RIP Otis. He was an APA rescue 10 years ago after being brought back because he chased the neighbors cat… as soon as I learned that he was my dog immediately.
he was the bargaining chip to get my girlfriend to come to Austin more than I went to Waco. He was the big dawg boy all of my roommates loved and spoiled. He dealt with moves from Austin to Lafayette, to my parents house in Jefferson, then to Houston and was a calming factor the whole time.
He was my constant through college, a long distance relationship, staying with my parents for a while without me, and moving to a new city 7 years ago. He was there when we struggled to get pregnant for two years, always letting us know it was ok and he was there for us sleeping in our bed with his head nestled on my back every night.
We’ve had new jobs, promotions, and finally a baby to boot, and he was next to us the whole time. With all of that, the attention on him was minimized, but he took it in stride he was still one of those dogs everyone in our family and all of our friends loved as well.
After having some stomach issues the past few days and talking with our vet, I let Otis out this morning. After 30 min I checked on him and he was still laying on the ground, threw up on his feet. I carried him to the car and my wife took him to the pet ER, where they said he had stomach cancer.
We put my best friend, Otis, down today after 10+ years of the most unconditional loyalty and friendship a man could ever ask for. RIP Otis, I’ll love you and remember you forever.