15/12/2024
My heart goes out to Becky on the loss of her beautiful boy Tonka, he lived a great life but sadly cancer took him away from her way too young. Hug your pets closer tonight and say a little prayer for Becky she needs to feel the love of the world right now. 🐾 ❤️ 🐾
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RIP Tonka 6/2/2015 - 12/11/2024
(aka: TM, Trailmaster, The Angry German, H***y Tonk, Tonky, Badonkey, Tonks, Lil Buddy, but most importantly, he was my Best Boy)
It’s taken a couple of days to compose myself to write this, but on Wednesday, Dec 11th, Ed and I helped Tonka cross over the rainbow bridge. We found out on Friday, Dec 6th that even after 13 weeks on the chemo drug trial, the hemangiosarcoma cancer demon was ravaging his body. The tumor in his heart (discovered the 4th week of October) had grown 50% and he now had 6 tumors in his abdominal cavity, including a decent sized one on his liver. When this cancer journey started on August 5th, Ed and I promised each other, and more importantly Tonka, that his last days wouldn’t be filled with pain and his last vision wouldn’t be a cold depressing vet office. His last few days were filled with miles of walks, land retrieves with his Dockdogs bumper, rolling around in the dry, brown grass, treats, and cuddly naps with Ed and I. He left this world: snoring on his bed, surrounded by his favorite toys, the lit Christmas tree, and Ed and I telling him we loved him and to go find Rio who would be waiting for him.
For the first time in almost 30 years, my home is dog less.
Tonka came into our world from a local rescue who bought him at an auction in the fall of 2015. He got into Dockdogs because Rio was still actively competing. Tonka had huge physical abilities, but he never had Rio’s heart and drive for Dockdogs. He competed because I asked him to. And when he went into his full Angry German mode, he was fun to watch on the dock. I don’t even know his personal bests. I think it was around 22’ 6” in Big Air and he had a couple sub 7 second speed retrieves.
Tonka’s passion was hiking. And when the world went totally nuts because of Covid, Tonka and I found our mutual love of hiking. Over 2.5 yrs we completed all of the Mn State Park Hiking Club trails and many more miles. Sometimes it was a day trip to a specific park, but many times it was a 2-3 day trip wher we hiked 10+ miles a day. He loved those trips. The more treacherous the trail (rocks, tree roots, elevation gains), the better he liked it. He loved hiking along the North Shore and in SE Mn Bluff country. He even got a chance to hike in Canada, thanks to his best hiking buddy Sherry. We are so blessed that she was able to join us and capture so many memories in her photographs.
I am angry that I had to say goodbye at 9.5 yrs old, I should have had several more years. Even last week, strangers we met on the trails didn’t believe he was 9.5 yrs old based on his physical appearance.
I am proud of Tonka that he stayed with us for 18 weeks after his diagnosis, and for the last 13 weeks he was poked and prodded every Wednesday by the U of Mn Oncology department. I would love to say that we agreed to the chemo drug trial for altruistic reasons, but the reality is, I would have done anything to keep him with me for as long as possible. I wouldn’t wish hemangiosarcoma on my worst enemy.
Hug your dogs
Tell the people you care about how important they are to you
Live in the moment
Dogs choose happy
Chase Away K9 Cancer
To my best boy Tonka.
I loved you your whole life, I’ll miss you for the rest of mine….