Dear friends, thank you for the outpouring of love and support. We have been reading all of your messages, but in our overwhelming grief over Chuck Billy’s passing, we are unable to find the words to respond.
Tuesday morning Chuck Billy raced downstairs as usual, checked to make sure his bowl was waiting on the counter, and then headed out into the freshly fallen snow to play. He then ate his breakfast, and continued on with his usual morning routine. However, it was as if a switch went off, and suddenly everything changed. We will spare you the details of what happened next, because Chuck Billy wouldn’t want you to remember him that way.
At the ER, the vet told us that he had a mass on his spleen that ruptured. It was then the dreaded word cancer, specifically hemangiosarcoma, was spoken. However, there was the possibility it was benign. Chuck Billy was also strong and healthy for a 12 year old Golden Retriever, so the tone of the ER vet and surgeon was one of optimism. However, post-surgery complications developed. Some were expected, and he responded well to treatment. Others however were more serious, and were progressively getting worse. The ER vets went from cautiously optimistic, to guarded optimism, to please come.
Mom and Dad were blessed to be able to spend time with Chuck Billy before he crossed Rainbow Bridge. It is too personal to share how that time was spent together. However, what we will share is Chuck Billy crossed at 12 Noon on December 12. Without knowing it was happening then, many of you were there surrounding him with love. A friend happened to see “Chuck Billy” was trending on X, and snapped a screenshot. Hours later when Mom opened that direct message, what was the timestamp on that photo? 12:01 PM. Thank you all for surrounding our Chuck Billy with love as he set off on this grandest of adventures! We cannot thank you enough for your prayers, positive words, and kindness!
Many of the comments we’ve read on social media said Chuck Billy made this world a better place. So there must be some good to come out of his sudden passing! Please consider donating to the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. As part of their end of the year fundraising campaign, from now until December 31, 2024 donations will be matched up to $200,000. We need to find a cure for hemangiosarcoma and all canine cancers, so future families will not experience this sudden gut wrenching goodbye. Chuck Billy also was a devoted friend of No Bowl Empty 2 Pet Food Pantry, because as you know he took his 5:00 PM dinner time very serious, and didn’t want any dog to experience a late dinner. Donations can be sent to No Bowl Empty 2 Pet Food Pantry, 238 Old Alfred Road, East Waterboro, ME 04030, or through Venmo at @nbe_nadine.
And yes, I will continue our blog posts! I know it will be different without Chuck Billy’s wisdom and wit, but I promise to honor his legacy, just like he honored our brother Angel Lemmy. The new site, that Chuck Billy worked so hard on getting just right, is now indefinitely on pause. But Living with a Golden will continue! However, our family needs time to grieve his heart wrenching loss first. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Thank You for loving our Chuck Billy and coming along on his amazing adventures!
Chuck Billy: January 30, 2012 ~ December 12, 2024
