09/16/2025
For those of you who have followed us for some time, you know we seldom share our grief. But this time, we feel it’s necessary.
Our big, beautiful boy, Doug, was diagnosed with cancer last week. 💔
It began with small signs—a little extra drool, a fading appetite. Vet visits followed, and the removal of his last three teeth. We hoped that was the answer, but it wasn’t. Doug was still Doug… until he wasn’t.
After more tests and an ultrasound, the truth became clear. When he stopped being himself, he spent four days in hospital on a drip. There, with the guidance of our kind vet Alison and an oncologist, we received the devastating news: Dougie has cancer. Probably lymphoma.
There are endless tests and treatments we could pursue. But they would make him miserable, and in the end, we believe they would be to no avail. Doug has never tolerated even the simplest procedure. So, with love, we have chosen palliative care—liquid cortisone and pain patches—to keep him comfortable.
For now, he is doing okay. Miriam discovered she can slip the cortisone into his mouth if she catches him while he’s half-asleep (a small victory!). His appetite wavers—last night he ate a whole tray of Advance, which felt like a little miracle. We’re grateful for every win.
What we ask of you, dear friends who love him, is this: please don’t share stories of loss, please don’t give treatment advice, and please don’t criticize our decision. Instead, we ask for your love, your positive thoughts, and your prayers to any gods you believe in—that our Sir Douglas Ashcroft might beat the odds and remain with us, growing older, grumpier, and scruffier.
He holds our hearts in those labrador-sized paws. ❤️🐾
