September 26, 2025 (Fri.) - Otis' Hospital Detour.
Today was Otis’ much-needed vet visit. He’d been steadily declining over the past few days—barely eating, hardly drinking, and growing more lethargic. His appointment was scheduled for 8:30 AM in Traverse City, about 20 minutes away, so we were both up early to make sure we arrived on time.
We got there at 8:10 AM, vaccination records in hand. Otis, in true Otis fashion, walked straight to the scale, sat down, and then flopped onto it—classic. He weighed 91 pounds, nearly 10 pounds less than his last check-up in Wisconsin on August 20. After explaining his symptoms, we left him in the vet’s care so they could run bloodwork, x-rays, and other diagnostics. He had a fever and was jaundiced, and they promised to call within the hour.
To pass the time, we headed to a nearby Denny’s for a quiet breakfast—somewhere we could sit and wait without distractions. After breakfast, we made a quick stop at the World’s Largest Cherry Pie Tin, a roadside attraction in Traverse City. It was a brief distraction, but our minds were elsewhere. We drove around a bit, too anxious to do much else.
An hour later, the vet called. Otis had a 104° fever and was dehydrated. They wanted to start an IV drip to rehydrate him and bring his temperature down. He’d stay until noon while they monitored him and waited for lab results.
Just after noon, we returned to the vet and received troubling news. Otis’ liver markers were so elevated that the equipment couldn’t even process the results. He was also anemic, and still running a 104° fever. The vet recommended transferring him to a more advanced facility—either Grand Rapids or East Lansing. We chose East Lansing, home to the Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center, which could run the necessary tests without delay. It was an hour farther than Grand Rapids, but we didn’t care—we just wanted Otis to get the best care possible.
We loaded him up around 12:45 PM and began the 3-hour drive. At 2:15 PM, we stopped at a rest area so Otis could relieve himself—his body was full of fluids from the IV, and he definitely needed the break. We arrived at MSU by 3:45 PM, grateful for light traffic.
Around 4:30 PM, a vet came in and expressed serious concern. All of Otis’ lymph nodes were swollen, and his fever had climbed to 106°. They planned to run their own labs and x-rays, but the signs were deeply troubling. They decided to keep him overnight, possibly through the weekend.
We checked into a nearby hotel—Towne Plaza Suites in East Lansing—just a few miles away, feeling exhausted, heartbroken, and anxious. All we could do now was wait and hope for the best.
Weather (South Boardman, MI) – High 69*, Low 53*. Wind 2-14 mph. No rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None, other than some short one-lane road closures.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – Otis’ hospital detour.
September 27, 2025 (Sat.) - Broken hearted - RIP Otis. 💔
We woke up mid-morning, still waiting for news. Around 11:45 AM, while having breakfast at Square One Bakery, the vet finally called. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much good news. Otis still had a fever, and they were still waiting on the pathology results, which likely wouldn’t be ready until late afternoon.
With nowhere to go after checking out of the hotel, we drove around Lansing to pass the time. We found a car wash and gave the truck a much-needed rinse. Though there were plenty of roadside attractions nearby, we just weren’t in the mood. Instead, we decided to look for a new camera, since our old one had finally given out. The GPS misled us again, sending us to closed stores and strange routes, but eventually we found a Best Buy and spent some time browsing. A little retail therapy to distract ourselves from the worry.
At 3:45 PM, we called for an update. Still no pathology results. The vet promised to call as soon as they came in. In the meantime, we checked into a new hotel—Holiday Inn Express in Lansing—hoping for a quieter stay away from the college crowds near MSU.
Then, around 5 PM, the vet called with the news we’d been dreading. Otis had lymphoma in all of his lymph nodes, and it appeared to be spreading to his heart and chest. The prognosis was grim. We were asked to return to MSU to discuss options.
We arrived about 10 minutes later and were taken in to speak with the vet. She explained that treatment might extend his life by six months, but only if it worked. His fever had climbed to 106°, and another option was steroids, which might offer temporary relief if we needed a little more time. After hearing everything, we made the heart-wrenching decision to let him go—to free him from pain.
We spent time with him, said our goodbyes, and let him cross the rainbow bridge. We know he’s now pain-free, chasing all the rabbits and squirrels he wants… and maybe even catching one. We love you, Otis. Say hi to Maggie—and go catch that rabbit! Run free, sweet boy, with the wind in your ears and the sun on your back. You’ll always be part of our journey, our hearts, and our story.
Weather (East Lansing, MI) – High 81*, Low 56*. Wind 7-20 mph. No rain. No humidity.
Traffic – Not much other than college crowds and a few construction issues.
Food – Square One Bakery – pretty good.
Notable – Otis crossing the rainbow bridge. 💔
September 28, 2025 (Sun.) - Missing Otis. 💔
After spending the night in Lansing, we woke up to a quiet morning and had breakfast at the hotel. With heavy hearts, we made the long drive back to the RV in South Boardman, MI. Sightseeing in Lansing or Grand Rapids wasn’t even a consideration—we just wanted to go home.
By 1 PM, we were back at the RV. The afternoon was spent going through Otis’ things, deciding what to keep and what to donate. It was gut-wrenching, and the tears haven’t stopped.
We had hoped it was something treatable—a bacterial infection (possible Leptospirosis they said), maybe. He was not vaccinated for it and is a must in the Midwest. But cancer? That was never on our radar. He was only 2.5 years old, and without question, Kirk’s best friend. Losing Maggie in May 2025 was hard enough. Now, less than six months later, we’ve lost Otis too. It’s been a deeply trying time.
Dinner was whatever we could piece together in the RV. We went for a walk at sunset, but it felt wrong without Otis trotting beside us. The RV, though quiet, now holds a different kind of silence—one that echoes his absence.
We will miss stepping over him constantly.
We will miss the dog hair.
We will miss his constant request for belly rubs.
We will miss his expressive, handsome face.
Walks feel wrong without him.
Rest area stops feel wrong without him.
The back seat of the truck is heartbreakingly empty.
The RV feels hollow.
The tears are flowing as this is written. Otis lived a life full of love, adventure, and more than a little spoiling. He journeyed with us through eight states, splashed in the oceans and deserts of California, hiked the wilderness of the Midwest, and gazed out over Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and countless other lakes, sunrises and sunsets. He even witnessed the Northern Lights and went troll hunting with us! He saw bison, burros, big horn sheep, and bears—and yes, he even marveled at fireflies. Add elk, deer, and swans too!
Though time may soften the ache, Otis is deeply missed and was taken far too soon. He will always be remembered as our “Best-est Good-boy”, the one who made every journey brighter just by being there.
We love you Otis…you were our favorite hello and hardest goodbye….
Born: 2/13/2023 – Inland Empire area, CA
Adopted: 5/06/2023 – Pet Smart – Anaheim Hills, CA (Pardon Me Rescue)
Lived In: Yorba Linda, CA
Died: 9/27/2025 – East Lansing, MI – Lymphoma (cancer)
The rescue told us Otis was an “Anatolian Pyrenees”. A mix of Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees. However, his DNA results showed Great Pyrenees with a mix of ‘other’. A livestock guardian dog (LGD). We were his ‘livestock’ and he did a great job as our guardian. 
