Family decided to put down their senior dog dying of terminal cancer — but what he did soon after final goodbye felt like a miracle

Some moments in life remind us how unpredictable and heartwarming our time with pets can be. One family thought they were saying goodbye to their beloved senior dog after a long battle with terminal cancer, only to experience something that no one in the family anticipated. TikTok user @alexblumy, also known as Alexandra Blumenfeld, shared a story that started as a tearful farewell and turned into an almost miraculous event.

Blumenfeld, 24, grew up in Texas with her family dog, Brinkley, an 11-year-old Goldendoodle. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer more than a year ago, Brinkley had been living on borrowed time. He had responded well to homeopathic treatments, but a few weeks ago, his health took a sharp turn. He became lethargic, had trouble breathing, and a vet scan revealed internal bleeding and a new tumor in his lungs. The family was told he likely had only a few days left. “That’s when my parents called us home and said we should come say goodbye,” Blumenfeld told Newsweek.

What followed was a deeply emotional night. Brinkley, sick and seemingly miserable, couldn’t even walk into the vet's office. The family made the difficult decision to have a vet come to their home the next day for euthanasia. That evening, they gave him all the love they could. “Everyone he loved, and who loved him, stopped by the house to bid him farewell,” Blumenfeld said. But something unexpected happened. Brinkley began perking up. He started eating again, stood by the door wanting to go for a walk, and even played a little. By morning, he was acting like his old self, and that's when the family decided to cancel the appointment.

In the days that followed, Brinkley continued to thrive. He ate full meals, went on long walks, and even joined Blumenfeld’s parents for dinner outings. “It felt like a miracle,” she said. Sharing the moment on TikTok on August 21, 2025, Blumenfeld used humor to describe it: “When your 11-year-old dog pretends to be dying so everyone comes home to tell him bye.” Clips showed Brinkley going from sick and still to smiling and active. She joked that he was a “master manipulator,” writing, “Bro ate a full rotisserie chicken today and went for a half-mile walk. Little faker.” Now, the family is simply enjoying the time they didn’t expect to have, hoping he sticks around much longer.

The adorable story instantly went viral with over 2.5 million views since being posted on social media. Internet users flooded the comment section with light-hearted messages. @kendallstillman shared her personal experience, "My dog with terminal cancer has done this like 3 times. We dug a hole and everything." @dailenys_0 wrote, "My senior does this to me all the time. He is almost 17 and still thriving." @rosalee0211 joked, "And the best part of my plan is no one can stop me." Another user, @psquaredpilates, shared, "My Lab did this! And one time, thinking it was his last, we gave him a McDonald's burger and he shot up like a rocket. Lived for 3 more years."

For more wholesome dog content, follow @alexblumy on TikTok.