Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!!!
I live in NH, a little more South than you, actually we own a timeshare in Sanbornton, NH, right next to you. I love your area!!! I love Lake Winni and Laconia and spend a lot of the summer up there. Friends of ours have a camp up there, last year we tried to buy one too. I know how long and hard the winters can be also. He must want to care for his family more than he can and that may be killing him.
We should try to meet up this summer with the pups! I'm 36 and my hubby is 44, so we all roughly the same age. That would be fun! My Fletcher loves other dogs to play with... my Dexter, not so much! HAHA