Muppy and I got up as usual. She raced down the stairs to wait until I was about eight feet away from the door, then Muppy bounced off my right leg with her front paws, looked at me with bright eyes and her enthralling smile, ran out the door, and flew off the deck to do her “morning business” as she has done every single day. Muppy’s “morning business” includes her bathroom rituals, sniffing along the fence line checking for evidence of rodent activity, finding a spot in the grass or dirt to roll in, and then running around the yard in joyful leaps and bounds.

In an exceptionally playful mood, on this day, she went one step further, demonstrating that she still enjoyed the puppy zoomies. Then, when I said, “Do you want breakfast?” she flew back up onto the deck, tail-wagging, cherub-like face smiling as she raced into the kitchen. It was then that I realized that Muppy does not know she has cancer and will approach every day determined to make it “The BEST day EVER!”

How and When We Grieve Matters

I am very sad, but I am committed to giving Muppy the joy she gives me, every day we have left.

Since that Sunday, Muppy continues to start every day with enthusiasm, and I am back to singing her my silly little ditties as she prances around the yard, waiting for her to cue me to say, “Do you want breakfast?”

I will be journaling about Muppy and the way we spend our remaining time. I will emphasize those joyous moments and will also share her treatment plan and explain what her caregivers and I are doing to make her remaining life the best it can be. If you care to follow along, my posts can be found at ForceFreePets.com.

About the Author

Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors and Steering Committee and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. He is also a founding director of Pet Industry Advocacy International (PIAI).

The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson.

©2025, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved