The internet is mourning the loss of a beloved icon after Courtney Budzyn shared the news that her golden retriever, Tucker Budzyn, has passed away. The announcement came on Instagram on September 5, just less than a week after the influencer had first shared the news of his cancer diagnosis with her followers.
Tucker became a household name for many back in 2019, shortly after Courtney welcomed him into her home. His golden coat and iconic, goofy expressions made him an instant star.
Courtney explained that the situation took a turn for the worse very quickly. She noted that the treatment for his cancer left a hole in his digestive system, which allowed an infection to take hold. According to her, the infection seemed to hit him overnight.
Tucker spent his final days doing his favorite things
She was understandably emotional as she told her audience, “The treatment left a hole where cancer was, and he got an infection that seemed to hit him overnight.” She also made it clear to her followers that she exhausted every option, stating, “I want you to know I tried to do everything I could. I did everything.”
While it is clear that the end came sooner than anyone expected, Courtney made sure that Tucker spent his final days doing the things he loved most. She shared some touching memories of their time together, saying, “We went to the park several times, and he peed on every single tree he could. He went swimming a couple times – and his first jump in the pool both times were so powerful and strong.”
It sounds like he really got to enjoy those moments, including wrestling with his son, Todd, in the backyard. She mentioned that he spent time rubbing in the grass and feeling the breeze on his fur, and he even got to eat chicken every morning and night.
The bond between them was clearly something special. Courtney described him as a part of her own soul, noting that losing him feels like losing a literal body part. She opened up about how much he meant to her personally, explaining that he had actually saved her life. As she put it, “He saw every part of it, and he attached himself to me.” She is now focusing on moving forward, even though it is difficult, because she knows he stayed by her side for years for a reason.
Despite the fact that Tucker had been responding well to his cancer treatment initially, his condition became impossible to manage. Courtney shared that his temperature kept rising and nothing they did could change it, which ultimately led to the difficult decision to let him go.
She felt it was important to share the news immediately because she kept receiving messages from fans wishing for his recovery. She said, “I knew that I couldn’t come on here and not be broken, but I couldn’t wait to tell you any longer because I keep getting messages, saying, ‘Please, Tucker, get well soon’.”
Published: Sep 6, 2026 06:01 pm