This is a sad one you all.
Dougie by the pool at a Nebraska Humane Society play day hosted by the Yappy Pack <3
And in full color.
Dougie knowing he looks very stylish in his Christmas sweater
I will make the photo captions happy though. I could not get through many of our photographs this past week. So I am just tossing a few in. More later.
Dougie at his sixth birthday party two years ago with his friends and family at The Omaha Dog Bar <3
The text of this post though. This is gonna be a rough one. None of us are ready. But I thought you should know. And Dougie deserves the spotlight he always loved.
Here is my first photo of Doug during his initial wellness exam with Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska (GRRIN). His foster parents and I had to yell to hear each other because this guy would NOT stop barking! We learned from the start Doug wanted all eyes (and hands) on him at all times and supported that ridiculous wish throughout his life.
Thank you to Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska for rescuing Dougie and allowing us to adopt him, and thank you also to Dougie’s wonderful foster parents for raising this sweet guy. We are forever grateful.
Doug Finch passed away this past Tuesday October 6, 2026 at eight years of age with Blue, Abby, Kevin and Russ and me by his side.
At Doug’s favorite park a couple weeks ago - We FINALLY let him swim in the algae-covered goose and duck and turtle and fish poop-filled lake, and he was SO HAPPY. From left to right, Blue, Kevin Puppy, Abby, Russ and a very stinky, very happy Doug Dog.
Doug had been sick all summer with what we now know was lymphoma with an atypical presentation. It started in his spleen (we think), and even post-splenectomy (thank you Dr. Petersen. I will try to keep this sap-free - we are so very grateful to you and the Westgate team for your compassionate care of Doug and us - oops - pretty sappy - still - THANK YOU. So much.) …um…oh yeah, even post-splenectomy, spread (we think) to his bone marrow, gastrointestinal system, and finally, to his lungs. Maybe all at once. Maybe not in that order. But never to his peripheral lymph nodes. Cancer does what it wants. And cancer is a mean fucker. But for such a long time, Doug was managing. He responded well to treatment at every turn. He never seemed to mind feeling a little off here and there, kept his ridiculously happy attitude, and kept bouncing back.
Dougie and Blue on a boat in a lake in Colorado a couple years back. He had SUCH a fun trip - we all did.
Lately, Doug was eating less. Walking slower. Playing tug with Kevin for shorter stints. Not at all on his bullshit when we gathered in the evenings. Just laying by our feet, content. That was worrying.
Six years ago, when Joy the (12 year old) Puppy had her second TPLO with Dr. Tan and the amazing Sirius Veterinary Orthopedic Center team, all we had to do was make sure she rested and her incision was protected. Dougie - who at the time was ALWAYS on his bullshit - took her inflatable cones off and popped them so many times we had to return to a plastic cone. We like to think he was removing it because he wanted his friend Joy to be comfortable. I am sure he did, but also - she was wearing a giant toy!
This past Tuesday, Doug woke me up at 4 am unable to breathe well. He did not seem worried - he just stood over me knowing I would wake up and help him. (He rarely got on our bed anymore - even with the steps.) He stared at me till I woke up and asked him what was wrong. I saw his face and knew.
Dougie and Abby. They did the best photo shoots <3
I called Abby. Russ woke Blue. I placed a catheter in Doug’s beautiful leg and sedated and euthanized him. We said we loved him. We said goodbye, and he leaned against Russ and passed away.
Doug and Russ sharing ramen on the deck <3
The leadership teams at all four of our jobs gave us a pass for the day. They have been in heartbreaking situations too. Thank you. So much. We needed that day together more than we even realized at the time.
Also in Colorado - Doug Dog, Joy the Puppy and Lucky Lizard were good sports about posing with me, but I got NONE OF THEM to look at the camera! Still. Such a happy memory of such a happy trip.
We did all the aftercare things. They were so difficult to do for our own dog, and yet doing them was strangely comforting. In the midst of grief, there is so little you can DO.
One time, Blue and Russ and I took Doug to a hotel in Omaha for a fun weekend. One of my favorite memories, and one of my favorite photos of Doug. He LOVED the fancy robe <3
Abby and Blue planted the most beautiful row of Doug-colored mums where he used to run with the neighbor dogs and wrecked the grass.
Doug ran the fence with his Pittie friends next door constantly. They would bark for each other to come outside <3 The grass never recovered. Now the area is all Doug-colored mums. I love it so much. Thank you so much Abby and Blue.
Mom and Dad gave us a gorgeous butterfly bush that Abby and Blue planted where Doug used to dig (and wrecked the grass).
Thank you Mom and Dad! Who knew Doug was gardening this whole time? We thought he was just being a jackass :)
Kevin has been notified of the sacredness of The New Plants. I promise to remember he just misses his friend and loves to dig as much as Dougie did. So far, he seems to understand though. About the flowers and Dougie. He is pretty sad.
Doug and Kevin at their favorite event, the weekly Aksarban Omaha Farmers Market, after visiting their favorite booth - MazzyCo <3
We are all wrecked.
Doug Finch we loved you so very much, and are only comforted knowing you never had to go through more than a passing season here and there where you were not wildly happy and did not need to be here for the end of this terrible disease.
Doug and his BFF Joy the Puppy who passed away three years ago.
Even in losing Periwinkle Pug and Joy the Puppy, you kept your sweet and loving spirit. You have walked us through some very dark times.
Dougie and his other BFF Periwinkle Pug who passed away two years ago.
We will always be grateful that you walked us through the sad and difficult times, and we have loved walking through (the thankfully much more plentiful) wildly happy and everyday routine times with you. There did not seem to be a line between wildly happy and everyday routine or even a gradient between the two for you. You loved racing into everything headfirst, sure every time you would love what you were racing towards. And you were always right.
This trip was solely because Russ and I were talking and forgot to spell Lowe’s and said it out loud and Dougie heard us and lost his shit. So then we were on the way to Lowe’s, Dougie’s favorite place on earth. The team even gave him a blue Lowe’s bandana that he wore there every time he went <3
You loved everyone you met instantaneously and deeply and exuberantly and so out loud, and loved your family most of all.
The memory of you and the love of family and friends who loved you - even through your stories and photos - is carrying us now.
We would rather have you here, and we miss you so much Buddy.
Rest in peace Dougie, and when you are rested, run as far as you want for as long as you want, and cause all the chaos you want.
Doug at his first birthday at The Lake <3 He was so chaotic! He had the best time. He always did.
We love you so very much sweet boy.
