It was his first day of first grade, and young Dylan Bliss was just about to head to class for the first time when he paused for a photograph kneeling next to his brand-new puppy, Ruger.
Eleven years later, it was Dylan’s graduation from Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire, and Ruger was back—albeit looking much older but happy. Another photo was snapped: Dylan in cap and gown kneeling with Ruger, in the same pose as before.
So many adventures and memories filled the years between those two photos, said Dylan’s mom, Corie, memories that seem to be written on the faces of the boy and his dog.
Corie also wrote a caption above the photo that read:
Although it doesn’t show in the photo, Ruger has cancer, as Corie said.
“He doesn’t show it but at the end of the day when he’s laying down, you can tell he’s not himself,” Dylan added. “Like, when he’s outside you would never know that he has cancer.”
Now a young man, Dylan reflected on the dog, who is now very old in dog years, whom he spent the better part of his life with.
“He was always there with us,” Dylan shared. “No matter if it was vacations or coming home from school, leaving school. He was always there on the couch or hiking with us. So, it’s like he’s kind of in all my memories.”
Meanwhile, it’s comforting to know Ruger has had a happy life on the family’s small farm with space to run around, a pool to swim in, and critters to play with.
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