Woman pulls son from school to create unforgettable final memories with their beloved dying dog

Bidding a final goodbye is one of the hardest things to do, especially during the parting moments of a beloved furry friend. Many go to extraordinary lengths to try and turn this sad phase into unforgettable memories. A similar incident occurred when a woman had to let go of her family dog after spending more than a decade with him. Natasha Hopper, a mother and a resident of Kent, UK—who goes by @tashalouise_95 on TikTok—recently decided to take her son out of school early to spend one last special day with their 11-year-old dog, Buddy. The video showed the mom and her two children playing with their dog at a local beach before he passed away.

The emotional gesture left people teary-eyed after Hopper shared highlights of the day, starting with a trip to McDonald’s. Notably, the 11-year-old canine, who had been a part of Hopper’s family since he was an eight-week-old puppy, had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Hopper knew their time with him was running out, and she was determined to make every moment count. “You collect your child from school early so you can take your 11-year-old dog with cancer for a McDonald’s burger, to go to the beach, and to make memories for his last day,” the text overlay of the video read. It further showed Buddy with Hopper’s two children enjoying his final moments on the beach.

Buddy was seen happily running between the kids, playing in the sand, and savoring their company. Before the beach trip, Hopper treated Buddy to his favorite meal: a burger from McDonald’s. “Oh my Buddy, we love you forever boy,” she captioned the video while sharing a glimpse into their day of “making memories.” Hopper shared that Buddy had been more than a pet—he was family. “When the kids were babies, he'd be by their side throughout the day." "My son's autistic and whenever he was having a meltdown, he would be by his side. As my daughter got older, he'd sit next to her when playing dress up and always let her put headbands on him,” Hopper said, per Newsweek. The realization of Buddy's illness came over Christmas when he began to fall sick frequently, reported the outlet. A vet’s visit later confirmed that he had cancer.

Although surgery was an option, it would have merely extended his pain. Instead, Hopper decided to provide her dog with a week of pain relief and steroids, allowing her family a chance to say their goodbyes. Recalling the day, Hopper said, “I collected my son early from school, and we spent the day with Buddy at the beach. His school was incredibly understanding, knowing how much Buddy meant to us.” The family showered Buddy with love, his favorite treats and cuddles until the end. Meanwhile, the video capturing their final moments drew emotional reactions on social media. Among them, @shannonlouise_xx1 wrote, “Life just isn’t the same once they’ve gone. I still cry over our dog, that was forced to go in 2021. Rest easy, little dude.” “I hope he's playing up there with my dogs, who have crossed the rainbow bridge and they have endless treats and cuddles,” @chloe_alice1994 added.

You can follow Natasha Hopper (@tashalouise_95) on TikTok for more parenting content.