Viral golden retriever Tucker Budzyn dies at eight after battling lymphoma

Courtney Budzyn revealed that her beloved golden retriever, Tucker, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 2 after a brief period of remission from intestinal lymphoma. The dog had been diagnosed in late August and responded well to chemotherapy, but a hole left by the tumor caused a severe infection that could not be controlled. Despite emergency veterinary care with antibiotics and fluids, Tucker’s temperature kept rising and he died that night.

Tucker, adopted in 2018, amassed more than 27 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X, turning his fame into a lucrative business for Courtney and her husband Mike, who quit their jobs to run the accounts. Budzyn expressed deep grief, thanking fans and noting that Tucker had enjoyed his final weeks swimming, park visits, and even rollerblading. She said she intends to move forward in his memory.