I've had that dog literally since the day she was concieved. Her dam and sire (whom I also owned) 'did the deed' in my backyard. I was there when the pups were born and was also literally the first person to touch them.
She'd been with me longer than both my marraiges put together, and longer than my son has been alive.
She was there for some really good times as well as some times when I couldn't buy a friend for love nor money.
She was always a good and gentle dog even if she wasn't the brightest of Gods creatures. When she passed she was wearing her favorite 'old lady' sweater and she still had it on when I buried her under her favorite flower patch in my backyard.
The two younger dogs are leaving her 'nap spots' alone for the time being. I think they're convinced I'm going to walk into the house with old Basha on the leash any time now and that she'll be freshly washed and cut once again.
I got some odd looks from the other two dogs as I picked up Bashas food dish and dog bed to put them away for the final time. I know they didn't understand why I was balling my eyes out as I did it.
But as I said, I know she's in a better place free at last of the pain which had been making her miserable for the last several months. When her hips almost completely failed last week I knew it was time, though I most sorely wished it wasn't.
The vet who helped me through it was wonderful. They've been seeing her since the very beginning. When they pulled out her records and saw she'd been a 'client' since 1989 they were amazed. Even the ladies at the counter were dabbing their eyes as Basha slowly limped in to the exam room for the last time.
It's going to be hard to break long developed habits. I caught myself reaching down to pour the third bowl of kibble this morning before I remembered.
I hope that will pass soon because it's a hard knock to the heart.
I'll think of her every time I look at the blooms in the flower patch out back and remember that she was indeed a very good dog.
Thank you my friend.
L
Truly man's best friend.
I'm reminded of an article I read not to long ago about how dogs 'communicate' with us better than our closest genetic relatives (Bonobo's). They are very good at reading our movements, sounds and facial expressions...I see this daily in my dogs.
On a different note, when my son was visiting this past Christmas, we began to look at our old family pictures and he pointed out that in one of the pictures when he was a kid (3) in his pajamas opening Christmas presents on Christmas morning many years ago was a houseplant he recognized. He looked up from the picture and pointed it out still in the living room. We decided that that plant had been with 'us' for at least 35 years, maybe longer. He's 38 now. That plant and a couple others had moved with us/me from California to Florida to Texas to Alabama. It's like an old friend.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It will hurt for quite some time, unfortunately. She obviously had a good long life with you, and you gave her a peaceful passing.
I’m convinced that it’s a good idea to let other pets in the house see/smell the deceased pet. They know what death is... and when they can see and smell their friend no longer breathing, then they know that pet isn’t coming home again. They will still grieve, but at least they won’t be confused or longing for them to walk in the door.
Have you ever had a dog come up to you while you’re sleeping and hold their nose right in front of your nose or mouth to detect whether you are breating or not? When I euthanized my German Shepherd, I brought my other dog into the room to let her see, and she went right to his nose and buried her nose in his nostril and took three long sniffs to see if she could detect his breath. When she couldn’t detect his breathing, she came over to me and curled up behind my legs. When I took her home, just the two of us, she never once went looking for the Shepherd because she knew he was gone forever.
We buried our beloved Katie in her favorite backyard nap spot, under the camelia bush. She was 14. It has been 2 years and I still miss her. We have 2 other cockers, but Katie was the best.
She would always lay at the door waiting for me to come home whenever I went out. The few times I went away for the weekend, my husband said he had to bring food and water to her, because she would not desert her post. She loved me and I loved her although she was supposed to be our son’s dog.
I’m sorry for your loss, I know how much it hurts.
Your post on your beloved Basha was very touching. I, too, lost my best buddy not long ago. I had a beagle, Bradley, who lived to be 17 years old, 16 of those under my care. He died last February (2006) at a state veterinary hospital, after suffering complete loss of the use of his rear legs. That, combined with end-stage bladder cancer and encroaching kidney failure, made it necessary to say good-bye. It's probably painful to see a grown man cry but that's what the vets saw that day as one of them injected the drug which ended that precious life. I spent the rest of the day and most of the next sobbing in a nearby motel room. The pain of the loss was that much. I hadn't cried since childhood.
You will find that in time the very painful hurt you are experiencing now will end and be replaced with just quiet yet beautiful memories of your Basha's life with you. These memories of your beloved dog, if you're like me, stay with you. Every day (and especially at night) I think of Bradley and something he did or walks in the forest we took. Not a single day passes that I don't think of him. Most times there is no welling up of tears, just a smile or two associated with some experience. The severe pain has passed.
Your terrible loss is hurting you but I just wanted to assure you that the pain will ease and be replaced with soft memories.
Be thankful to God who gave you this wonderful creature to share your life with. In relative terms the association with Basha was short. Why this is remains a mystery to me but He must have His reasons.
God bless you.