A Labrador’s last day on earth has been documented by his grieving owners in Houston! It is an awesome tribute to an awesome and much-loved Lab! Get out the tissues, this one is sure to touch your heart.
Labrador, Dukey, was a cancer-stricken, three-legged, happy Lab, adored by his family. He traveled over the rainbow bridge last week.
Jordan Roberts, Dukey’s owner, asked friend and photographer Robyn Arouty, to document the Lab’s last day as she prepared to put him to sleep. Arouty, snapped pictures of Duke eating hamburgers and running happily at a water playground.
This story has really gone viral. It is being talked about all over the world. So touching and so beautiful! Sure to melt the hardest heart!
Dukey was later peacefully put down on a blanket outside.
A blog post titled “I died today, was written from Dukey’s perspective appeared on Arouty’s website, which is currently offline due to the influx of traffic “And I ate a lot of hamburgers.” The post was reprinted on Buzzfeed.
Here it is:
I Died Today. By Duke Roberts.
And I ate a lot of hamburgers. We had a party.
And I laughed.
And I thought about how much I’m going to miss it here.
We told jokes.
We were serious.
My friends from next door came to see me. They’re twins. When someone offered them one of my hamburgers, one said, “No thank you. I don’t want to take any from Dukey.”
Kristen came to see me. She’s a hoot. She’s my groomer. And my buddy.
While we were waiting for the vet to come, Kristen said we were going for a walk. Then someone said, “How about a play in the water at the splash park down the street?” So off we went!
“You know I’m going to miss you, right?”
“And you too, right?”
“I need you to help me watch over my family.”
“Did you hear me? This is all I want!”
We got wet today.
We smiled today.
We felt grateful today.
We broke the rules today.
I listened to the kids play off in the distance. And thought about my two babies at home. I loved protecting them.
I relaxed today.
I felt no pain. Even though the tumor grew so big.
I felt the love today.
I said goodbye to my beautiful friend Kira. She “saw” me standing over everybody before the doctor said it was time. I was excited & jumping & happy.
Well, I didn’t say goodbye. I said ’til we meet again.
God, I was lucky. Our time was short. But you both gave me a second chance & we lived it up together. You love when I look at you. I’ll never stop.
Always, Dukey.
And here’s Dukey’s adoption video from three years ago.