THE DAY EVERY PET OWNER DREADS…
I probably wouldn’t be writing about this here if I hadn’t made the following promise to myself in one of the old threads.
I'm posting this list mainly for #10, but all are interesting to dog-lovers. Needless to say, I will be staring the next dog I put down straight in the eyes when that dreaded day comes.
A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10.. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
We had to put our Zoe down on Monday and had the chance to make good on our promise. It was really tough, but we did sense an unmistakable peace in her eyes as she was taking her final breaths.
My intention isn’t to depress people with her passing, but simply celebrate her long and happy 12 year life.
Zoe was a stray puppy that the next door neighbor at the Asylum had rescued from certain death on a busy highway. Zoe was slated to go to another home a couple of days after our first introduction, but the next week’s visit out to the Asylum had shown that that plan had fallen through since she was still under the neighbor’s care. At that point she basically adopted us, but I think that is often the case.
Some pictures of Zoe as a pup (she's the white one). It's really hard to believe she was ever smaller our old black schnauzer, Chenin.
Here she is “walking” her best bud and mentor, on the beach by the Asylum.
After spending so much time early on with Chenin, I believe Zoe started to think she also was a 25 pound dog and could fit anywhere Chenin could. She probably out-weighed her at least 2:1 at the time this picture was taken, but the growth still wasn't over. Zoe would go on to weigh 100 lbs before she was full size.
Their lives overlapped only a short time, and with Chenin's passing, a new dog entered our lives - Pekoe, a lab/chow mix. They were very seldom apart - Pekoe followed Zoe everywhere. She had now become the mentor. Here they are out at the lake property. I suppose the lake property always seemed like home to Zoe since she spent much time there when she was young and that is where we were first introduced.
Here's a shot from several years ago with Zoe and Pekoe catching some rays out on the pool deck. We were fortunate over the years to find dogs that got along so well together.
The ironic thing is that the seemingly healthy and younger Pekoe was stricken with chronic kidney (renal) failure the week before Zoe’s health started really going downhill. On Labor Day, we thought we were going the loose him first. Luckily, 2 weeks of pills, special food, and daily IV’s flushed the toxins out to where he was his happy frisky self again. It has been a miraculous turnaround and we have learned a lot about how to treat this problem. I doubt it has fixed his kidneys, but it keeps the naturally occurring toxins in his blood down to an acceptable level for him. Of course, we know his days are still numbered and we are trying to prepare ourselves for that.
Zoe was not so fortunate. She has had various health problems all her life but she had been rapidly getting worse the last three weeks - Monday she was done walking after only passing three houses down the block. A vet visit including blood work and X-rays an hour later revealed the bad news - her kidneys, pancreas, and liver were shutting down. We made the only humane decision right then and there to put her to sleep.
Here's one last picture of Zoe from about 5 months ago with that "Let me in, it's too darn hot out here for this old girl" look on her face.
Rest in peace Zoe. Thanks for touching our lives in so many ways over the past 12 years. We will miss you dearly.
. So I gave quick links to the sequential replies in post 2 and 3. That's the best I could do for now.
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