This week’s food for thought . . . the loss of a family pet
While indulging in my usual facebook binge earlier this week, I stumbled across a fellow facebooker who was grieving the loss of their dog. For many of us the thought of having to say goodbye to a beloved pet is unfathomable. Over the years I was too naive to apprehend that my slightly overweight 12-year-old Labrador - emphasis on the ‘slightly’ – would not outlive me. What we thought was going to be a bout of the old dog flu, in fact turned out be canine lymphoma. As you can imagine my obscure reality was quickly shattered. Firstly often do you hear someone saying that their dog has a cold (NEVER) and secondly it hadn’t even occurred to me that dogs could get cancer! I give you permission to roll your eyes at my idiocy. A further blow was delt when told his life expectancy would be a maximum of 60 days! A life changing moment for our family. Now I’m sure there are some pessimists out there thinking “its only a bloody dog” but like your attitude to crocs, you have missed the mark once again.
Unfortunately poor Bailey never quite made it to those 60 days, falling just two days just short of his 13th birthday. Like many people had told us in the days leading up to his death, he would let us know when he would be ready; strangely enough he did. On a bitter cold morning of August 19 even a plate of toast was too much of an indulgent stretch. For those who have ever owned a Labrador or encountered one, you would know they cannot simply resist the slightest speck of food. As emotions ran high, the final trip to the vet was made. This is where the reality of the situation became apparent and our tear ducts copped a battering. Slowly as the contents of that magic green needle diluted into his blood stream we watched a beloved family member drift slowly away, pain free. The same could not be said for the three of us wailing away.
So to the animal that roamed our backyard for 12 years and 363 days (with the exception of thunder and lightning), rest in piece you beautiful thing!
Bye for now,
Cuttsy
Aw, this is so sad and I was in the same boat as you not too long ago. I actually lost two pets within six months of each other. My cat, Fat Kitty (yes, I know..), was about 15 years old. He was my first pet that was actually mine and had grown up with me. I guess I always just assumed he would be around until he seemed he was getting sick. We never took him to the vet because we didn't really have the money at the time and wasn't completely sure if it was anything serious. He started eating less and less and wasn't going to the bathroom. He would sleep all day and right towards the end would barely even move. One day I came home and found him laying on the floor on his side in front of the couch, not moving and thought he had died, but he was better once I picked him up. The night before we were going to put him to sleep, he passed away in the night. It was so sad for me, though we figured it would come soon so we were prepared for it. Six months later, we had to put my nine month old Pomeranian to sleep because he had broken one leg and just before he got his cast off, he jumped off the bed and broke the other. My stepdad's father was a vet and we figured it would just have to heal like the other one and he would be fine. After taking an x-ray, he found out he had a bone-deteriorating disease and that this leg was broken worse than the first, even though he had originally thought it was just a sprain. He had shattered the joint and told me it would only continue to happen as he got older. Deciding to put him to sleep was the hardest decision I ever had to make and still makes me tear up just typing about it. I got another Pomeranian within a few weeks, but it wasn't the same for a long time. I am much more careful with the one I have now, who is almost 2, and flinch anytime he even jumps off the couch. I am sincerely sorry for your loss as I know it is extremely difficult to lose a pal that has been there with you your whole life. I always said that my dog was there for me when no other person could be and that was the hardest part. I hope things get better.
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