The Life of Riley

Riley has been going through a lot lately… After going through and recovering from foot surgery to remove an infection, she still wasn’t quite right and we were shocked and surprised to find out she has cancer. She is being treated with the very best care and is hanging in there… She is still getting around and playing with Baby and Beary and Squirrely and laying in the sunshine. And she has so many people who love her…

With all that Riley has gone through, we’ve learned that cancer in Golden Retrievers is quite prevalent. In the 1970s the expected lifespan for a Golden Retriever was 16 or 17 years; recent reports show they are now living on average until only 9 or 10 years old, which is heartbreaking for a breed that is as wonderful as the Golden Retriever. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is one of the largest, most comprehensive prospective canine health studies in the United States. This project will contribute to the understanding of nutritional, environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors for cancer and other diseases in dogs.

It’s so difficult when our fur babies are sick. They are part of our families, our everyday companions who love us unconditionally. And it’s beyond heartbreaking when it’s time for them to leave. So take a moment to hug your pet today… We’re hugging and kissing Riley every chance we get – she’s the best dog ever and we want to make sure she knows that while she’s still here. She’s still our Riley girl, she still has her playful spirit and we get to spoil her with lots of treats all day long! All good thoughts, prayers and well wishes for our sweet girl are so much appreciated!