07/03/2025
ππΎπ Forever in our hearts ππΎπ
πππMeeko Fowlerπππ
πJuly 26, 2015 - February 14, 2025π
I got Meeko when I was only 17. One day I found an ad for pug puppies, and I stumbled across the photo of him in the wheelbarrow and it was in that moment I knew that he was meant to be mine. I had just gotten my G2 on September 2 and Meeko was ready to go to his forever home as of October 4, so I set off on my journey from Niagara Falls to Algonquin to pick him up. I received a call from my mom around 8am asking where I was, to which I responded βthe Walmart in Barrie, Iβll be home around 4pm with a new friendβ - and that was how our story began.
Meeko - also known as Meek, Meeky, Piggy and a million other nicknames - was simply the best. He could hear the crinkle of a chip bag or a cheese wrapper from a mile away but couldnβt hear you calling his name if he had other plans. He was full of life and love and was always so happy and playful.
He absolutely loved the sun, going on walks, sharing snacks and curling up under the blanket behind your knees or on the pillows above your head at night to cuddle just to do it all again the next day. You could find him spending his days near a window soaking up the sun and squirrel watching. Meeko also absolutely adored the car and getting to meet new friends. He really was just happy to be around all the action and I have never met a dog who was more relaxed and unbothered by everything⦠except for nail trims (he had a firm boundary with those, as most pugs do).
As he aged, we noticed he started growing lumps and bumps as many older dogs do. Although we always made sure to mention any new growths or changes to existing ones, they never had concerning characteristics, so we just chalked it up to him aging. In September 2024, we woke up one morning and he seemed to be having all the typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. He already suffered from environmental allergies and was on medication for it so initially we thought this was a bug bite but in November, it happened again and by the end of December, it was happening weekly. I brought him to the vet every time we experienced one, but we could never nail down what his reactions were to. On January 2, we received a call that our vet had learned that mast cell tumours can cause allergy-like reactions. When I was told this information, I knew in my gut that this was our answer. I took him in five days later and we tested 4 lumps that we were most suspicious of, three days later we got the results that all 4 came back as mast cell tumours which determined that the βallergic reactionsβ he was experiencing was mast cell degranulation. Four days later I brought him back and they completed a thorough examination to map all his lumps and take samples. It was determined he had roughly 21 in total, 4 of which we knew were mast cell tumours and 13 more were sampled. Three days later those 13 also came back as mast cell tumours which meant surgery was no longer an option.
This diagnosis was absolutely gutting, and I had no idea what it meant while also being so confused because he was truly the best he had ever been. He was so happy, playful and seemed healthy. While I took a few days to digest this information, do research and compile my questions, our vet referred us to an oncologist because Meekoβs case was odd. We waited two weeks for his oncology consult but on the same day as his appointment, he began vomiting. When I mentioned it to the oncologist, it was assumed it was likely motion sickness and his empty stomach. He was given anti-nausea medication, and we drove home but that night he began acting weird. He wanted nothing to do with his dinner and he vomited despite the medication. I brought him to our regular vet the next morning and it was determined he had pancreatitis. For the following four days the vomiting continued, more symptoms appeared, and he still had not eaten and had no interest in food. With no signs of improvement, our only option was to place an NG tube to see if this would get his GI system moving again. After 48 hours of the feeding tube, he was still vomiting despite the very strong medication he was on, and we had to make the most devastating decision to let him go. I will never understand how quickly our lives changed in those 10 days or even those first 24 hours.
The decision to let our pets go is never an easy one and it will never feel right because we only lose but, in our petsβ final days, they show us they are ready. These were all pieces of advice I was given, and I didnβt believe any of it. Even the day we made the decision, I kept questioning whether we were making the wrong one, but it was in the following 48 hours between my call and his appointment that he declined very quickly, and I believe that it was his way of telling me we made the right choice.
To our sweet boy Meeky, you were a strong and brave little pug, and you fought hard. The hand you were dealt was unfair and now we will have to remember you far longer than we got to spend with you. We love and miss you so much.
Thank you to Hamilton-Niagara Veterinary Mobile Euthanasia Service for being so kind and reassuring while we made the most difficult decision we ever have. The respect and dignity you provided Meeko while he crossed over the rainbow bridge will never be forgotten and the respect and support you provided me in the days leading up to the appointment, the appointment itself and the check-ins afterwards will mean more than words can ever describe.
- Jessica, Trevor and Augie
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Compassionate, Peaceful In-home Euthanasia & Aftercare Services.
