We had to say goodbye to our beloved Russell today, at nearly 16 yr

Remembering Russell: One Week Without Him

We had to say goodbye to our beloved Russell today, at nearly 16 years of age. We had him for more than 16 years. We are truly heartbroken.

On October 15, we had to say goodbye to my sweet Russell. Today marks one week without him, and the pain is still fresh. Russell had heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, and in the end, he became dependent on oxygen. This was bittersweet for me, as it brought back memories of my Mom, who battled a rare type of lung cancer for 11 years. She lost her entire left lung and a portion of her right, and like Russell, she depended on oxygen to survive. In 2013, she made the brave decision to end her battle.

Russell was her dog, her constant companion, and her comfort. When she passed, Russell imprinted on me, and I came to understand the deep love between a dog and his human. He helped me grieve the loss of my mother, and in many ways, he became my heart and my source of comfort. I had him for 16 wonderful years, and even at that age, he was still lively, running and playing like a puppy.

Earlier this year, Russell developed a cough, which the vet diagnosed as a collapsed trachea. Despite this, he remained active—still running, hopping, playing hide and seek, and going on walks. But on October 12, he suddenly started hyperventilating, drooling, and showing signs of distress. By the time we took him to the vet, his condition had worsened significantly. He had a grade 6 heart murmur, and an ultrasound revealed liquid in his lungs. Russell was placed in an oxygen incubator, but his vitals dropped, and he became dependent on oxygen.

On Thanksgiving Monday, the vet told us that Russell had stopped eating, was barely sleeping, and his condition was critical. We were faced with a heartbreaking decision. The vet said he could possibly live for another 3-4 months with oxygen, a feeding tube, and daily puffers. But we knew the quality of his life was more important than just keeping him alive a little longer. After three difficult days in the ICU, we made the decision to let him go.

Russell lived a life full of love for 16 years and 7 months, and losing him has been devastating. It’s hard to eat, hard to watch TV, hard to do anything without him. The silence in the house is unbearable. He was my shadow—always following me, and now I miss his tiny footsteps, his breath on my cheek in the morning, his kisses and hugs. His absence is felt in every corner of the house: the empty dog beds, his untouched water bowl, his spot on the couch.

People tell us to “just get another dog” or “just have a baby,” and I can’t understand how they could say such things to someone who is grieving. The only time Russell ever broke my heart was when his heart stopped. 💔 The only comfort I find is in knowing that he’s now reunited with my Mom, and they’re together again. 🪽