Goodbye to a friend...

Not even a month has passed since we lost a member of the family, our beloved pet dog. He'd had a long life of twelve and a half years, quite a good life for a mid-sized dog. He was an English Springer Spaniel, and for those who know the breed, are prone to medical problems.
He'd developed a tumor on his left hip about a year and a half ago, that was removed. Then, about eight months later, developed one on his right hip, again, it was removed. Unfortunately, another problem with the breed, when he had regrowth on his left hip, it was discovered to be cancerous. The vet told us that it was spreading into his bones, which was why he wasn't moving as quickly as he had been only a couple weeks earlier.
It came down to a decision, a hard one, and we had to go with the merciful thing and put him down. It was heart breaking, but we couldn't let him suffer.
So this is good-bye old friend, so faithful right up to the end. R.I.P.