Buster

When Buster was just two years old, I discovered a lump on his ear. The vet told me it was too small to worry about, but after multiple visits at which I received that same message, something was still nagging at me and I insisted on a biopsy. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) my dad's-instinct was correct; the lump was a mast cell tumor - cancer.

In order to get the necessary margins, I was told that they would have to amputate most or all of Buster's ear. At first I was sad that he would lose one of his ears; they had always been such defining features. I loved coming home at night after class and seeing the silhouettes of his big goofy ears pop up as he realized I was home. Such a handsome puppy! How would he look without an ear? These concerns were vain and silly. I got over them quickly and of course never hesitated to do what needed to be done to keep Buster healthy.

The surgery was successful. They got the entire tumor which was only stage one, and so the surgery was curative! Although it took several months for his scars to heal, it took no time at all for him to return to his same old self, my playful, joyful and happy best friend.