Freddy was a 7 1/2 year old seemingly healthy Black Lab Mix. On July 20, 2006, he ate his breakfast and went about his day, normally.

By the evening, he just didn't seem right. No visible signs of anything specific, just something was not right. I thought I'd be taking him to the Vet in the morning, just to have him checked out.

Freddy's biggest sign was that he wasn't interested in his dinner.

Bedtime, he had to be coaxed, but he came upstairs with us and took his usual spot.

He seemed like something was wrong, I thought maybe he ate something that didn't agree with him. But no visible signs of anything.

I woke at 1:10 A.M, and checked on him. He was clearly in distress. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth and he was having difficulty breathing. We immediately called the Emergency Hospital and was out of the door within 5 minutes.

Freddy made it down the stairs before he collapsed in the living room. He just looked up at us helpless, and so were we. We got a blanket and used it as a stretcher. He was so big and the struggle down the stairs outside was difficult, as was trying to get him inside the car.

He didn't even survive the 35 minute car ride. He was gone by the time we got there, they tried to revive him and even opened him to manually manipulate his heart. It was too late, our beautiful boy was gone. I am still in shock. I asked for an autopsy.

The hospital called me that afternoon and told me that Hemangiosarcoma had taken him. He had tumors in the spleen and in the liver that had burst.

He was big, happy and healthy. Even our Vet was taken back by his sudden, untimely death.

Freddy was very special. I love him so much. We miss him so much that it hurts.

Joan Favicchio