Kure Beach man gives 'best buddy' a peaceful transition with Lap of Love
The sun warms a dog bed sitting in the corner, and soft barks and snuffles come from a digital photo frame on a table in the room.
These are a few of the mementos Emery Walters has of Milo, a 106-pound yellow lab mix.
Once a rescue, Milo became a member of the Walters family when he was just eight weeks old and was a best friend and companion to Walters in recent years. The two enjoyed walks around their neighborhood in Kure Beach, and Milo was popular with the neighbors.
“He was the sweetest dog I’ve ever had,” Walters said. “He was my best buddy.”
Milo was diagnosed with cancer in October 2023 when he was just over 9 years old. When treatments proved ineffective, Walters was forced to consider end of life care for Milo. His regular veterinarian told him about Lap of Love, a veterinary hospice and in-home euthanasia practice with a network of veterinarians across the United States.
Walters reached out to Lap of Love, and Dr. Deb Donovan answered the call. Donovan made the trip to Walters’ Kure Beach home on Dec. 9. The first visit was set up as a hospice appointment, and the goal was to ensure Milo was comfortable and had some quality of life.
Donovan recalled on that first visit, Milo was still playful, bringing her his toys and sniffing through her bag to find treats.
“My biggest considerations were managing his pain because we don’t want him to be uncomfortable and managing nausea because if he’s nauseated, he’s not going to eat,” Donovan said.
Walters helped ensure Milo ate by preparing special meals for him, including pan-seared salmon, which became Milo’s favorite. Walters hoped to give Milo one more Christmas so that he could see the family.
At first, Donovan wasn’t sure that could happen, but she followed up with additional visits and phone calls, even calling Walters Christmas morning to ensure Milo was doing well. Thankfully, he was still pain-free, eating, and playful at that point.
That changed the day after Christmas. Milo stopped eating and no longer wanted to play. A couple of days after Christmas, Donovan came to their home, and Milo took his last breath on his bed in the sun, a beloved toy between his paws. Walters was right by his side comforting him in his final moments.
Donovan said about 97 percent of her appointments are for euthanasia, and the other three percent are for hospice care. While that might be difficult for some, Donovan says she knows she’s preventing animals from suffering.
“Unfortunately, I can’t cure them all, and when I can’t cure them, at least I can make sure they can go with dignity,” Donovan said.
It’s still difficult for Walters to talk about Milo or his final days, but he will say he’s thankful for Donovan and Lap of Love.
“It was as peaceful as you could imagine,” Walters said. “And she is just so wonderful with the animals.”
Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Submit inspiration story tips to her at rspencer@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Lap of Love, Local veterinarian offer pet hospice services in Wilmington, NC
