Florida family gives cancer-stricken 14-year-old dog the ‘best weekend imaginable’ before he’s put to sleep after being diagnosed with cancer
- Wilson, a 14-year-old German Pointer mix who was diagnosed with cancer on July 5, was surrounded by his family when he was euthanized Monday
- Stephen Rampersad of Pensacola, Florida and his family vowed to make their dog’s last weekend as memorable as possible before he was put to sleep
- They took Wilson to a boat launch where he played in the water in addition to multiple car rides and a trip to the park
- On Monday, the staff at Shaggy’s Seafood restaurant in Pensacola treated Wilson to a burger, fries, ice cream and lots of petting and hugs
A terminally-ill canine spent his last days on earth eating and doing just about anything he wanted thanks to his loving Pensacola, Florida family and the staff at a local restaurant.
Wilson, a 14-year-old German Pointer mix, was diagnosed with severe cancer when his humans took him into the vet on July 5 after noticing the dog’s urine was a strange color.
‘They said he was in a lot of pain, and he had these giant, cancerous growths in his bladder and stomach. They found them all over his inside,’ Wilson’s owner, firefighter and part-time landscape maintenance director Stephen Rampersad, told the Pensacola News-Journal.
Heartbroken yet determined, Reampersad, his wife, Christen, and their two children vowed to make Wilson’s final weekend alive as memorable as possible before having him euthanized on Monday.
Wilson, a 14-year-old terminally-ill German Pointer mix, spent his last days on earth eating and doing just about anything he wanted thanks to his loving Pensacola, Florida family and the staff at a local restaurant
Wilson’s owner, firefighter and part-time landscape maintenance director Stephen Rampersad, was told his dog had severe cancer on July 5
Reampersad, his wife, Christen, and their two children (pictured) vowed to make Wilson’s final weekend alive as memorable as possible before having him euthanized on Monday
They took him to a boat launch at the local beach where Wilson took a rare opportunity to play in the water. The furry pooch also enjoyed several car rides and a trip to the park over the weekend.
But it was the morning of Wilson’s last day alive that may be the most memorable.
Rampersad had planned to take Wilson to the beach to take pictures that morning before his final trip to the vet later the same day, but he got a call from the manager at Shaggy’s Seafood restaurant who asked Rampersad to come in and discuss some landscaping services the business needed.
Rampersad asked the manager if he could bring Wilson and the manager agreed.
After informing the staff at Shaggy’s of the situation Monday morning, the employees there treated Wilson to a burger and fries in addition to vanilla ice cream
Rampersad said his dog was ‘over-the-top excited’ during his last meal
After informing the staff at Shaggy’s of the situation, the employees there treated Wilson to a burger and fries in addition to vanilla ice cream.
‘Wilson was just over-the-top excited about it all,’ Rampersad said. ‘Every time food came up, his ears would perk up.’
The restaurant staffers hugged and petted Wilson relentlessly, scratched him behind his ears and told him he was a good boy.
Rampersad snapped photos of Wilson’s tender final moments before eventually taking his beloved canine for his dreaded final trip to the vet. Still, the grieving dog lover was grateful his furry friend received such a momentous send-off.
‘There aren’t a lot of times in life when you can say, “Hey, somebody did something really great,” or, “Hey, somebody really took the time to be kind and make something special,” but this was one of those times,’ he said.