Bernese Mountain Dog with head to the side and a her tongue sticking out slightly. Wearing a reward ribbon that is green and yellow in color.

China was a Bernese Mountain Dog re-homed with me at 14 mos old. She was a fabulous companion and working dog, earning titles in Rally, Obedience, Nose-Work, and Draft, culminating with achieving the rigorous requirements for earning a Grand Master Draft Dog title in 2020. In August 2021 she developed a right CCL tear that was treated with conservative medical management (Carprofen, Welactin, Cosequin) and was fitted for an OrthoPet cruciate brace. She had some lumps surgically removed in January 2023, recovered well, and continued to be an active, healthy companion until mid-August when she had a sudden loss of appetite. Further diagnostics revealed that she had developed a very large thymus tumor that extended through her mediastinum, wrapped around her trachea & great vessels of her heart, extending to her diaphragm. After speaking with the Interventional Radiologist, I made the decision to take her home, say our goodbyes to the ones who loved her, and take her into her Veterinarian (Alex Berthrong) at First City Veterinary Hospital in Oregon City for euthanasia on September 12, 2023. Post-mortem tumor sampling revealed "Probable Pulmonary Histiocytic Sarcoma with Intrathoracic Metastases". She was an amazing, wonderful dog and I still miss her tremendously.