Pets and Their People Blog

By Don Hanson

In September, I discussed my dog Muppy’s cancer diagnosis and my anticipatory grief. Today, there is less sunshine in our lives. My wife, Paula, and I helped our dog Muppy cross the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, March 24th, after she courageously battled kidney disease and bladder cancer since June of 2025.

I believe sharing our story can help others facing similar journeys with their dogs.

I hope my experience makes your path a little easier.

Daily Assessment Questions

Within days of Muppy’s diagnosis, I developed a list to assess her comfort daily and help determine if she was suffering.

Since I live where I work, over the 12+ years that Muppy was part of our family, I was able to interact with her and observe her behavior almost every day. The fact that she was a “daddy’s girl” and that she liked to keep me company helped in my “daily Muppy assessment.” Where I erred, was assuming anything negative in the following list was a 5-alarm fire. Each day of Muppy’s cancer journey, I asked, “Is she…”:

Excited to greet the day? I treasured the enthusiasm with which Muppy greeted each new day.

Seeking out interactions with us? Muppy had always been emotionally connected to both Paula and me. Any change in this behavior may have indicated that she was not well.

However, that intense emotional bond caused us to affect one another. In November, when I hurt my back, I was obviously in pain. I now believe Muppy picked up on my discomfort. She seemed to insist on staying closer. During this same time frame, there were days she would not eat, and she would get me up in the middle of the night. That, in turn, made me more anxious about her, and it became a vicious feedback loop… until I became less obsessed with seeing 5-alarm fires.

Showing signs of pain or discomfort? It’s normal for a person or dog to show signs of pain and discomfort on occasion. Nobody feels 100% physically and emotionally comfortable 100% of the time. A temporary, isolated event, like an instance of loose stool in the middle of the night, did not necessarily mean that things were getting dire.

Eating normally and maintaining weight? Muppy always wolfed down her meals except when she was not feeling well, and again, I may have overreacted at times.

Yes, she occasionally chose not to eat, so I monitored her weight and body condition as indications of her evolving health status, rather than obsess about every morsel. I remember my mom not eating as much in her last few years, and even I don’t eat as much as I used to. It seems to be part of aging and again, relevant information, but on its own, not a 5-alarm fire.

Going to the bathroom normally? One of the symptoms of Muppy’s bladder cancer was that she felt like she constantly needed to pee. Thus, her new normal was to urinate and then attempt to urinate again anywhere from three to six times before she was ready to go back inside. That meant taking her out every 40 to 90 minutes while she was awake. Sometimes we were out for up to 15 minutes. This change in routine required constant attention and could be exhausting, but we both knew we were there for one another.

Sleeping well? Throughout her life, Muppy always slept well at night, though she occasionally did not when she was feeling ill or worried about me. We had more of that in the final few weeks, but again, in some cases, we were feeding off each other. It’s hard to disconnect when you have a strong bond. (Much more on that bond in an upcoming post.)

Lessons Learned

At 14+ years of age, Muppy was going to slow down.

I needed to consider everything on my list in context and not panic when one or two little things weren’t quite right.

Patience and acceptance can help you feel more grounded as your pet ages or battles illness.

Over my 68+ years of life, I have been exposed to situations where I felt people euthanized a pet too soon or allowed a pet to suffer for too long. I was determined not to do either with Muppy. My family, friends, employees, and a team of trusted veterinary professionals understood this struggle.

In other words, Muppy and I were lucky that we were not taking this journey alone. That gave me great comfort.

When my Golden Tikken passed, I was a wreck. Last fall, I decided to start seeing a therapist to help me prepare for Muppy’s passing. It has been invaluable. Never be afraid to seek out professionals to help with your mental health.

Remembering Muppy

Muppy was born in Mississippi on August 6, 2011, and joined our family in Bangor, Maine, on May 1, 2013.

Our day would typically start with a gentle hop against the side of my left leg, Muppy’s golden face looking up at me like a burst of sunshine, saying, “Don, what a beautiful day!”

Muppy was filled with eternal optimism. I am blessed that the “gentle hop” was an almost daily occurrence which will be forever etched in my heart and mind.

Muppy took every day as it was and made the best of it. And now I need to remind myself to do the same.

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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, Steering Committee, and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition.

The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson.

©2026, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved