Cheyenne's Last Day

me | February 1, 2007 | grellis

[grellis]

We took our 15 year old pooch into the ER vet on December 30, just over a month ago, to have an infected anal gland taken care of.The vet was concerned that the infection was masking a tumor and advised us to follow up with our own vet, which we did. Long story short: My beloved pooch, my furry little baby girl, has cancer.

We have been treating her continuing anal infection for the past month, but it is steadily getting worse. The cancer is probably interfering with the efficacy of the antibiotics, as well as with Cheyenne's immune system. What had been discomfort is now pain, and tomorrow morning I will take my beautiful pup to the vet one last time.

Just damn.

[darkwing104]

Payers.

Do a dogpile search on the "Rainbow Bridge".

God Bless and Good Luck.

[svcw]

It is a difficult to lose a pet, a companion. Having need to put pets down, I can understand your loss. It is a strange thing indeed that we become so attached. However, I thank God for His gift of these precious animals to be part of our lives. My sorrow is with you. Cry and remember, its ok.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Sorry to hear this. Your dog loves you and trusts you to do the best thing for them, even when it's difficult.

[pookie18]

http://www.indigo.org:80/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

[pandoraou812]

I'm so sorry. Prayers for you and your beloved dog. ~~Pandora~~

[Boardwalk]

Sending my prayers for you and Cheyenne. Sounds like she led a quality 15 years and that you were lucky to be blessed with her.

[trimom]

One of the toughest things I ever did was put Maize, my 15 year old Lab down. I was lucky, in that my vet did it here at the house, where we could lie on his cedar bed together.

You are doing the right thing and it hurts. You will be in my prayers.

[USMCWife6869]

I am so very sorry for your impending loss. I will be devastated when it is time for my Princess to go. I have had many dogs in my life, but she is special. My heart breaks for you.


The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

-- Unknown

[napscoordinator]

Prayers to you as you go through this difficult time. I know that animals are part of the family.

[poobear]

I am so sorry to hear of your dear Cheyenne. Remember all the good times you had and please have a friend go with you or at least drive you there tomorrow. God Bless you and good luck.

I dread the day when my beloved Poobear gets old and sick. These little fellas are the greatest.

[tob2]

So sorry to hear this.

[penowa]

So sorry to hear this. I have been where you are and it is one of the most difficult things to go through. My prayers are with you and your beloved Cheyenne.

[FreedomGuru]

Just damn is right. Prayers for you and your pup.
I have put down 2 dogs, and I just said goodbye to my 20 yr old cat a couple of months ago. I know how you feel.
And stay with your friend til the end, and hug them while they go, if you can. As tough as that is, you will be glad later on.

[timberlandko]

My sincerest sympathies - I know very much how you feel. Sam, my Best Buddy of nearly 15 years, a huge (in his prime, 180lb +) Rott/Golden mix, likewise is approaching the end. In early December, we took a chance on surgery. The vet was upfront about the deal, raising no unrealistic expectations; noting that Sam was extraordinarly fit for a dog his age and thus a good candidate for surgery, either he would gain a few months of quality life or he would not survive the surgery. Sam is at my feet as I type this; we've just returned from a walk in the woods. He's having one more good day, and I'm very thankful that so am I.

[backhoe]

Friend, we just had our old girl put to sleep this morning- I wrote about it at Free Dominion, here:

 Our old dog Taffy has died...
01 Feb 2007 14:58 backhoe

There's no harder thing to do. God Bless.

[CAluvdubya]

It takes a lot of courage to love your baby so unselfishly as to give them one last gift. Your beloved little girl will no longer be in pain and will be watching over you and waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Bless you both.

[BluH2o]

... tomorrow morning I will take my beautiful pup to the vet one last time.

Over the years my wife and I have taken that very sad trip to the vet a couple of times. Both dogs were well along in years and inevitably that day comes ... it's always tough. Stay with your pet thru the whole procedure and hold them as closely as possible ...

[grellis]

Well I'm having a good cry right now (gee, only my 50th today)---glad and sad I'm not the only one going through this. I'm so sorry about Taffy. Her decline sounds a lot like Cheyenne's, gradual, then very sudden. My heart goes out to you. I love that you took her on calls with you--brilliant. You're right, I'm sure, about Taffy's presence putting women at ease. I sure wish every contractor/deliveryman/etc did the same! And of course, the bonus for you was having Taffy with you.

Cheyenne is the first dog that was all mine, and this is the first time I have ever shouldered this monumental responsibility, what I'm doing in the morning. I don't know how I'm going to get through this, but get through it I must.

I sure appreciate everyone's prayers and thoughts--I can't thank y'all enough.

[backhoe]

Well I'm having a good cry right now (gee, only my 50th today)---glad and sad I'm not the only one going through this. I'm so sorry about Taffy. Her decline sounds a lot like Cheyenne's, gradual, then very sudden. My heart goes out to you. I love that you took her on calls with you--brilliant. You're right, I'm sure, about Taffy's presence putting women at ease. I sure wish every contractor/deliveryman/etc did the same! And of course, the bonus for you was having Taffy with you. Cheyenne is the first dog that was all mine, and this is the first time I have ever shouldered this monumental responsibility, what I'm doing in the morning. I don't know how I'm going to get through this, but get through it I must. I sure appreciate everyone's prayers and thoughts--I can't thank y'all enough.

Well, I'll turn 58 when Taffy would have been 14 next month, and as my late Mom, the old Master Sergeant used to say, "It takes a real man, to cry."

No shame in tears for a fallen comrade.

Our animals love us so dearly that they will suffer torment, just to have one more day to spend with us.

We are the higher being, so it's up to us to decide when they can't enjoy enough of life to go on.

Taffy couldn't even enjoy life at an eat, drink, and pee level anymore-- it didn't make it easy, it never does, but it made the choice simple- we released her from suffering. It's cruel for us, but a mercy to our animal friends.

God bless, and help you do the best thing for your pal.