Chezz is over the Bridge
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one great thing we can do for our dogs is have the power to put their suffering
You are so right. I did wish, with Curly, that for once nature would take its course and that we would come down one morning to find he had quiet gone his own way but it was not to be.
For him, Janet came to the house (our Vet always does that) but she brought a nurse withher and the nurse kind of elbowed Marvin and I out of the way. We hated that. We have always cuddled our dogs as they depart on their last journey from under the cherry tree where they spend most of their waking hours, lying in the sunshine.
This time I asked for NO NURSE, and Ian came on his own. It was much easier.
In all these years, none of ours has gone without help and knowing for sure exactly when to take the decision is not always easy.
Thank you all again,
spw
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Sally, you are so right, knowing the right time is so diffucult, but after losing my 3 over the last year, you know in your heart… I just fear sometimes I waited a day to long...
I feel the same way as you... that I wished for my Mickii that she would just not wake up and just quietly pass over the bridge... same as you.. it was not meant to be... and it was only 5 days after we lost OJ....
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Last April when I lost Nika I was hoping she would pass in her sleep at home but it wouldn't happen and she just got too bad off to wait for that to happen. I waited too long with my first and I feel bad about it 17 years later.
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Sorry about your loss Sally. It doesn't matter how many dogs you have or have lost in the past, each one is special and it hurts when they go.
Theresa -
Sorry to hear about your loss, Sally. But you took the right decission although it is very hard each time you have to make it.
Regards,
Esther -
I waited too long with my first and I feel bad about it 17 years later
No - please. You must not feel bad about it. Sometimes we are lucky in that a Basenji tells us it is time. And believe me, they can be very positive in the way they ask to go.
Sometimes we just have to get the date as right as we can. A day here or there ? Its VERY difficult.
The important thing is that you did entirely the right thing by Nika and she will have been grateful.
I am sure the dogs know we are helping them and will understand tardiness. What worries me is if I go too early -
Deedles had what I can only describe as a fit and raced around the lawn with his head at an impossible angle, frothing at the mouth. Late at night, I called the Vet.
He was a locum and from South Africa and he asked if he could experiment and administer a mighty dose of steroids directly into the vein. He said he would come again first thing next morning if. . .
Through my tears and against my better judgement, I agreed.
The Vet carried a huge and heavy crate upstairs to a spare bedroom cos the patient would need isolation, darkness and quiet. Then he administered the shot and carried Deedles upstairs.
Next morning all hell broke loose. The crate was rocked from side to side by the (to be maintained in a quiet, dark enviroment (?)) occupant who was shouting
WHAT am I doing here ? WHY is it dark ? It is breakfast time and I am HUNGRY
I did the only thing possible. I let him out, he managed the stairs easily on his own and polished off his breakfast in short order. Then he went outside and defecated normally.
The Vet did receive a phone call - and Deedles had a short series of steriod pills over the weekend. BUT - (and I LOVE that brave South African Vet) he lived happily and healthily for another 12 months and died eventually just before his 15th birthday.
Now - think what we would have lost. A whole year of the Dastardly Deed's company, but for that Vet. . .
Its a lottery - but as long as the dogs win in the end ????
spw
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I'm so very sorry.
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Last April when I lost Nika I was hoping she would pass in her sleep at home but it wouldn't happen and she just got too bad off to wait for that to happen. I waited too long with my first and I feel bad about it 17 years later.
I agree with what Sally said…. those of us that have had to make that painful decision will always second guess our choice.
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I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I never got a chance to meet Chezz, but I know she was a truly special Basenji.
Steve.
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Thanks Steve - Chezz was unique.
But you'll meet her daughter, grandson and grand-daughter soon.
And they are usually on offer - FREE - to a bad home. . .
spw
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Sally, I've only just come on the forum and read your news about Chezz - I am so sorry to hear - she was no age but you couldn't have let her suffer.
It's good to hear that you have such a sympathetic vet. we are very blessed too with a caring empathic vet and they are worth their weight in gold.
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Thank you, Patty,
We are indeed lucky in that we have 5 Vets working out of the same office about 7 miles away, Janet, Ian, Phillip, Rick, Donal. I don't mind WHICH of them sees our dogs, they are all great. Phillip removed Keepurr's glove - the big leather one he ate. . . and still laughs incredulously about it.
Before we moved away from another veterinary practise about 4 miles away, it got so only the boss man was allowed near our dogs and that became a tad restrictive. That was 9 years ago now and we've never regretted the switch.
spw
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So sorry to hear of your loss - it is the last loving gesture that we do for our treasured friends.
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I'm so sorry… I can't read about a loss like this without tearing up. May your tears remind you of all your happy memories together. xoxox
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Thank you -
Marvin will make her headstone in the next couple of weeks. Laid flat, all our dogs have them and the lawn-mower can be pushed over them and they can be kept tidy.
spw
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Hope you're feeling a bit better now Sally. Benji is buried in our garden and i found a stepping stone with the sun on, i like to think he's sleeping under the sun, just like he loved.
