I lost my buddy a week ago today. We found a small bump on his back about a month ago, and within a few weeks we knew it was cancer. Fibrosarcoma, something that is almost impossible to treat. He passed away a little over a week later.
Luckily the snow finally melted and his last weekend with us was a warm sunny one. Max got to spend time out in the sun which he truly enjoyed.
To some people, pets are just pets. To my wife and I, they are part of the family, much more than mere "pets". I rescued Max when he was about six months old, and he was my good friend and constant companion for over ten years.