This mom cut her child’s school short one day and took him straight to the beach — the reason will shatter your heart

A mom of two made a sudden decision to cut her son’s school day short and head straight to the beach as a family. It was no ordinary day when Natasha Hopper pulled up to her eldest kid’s school and requested his teachers to let him off early. She had planned a whole day of merriment after hearing devastating news about one of their most special family members earlier this year.  

Hopper from Kent, UK, had just learned that her 11-year-old dog, Buddy, had cancer during a vet visit, and wanted to make the best of his final days. The mom simply could not come to terms with losing her pet dog forever. “I got him when he was eight weeks old around Valentine's Day,” she recalled in an interview with Newsweek. The single mother and her two kids had the greatest memories with their pup and dreaded his absence. After spending over a decade with him, the mom decided it was finally time to say goodbye. The vet had diagnosed him with cancer after Buddy stopped eating and showed signs of weakness around Christmas last year.  

A couple of blood tests and an ultrasound later, it was revealed that their beloved pet had a large tumor on his spleen. There was the possibility of an operation, but the vet informed that the cancer had likely spread to his body. Hopper decided it was best to put Buddy to sleep forever within a week. With ample pain medication and steroids, Hopper took Buddy back home and picked her kids from school for one last perfect day as a family. Her elder son, who is also autistic, was let off early by his kind teachers. “His school was brilliant and couldn't have been better with the support they gave," she said.  

The family then went to McDonald’s for a treat, where Buddy relished a burger before they drove to the beach for a memorable day. “He slept in the car all the way home, and he had all his favorite treats and cuddles back at home,” the mom shared. A glimpse of their day was shared on Hopper’s TikTok page, @tashalouise_95, which showed Buddy running free on the beach while his little owners followed him. The kids played fetch and made sure their furry friend was making the best memories before his passing. “Oh my Buddy, we love you forever, boy,” the emotional mom penned. 

She also included a picture of the pup dozing in the car seat and a few paw prints on clay to be treasured forever. The post went viral and amassed 62,700 views and 3,130 likes. The very next day, Hopper took Buddy to the vet and bid goodbye. “It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but the right one for him," she said. Her son had been struggling to cope with the loss, while her daughter was too young to understand his passing. She hoped Buddy was going to come back home soon. 

You can follow @tashalouise_95 on TikTok for more videos.