Rest in Peace - A dog lover's tale (848 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.78 on 26 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by TurveyTopsy (View user info) at 2003-11-12 15:21:54 EST
In reference to: http://www.ubersite.com/cgi-bin/message_get.cgi?message=1054665697685026282
My dog took one last defiant stand this past weekend before we went for a ride.
Despite his obvious inability to use his rear right leg, he gloriously leapt to life the second the words "lets go" left my lips. His eyes brightened up and he began trotting back and forth as happy as can be.
Just a few months ago we celebrated his 3rd birthday with a trip out to Breckenridge Colorado for several days of outdoor bliss.
It was then that he met his first real match - a rattlesnake. I still remember the day which he curiously looked at the creature, not sure whether to investigate or not. Thankfully the rattling tail of the snake deterred more than a nose wave in the snake's general direction. Thankfully for him, I think he learned something valuable that day, if it hisses, don't approach it.
That day is nothing more than a memory filling my mind as he eagerly dangles his head out of the window, ready to go. We begin our trip and I am reminded of his furious attempts to dive to the bottom of the pool in my back yard to chase after the refracting sunlight. He never did quite succeed at trapping the light, but that never stopped him from trying. He could spend hours upon hours diving to the bottom of the pool in his attempts to get the sparkling light.
Sadly I don't know that he'll get that opportunity again, as his leg seems to be in pretty bad shape.
I look over at him and pat him on the back. He looks back at me with his tongue dangling out of mouth, happy to be out of the house that so often coops him up. It almost looks as though he would ask me where we're going, if he could only talk. Unfortunately, he can only return his gaze to the passing roadside and eagerly anticipate our final destination.
Again I'm reminded of his elation as he experienced his first swim in a lake and subsequently obtained as a midshipman on my friend's 30ft sailboat - the highest rank obtained by any dog on that particular vessel. Even when we had the boat at a good 60-degree keel, he still wore the same excited look he was wearing now, with his tongue hanging out and his ears pulled back in defiance against the wind. He was truly a great sailor.
It wasn't long until drew closer to our destination and he began to recognize some scenery, or maybe it was the scent. He looked back at me and let loose a soft whimper, then quickly returned his gaze out the window as if to not miss a second of it. I pat his back and re-assure him that things will be alright.
I remember him as a puppy and how he ferociously tore open my leather couch, ate everything, vomited up the leather upholstery, and had the audacity to just sit there and stare at me when I got home. Or when he managed to break his way into my newly tiled kitchen and piss on the unsealed grout. His puppy eyes. Damn those innocent eyes.
Another glance to my right affirmed that he was shaking now as we neared our final destination. I pulled the car to a stop and helped him out. I offered to carry him, but he was never one for such treatment, and frankly, I think he had too much pride.
I looked at him, held his quivering body close, and told him everything would be ok.
We walked into the animal hospital together. I know I was as scared as he, but together, nothing could keep us down.
I returned to my house alone that day.
A complication in an otherwise routine surgical procedure to repair his CCL caused an unforeseen problem with his anesthetic. The surgeons tried to resuscitate him but failed to do so.
I lost a friend, but he will never be forgotten.
RIP
User Reviews
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2003-11-12 21:37:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I accidentally killed my puppy before.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Submitted by Franger (user info) at 2003-11-12 21:25:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I've lost many dogs in my short likfe (I'm only 21), in fact I think I've had 5 dogs die on my since I was 11. One of them I lost in much the same way as you described, my dog needed a major operation because the vet fucked up when we took him to them months before hand when the problem first arose and he said nothign was wrong with him, my dog actually had been half run over and we'ld never known until months later when finally his internal injuries started to cause too many problems. We took him in but as luck would have it his heart gave out about 1 minutes into surgery. I'll always miss him, the top dog of the area, the manslut of all, he was Hannibal, a brilliant and strong dog. I miss them all though.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2003-11-12 21:08:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That blows, my dog died of old age a year ago, and it is still a suprise to me when I go to my parents house not to see her come running out at me, or popping her head around the corner.
Submitted by EvilZurr (user info) at 2003-11-12 20:41:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
reminds me so much of my dog. he hurt his right leg a few months back, and hes been lightly limping on it for a while. hes going to be 10 next month.
i feel your pain...
Submitted by Cassiopeia (user info) at 2003-11-12 19:32:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2003-11-12 18:44:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
very sad. i know the feeling. it'll be OK in time.
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2003-11-12 18:41:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment.
Submitted by No.9 (user info) at 2003-11-12 18:25:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I am so sorry! I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my two babies. You have my most heartfelt sympathies. Very sad, well-written story.
-No.9
Submitted by NickTheDivine (user info) at 2003-11-12 18:06:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I recently lost my English Spinger Spaniel Arffy. I'm a senior in high school and I've had him since I was in second grade, so we only had 10 years together. But, I wouldn't trade a minute of our time together. At first, whenever I thought about him I would cry or come close to it, but now whenever I think of him I have happy memories.
We had him put to sleep about a month ago. My family was in Boston, Mass, looking at colleges for the weekend when we received a call from the kennel requesting permission to bring Arffy to the dog hospital because he looked pale. I never thought of a dog looking pale, however. The doctor did an MRI on him and found that he had cancer of the spleen and the tumor had burst and the best thing would be to put him to sleep. My parents gave me the choice of whether to put him to sleep or to operate.
In one of my first non-selfish actions of my life, I decided to put him to sleep. I loved him too much to put him through pain. We gave each other 10 great years and my gift to him would be to save him from suffering.
He was put to sleep immediately and I never got to say goodbye, yet I showed my true love.
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2003-11-12 17:48:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. We lost our little "girl" over a year ago. She hung on long enough for my wife to pick her up and hold her in her arms. We tried to replace her with another dog, but although we love the new one, she doesn't take the place of the original. Damn it, i'm crying all over my keyboard...
All pain eases in time.
Submitted by jgirly (user info) at 2003-11-12 17:45:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That's so sad. I almost cried when I thought about my dog ChaCha Chihuahua. I couldn't imagine losing her! I'm so sorry.
Submitted by Yes at 2003-11-12 17:27:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That sucks, I'm sorry.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2003-11-12 16:30:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2003-11-12 16:24:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awww.... Fuck.
I'm all glassy eyed now....
Poor little guy.....
Submitted by Random Joe at 2003-11-12 16:19:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I may be a Random Joe, but for what its worth you have my sympathies. A year ago I lost my dog of 15 years to Cancer. The walk back from the Vets without my best friend was the most gutting thing I've ever done.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2003-11-12 16:15:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
damn. i knew where it was going and tried to stop reading, but i couldn't.
Submitted by Murphy1844 (user info) at 2003-11-12 16:09:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Damnit you had to do it. This is depressing. Reminds me of Murphy's eyes... that is, his eyes leading up to The Incident. Post-incident, pre-vet assisted suicide, there was nothing but vacancy and pain.
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Submitted by Tom (user info) at 2003-11-12 16:02:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Reminds me of my kitty, Babalooie. He had complications of the urinary tract and only made it to year two.
Now we have three kitties, but we don't forget Bob.
-Tom
Submitted by chicagogirl <working!> at 2003-11-12 15:49:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
sorry....... I have tears. Losing an pet sucks.
Submitted by William_Q_Percy (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:49:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Please have my condolences.
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:42:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
So sorry dahlin, that's just miserable. Hope you recoup soon, even though you'll still miss him.
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:41:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is why i wont get a dog. Id get too attached and when he/she died i would be a wreck.
Sorry bro.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:31:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is just terrible. 3 years is not enough time. I'm depressed now. I'm still upset about my "college cat" dying and it's been two years.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:27:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Im sorry, I know how this feels. Take off of work for a few weeks, thats what I did
Submitted by itchy (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:26:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh . . . . .
Oh God that sucks.
I'm sorry.
Submitted by Loren1 (user info) at 2003-11-12 15:25:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Holy crap. I almost started crying. I'm really sorry, it's just horrible to lose a pet.
You have my deepest sympathy and understanding. ;)