Dog’s last day draws worldwide attention

Duke the dog eating hamburgers. These photos are from "I Died Today," a blog post showing 8-year-old lab Duke's last day before being put to sleep due to cancer. (Photos by Robyn Arouty, used with permission.)
Duke the dog with owner Jordan Roberts. These photos are from "I Died Today," a blog post showing 8-year-old lab Duke's last day before being put to sleep due to cancer. (Photos by Robyn Arouty, used with permission.)
Duke the dog. These photos are from "I Died Today," a blog post showing 8-year-old lab Duke's last day before being put to sleep due to cancer. (Photos by Robyn Arouty, used with permission.)
Duke the dog at the waterpark. These photos are from "I Died Today," a blog post showing 8-year-old lab Duke's last day before being put to sleep due to cancer. (Photos by Robyn Arouty, used with permission.)
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WASHINGTON – Jordan Roberts loved her dog, Duke. A lot.

After the 8-year-old lab’s cancer returned, Roberts asked her friend, photographer Robyn Arouty, to capture Duke’s last day before he was put to sleep in early July. Duke had lost one of his front legs to cancer already. The size of the tumor made it untreatable and inoperable.

The blog post on Arouty’s website, called “I Died Today” and presented from the dog’s perspective, has gotten worldwide attention.

Dukey’s last day got hamburgers, plenty of love, a car ride and a romp through a children’s water park.

The full photo essay is available on Robyn Arouty’s photography website.

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