Handsome Jasper. We first met last summer at Scoopy Poo, then again this past March. Each time I see him he’s a bit more grey, but is always full of wiggles and headrubs. Sometimes it’s like he doesn’t even know he has cancer. The week after our session, they found his tumor had increased in size, his joints were stiffer, and he wasn’t very interested in food. But he wasn’t done yet! He got to come to Sushi with your Poochie with his dad on Wednesday, and I thought he looked pretty good. It sounds like they’re going to try one more kind of treatment, and then it’s just a matter of time.

Jasper’s dad started a beautiful blog about him, and his story has been picked up by Petopia, All Dog Blog, The Happy Wag, and even Bark Magazine. It’s become a way for them to cope with what’s going on, and to help others who might be going through the same thing.

As I was editing these photos, I had a smile on my face pretty much the entire time. Mostly happy, some sad, but all coupled with a full heart knowing just how loved this wonderful dog has been. I can feel it emanating from the images. I wanted to share with you something his dad wrote to me after viewing their photos for the first time. It made me cry and I dare you not to tear up as well:

“…as I was looking through the photos a thought crossed my mind. I’d never really seen photos of Veronika and I with Jasper (quite like this), and I dare say that the images show how much we really do love him and have cared for him. Knowing this actually comforts me and makes me feel like it will be OK to say good-bye because we’ve loved him so much. Thank you.”

The look on his face in this one cracks me up.