I don’t believe ol’ Macey. I thought she was done a year ago. Or more. She got old, started falling on the stairs, had days where she couldn’t get up in the morning and slept in… and that’s all okay. She’s retired, and as long as she’s happy and not in pain, I can help with the stairs and other stuff. But she rallied and seemed to recover a bit. Yesterday on our walk her eyes began to roll… and she half keeled over. She ended up leaning against a fence with her legs shaking as she tried to support herself.
I just stopped and got down on my knees and talked her through it. Wherever she went in her mind… it took its toll. When we got home I pinched a little piece of meat from the wife’s cooking and offered it to her…but she turned her nose up at it and staggered off to her crate to lay down. I hardly noticed as Mort inhaled the tidbit.
Our Maker is calling her home, and even I can hear it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. Losing a long time best buddy dog CAN be worse than losing a human family member. We lost Maggie 2 years ago, she was with us for 18 years, still not over it. Really not much you can do for them but let them know you love 'em and be there for them. Feel for ya.
Sorry - been there too many times but they are man's best friend.
ReplyDeleteRainbow Bridge - Can't wait!
Hang in there... giver all the comfort you can. Its all you can do.
ReplyDeleteAh Glen, always the hardest time. My thoughts are with you, friend.
ReplyDeleteGive her an extra hug for me.
ReplyDeleteGive her ears a good rub and tell her what a good girl she is. That should be the last thing she hears, and the thing she wants to hear the most.
ReplyDeleteOh dude, I'm sorry. So dusty in here. Pet her for me.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part f being a pet owner are the final days. Both of you are aware of what is about to happen.
ReplyDeleteTell her how much you appreciated the time you spent together. Tell her of your favorite memory of her. She'll like that very much.
Glen- I'm so sorry for all of you. We had 4 USD. The last one used his final bit of energy as we struggled to get him in to the vehicle. Cancer hemorrhage. Taking for euthanize. He died two blocks from the vet. He knew and looked at my eyes. I not getting any more.
ReplyDeleteGodamned spell check. S/B GSD.
ReplyDeleteautocorrupt. Making hash out of clear intentions.
DeleteThat's a hard thing. I'll be praying extra for you Glen, "grace to help in time of need". And for Macey. It's a bit dusty in here just now....
ReplyDeleteThat sucks, Glen...
ReplyDeleteJust lost my little dog a few months ago and all can think about are these words by Kipling...
ReplyDeleteThe Power of the Dog
Rudyard Kipling
There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve.
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
I have not yet been able to read that aloud without tearing up. It's some of the most powerful use of the language I've ever seen. I've sent the Kipling poem on many times now.
DeleteYou are not alone Glen. The hardest thing I've ever done in my life (twice now) is having a terminally ill old friend put down. Each time I asked, over and over, "How will I know when it is time?" And yet, when the time came, it was clear and obvious, and we did what was right and responsible.
There are such creatures as angels, and sometimes they wear fur suits.
Same thing happened with the previous dog we had. Fine until one day she just barely was able to walk outside, let alone go pee.
ReplyDeleteSpent the day just hugging on her before we took her to the vet. By that time she was mostly gone.
Still miss her.
I'm very sorry for your loss. The only bad part about owning a dog is that you're bound to outlive them, and that just sucks. The only real consolation I ever got was the reassurance that I gave my dog a good life.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. It's inevitable but is so sad.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can remember the good times with her and be glad for those.
Dog is man's best friend and I'm an unapologetic dog-lover.
She should go in love with a treat in her mouth and love from you in contact with her.
ReplyDeleteThat’s so nice of ya, folks. I saw one of those memes that went to the tune of, “Dogs will never break your heart.”
ReplyDeleteThey will… but only once.
I went through that last year and it was crushing. Any of us who've been there would gladly help you bear the grief if we could. Sadly, it's a trip you must take alone. It gets easier with time. Also, each door that closes opens another. Curmudgeon Compound is now blessed with a puppy. The last one chose me. This one has claimed Mrs. Curmudgeon. It's good to see her beaming with joy an she's trailed buy a dog that's never more than a foot away. Things repeat but they renew as well.
ReplyDeletecrying let her go with you near her. they know you are with them
ReplyDeleteSo, so sorry to hear that. I hope her passing will be swift and painless. My heart goes out to you. Been there, done that too many times to count.
ReplyDeleteRemember the good times and be with her when she passes......
ReplyDelete