A sad tail
- s1m0n
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A sad tail
I'm a fairly solitary man by nature, but everybody needs someone. My someone is the dog with the beautiful blue eyes over by the left margin <<<< whose identity I've been stealing for a few years here and on other boards..
A couple of months ago I took him to the vet to find out what was making him yelp when he jumped up suddenly, and when the answer turned out to a tumor, my heart began breaking, in ever-so-slow motion. The biopsy results 'carcinoma".
Well, today was the day it all ended. I took him to the vet's, and stroked his head while the needle went in and his life ebbed away. What made his last day the last was the fact that he'd obviously started being in a lot of pain that the drugs couldn't abate, so I probably made the right decision. I feel like sh!t anyway. He turned 8 a month ago. He was a REALLY great dog. The kind of dog even dog haters liked.
~~
The very first moment you pick up and hold a new puppy, you know that one day he's going to die and break your heart. That's just how it is with dogs. We do it anyway. Every so often over the past few years, I've had that thought pop into my head, often while I watched him run at the off-leash park. I'd reassure myself with the thought that the day was long off; dogs of his kind are likely make 12 or 15 years.
Both of us lost the bet.
~~
I used to watch him run; he had joyful, exhuberant gait he'd break into out of the sheer pleasure of running unleashed through soft grass; a rocking gallop that looked for all the world like a child's rocking horse had broken it's moorings and burst free.
Every time I saw it, I'd find myself smiling without realizing it. My spirits would lift just watching him and seeing the pleasure he felt. A month or so ago I watched him at the park, trotting instead of galloping, and I thought "I'm never going to see that gallop again". I nearly broke into tears in the middle of the park.
A couple of months ago I took him to the vet to find out what was making him yelp when he jumped up suddenly, and when the answer turned out to a tumor, my heart began breaking, in ever-so-slow motion. The biopsy results 'carcinoma".
Well, today was the day it all ended. I took him to the vet's, and stroked his head while the needle went in and his life ebbed away. What made his last day the last was the fact that he'd obviously started being in a lot of pain that the drugs couldn't abate, so I probably made the right decision. I feel like sh!t anyway. He turned 8 a month ago. He was a REALLY great dog. The kind of dog even dog haters liked.
~~
The very first moment you pick up and hold a new puppy, you know that one day he's going to die and break your heart. That's just how it is with dogs. We do it anyway. Every so often over the past few years, I've had that thought pop into my head, often while I watched him run at the off-leash park. I'd reassure myself with the thought that the day was long off; dogs of his kind are likely make 12 or 15 years.
Both of us lost the bet.
~~
I used to watch him run; he had joyful, exhuberant gait he'd break into out of the sheer pleasure of running unleashed through soft grass; a rocking gallop that looked for all the world like a child's rocking horse had broken it's moorings and burst free.
Every time I saw it, I'd find myself smiling without realizing it. My spirits would lift just watching him and seeing the pleasure he felt. A month or so ago I watched him at the park, trotting instead of galloping, and I thought "I'm never going to see that gallop again". I nearly broke into tears in the middle of the park.
And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
I'm so sorry to hear about the death of your friend. I can't imagine the sadness you must be feeling right now.
I sometimes reflect on things friends have said to me when they discovered they were living with an illness or condition that could cost them their life.
One thing that I've heard many times is, death is not frightening. Its the process of dying that is frightening.
Please take some comfort that you did the right thing by hastening the end of his recently very painful life. You acted as a true friend and loved one might be depended upon to act.
I sometimes reflect on things friends have said to me when they discovered they were living with an illness or condition that could cost them their life.
One thing that I've heard many times is, death is not frightening. Its the process of dying that is frightening.
Please take some comfort that you did the right thing by hastening the end of his recently very painful life. You acted as a true friend and loved one might be depended upon to act.
- Alan
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- Tell us something.: From the land beyond beyond. From the time past hope and fear. I bid you, Genie, now appear! Well, the Genie did not appear but the notification to type at least 100 characters did so I am back and typing some more as you, if anyone actually sees this, can probably tell.
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- anniemcu
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Bless his canid soul and your heart. May he be frolicking joyfully and remembering how much you loved him as he dances across the rainbow bridge. May your heart heal swiftly by remembering with joy the times you shared, and may he guide you a new love in the not too distant future.
anniemcu
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"You are what you do, not what you claim to believe." -Gene A. Statler
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"Olé to you, none-the-less!" - Elizabeth Gilbert
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http://www.sassafrassgrove.com
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"You are what you do, not what you claim to believe." -Gene A. Statler
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"Olé to you, none-the-less!" - Elizabeth Gilbert
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http://www.sassafrassgrove.com
- s1m0n
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Thanks everybody.
I don't really believe in the whole afterlife thing, but I have never *wanted* to believe it more than I did today. I wanted to bend down and whisper in his ear that he should meet me later at the gate. Or the bridge, or whatever.
I don't really believe in the whole afterlife thing, but I have never *wanted* to believe it more than I did today. I wanted to bend down and whisper in his ear that he should meet me later at the gate. Or the bridge, or whatever.
And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
- peeplj
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Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.s1m0n wrote:Thanks everybody.
I don't really believe in the whole afterlife thing, but I have never *wanted* to believe it more than I did today. I wanted to bend down and whisper in his ear that he should meet me later at the gate. Or the bridge, or whatever.
My sympathies for your loss.
I know it doesn't help, but you can feel good about what you did. He was in pain, and you weren't; you arranged it so that now he's not in pain and you are.
My deepest respect,
--James
http://www.flutesite.com
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"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" --Carl Bard
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"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" --Carl Bard
- Innocent Bystander
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- larrym.
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Simon, my heart-felt sympathies go out to you. Perhaps you might find a bit of solace in knowing that Bridget, Baby, Cotton, Buffy, Albert, Boo, Peeka, Fred, Jack, and Maggie (who were each and everyone beloved companions of my household at one time or another) were waiting for your pup at The Rainbow Bridge to welcome and to gallop with him. blessings.
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Larry
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Larry
"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16