Woman picks up her son from school early: the reason makes tears flow

Kent (United Kingdom) - To give her family one last special day, a mother picked her son up from school early.

For eleven years, Buddy the dog was the center of the family. But then everything changed.
For eleven years, Buddy the dog was the center of the family. But then everything changed.  © TikTok/tashalouise_95

For many people, dogs are more than just pets - they are family. When they leave us, they leave a huge void.

That's what happened to the Hoppers from England. Their dog Buddy didn't have long to live.

"I got him when he was eight weeks old - around Valentine's Day," Natasha Hopper told Newsweek. "He loved to go out in the meadow and chase the birds and even the soccer balls when the kids were playing."

Natasha shared a special relationship with Buddy. "He would lie at the end of my bed, but he would always come over and bury himself under the covers all night," she said.

It was similar with her children. Buddy seemed to instinctively know how to behave around her. "My son is autistic, and whenever he had a meltdown, the dog was by his side," Natasha said.

For over a decade, Buddy was a beloved part of the family, but at Christmas Natasha noticed that he kept getting sick and couldn't eat his food.

Mother provides moving family moments with dog, then makes a difficult decision

Natasha Hopper gave herself and her children one last wonderful day with the dog. Her video became a viral success.
Natasha Hopper gave herself and her children one last wonderful day with the dog. Her video became a viral success.  © TikTok/tashalouise_95

Natasha took him to the vet , who carried out a blood test. A few days later, an ultrasound confirmed her worst fears: Buddy had cancer.

A large tumor was discovered in his spleen. The doctors told the dog's owner that they could operate and remove the tumor, but that it was "probably already somewhere else". An operation would only delay the inevitable.

"I decided to pick my son up from school early," said Natasha. "We went to McDonald's so Buddy could have a burger and then we went to the beach. He slept in the car the whole way back and got all his favorite treats and cuddles at home."

On her TikTok channel "tashalouise_95", the Englishwoman shared the highlights of the day and her efforts to create a great memory with her family.

The next morning, she took Buddy to the vet. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but the right one for him," she said. Since then, the family has been mourning the loss of their dog. "My son is very upset and is struggling to cope," Hopper said. "My daughter is too young to fully understand. She still thinks he's coming home."

Most of all, Natasha is glad they were able to spend one last day together.

"It meant the world," she said. "When we were on the beach and Buddy walked between the kids and I, showing his true protective self, I knew he would be by our side forever - and my kids will always talk about that day."