Posted on 04/22/2022 12:42:48 PM PDT by Twotone
Mushroom, our beloved and unbelievably elderly dog, finally passed away. There was a day when he simply pulled his snout back sharply at the offer of food, and from then on, his decline was rapid.
There was a day when I would come into the house and find him slouched like a little black and white parcel in unusual places such as the corners of the dining room, or else I’d see him oddly trying to stand behind the wood stove. There were days during which he lay in his bed, curled in a furry round circle as usual, but scarcely moving; the concern, practically the breath, of angels, was palpably over him.
Brian, my husband, made broths, and tried to feed him with a spoon. At last the spoon was refused, and we knew we did not have long with him.
We called two vets; both were compassionate, but brisk, and quick to suggest euthanasia. “There’s a vet service that comes to your house, very sensitively, to put your dog to sleep,” explained one veterinary assistant. “This woman is great — you will love her.”
“I don’t think I’ll love anyone who is coming over to euthanize my dog,” I blurted out.
The other vet, a little less alarmingly, said that if we brought Mushroom to them, we could hug him in the back seat of the car while they “put him to sleep.” With a heavy heart we made the appointment.
That was one of the worst days of Brian’s and my life. We both felt such a sense of wrongdoing, of negative, inharmonious, even profane forces around us.
We tried to prepare the car to take Mushroom to the vet, but everything went wrong.
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I’m so sorry.
(’Havoc’ is a great name for a dog :-)
She’s not in the house, but she’s still alive. Take it from someone who’s been on the other side.
Thank you. He lived up to the name in youth. Most loving , endeared by all pit bull EVER. Never ever showed signs of aggression towards people. He slept with me and a brand new baby goat for a month. He tolerated our bunny hopping around the house. Not happy (walked away) but never once harmed it. He knew the bunny was also “family”.
Very nice.
(I’m saving the name ‘Havoc’. If I’d known it some years ago, it would have been the perfect name for my current terrorist cat:-)
Lovely, thanks for posting.
My Keeshond died of old age twenty years ago, Just could not take another step.
I think of her every day and cry when I see another Kees.
This is too tough to talk about. Too many raw nerves still left exposed. Memories too vivid. Heartache. Condolences.
Fresh wounds of the heart do get better managed with tide and time but we don’t forget these critters we’ve cared for and loved.
My too cats both are gone now and one ran away never to return....I can recall seeing toys I’d find behind a desk or under a chair for about a year after always brought the memory forward again...and I miss them all. But ‘Kitty” most of all because I rescued him one dark icy snowy cold night when I found him on my deck. The most pathetic looking tabby cat shivering there - so I lifted him up and brought him inside. He would not leave my lap all night. Took to the vet the next day for his resporatory invection and it was all good to go after that.
Vet said he’d been on his own for sometime based on the pads of his feet and other indicators. He had identification but it appeared he’d been left...as the owner didn’t keep up his adress info.
So “Kitty” was mine and spoiled to the hilt from then on...and he knew it too!
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