Such a Sweet Dog…
14 years ago, I met Abby at my father’s house. He purchased a little black bean of a dog; she was so little!
She was my father’s faithful sidekick until he died in October of 2021. Shayne and I adopted her, and she added so much to our lives. She was also a bridge to my past and helped me heal from Dad’s passing until she died this week from acute renal failure.
Shayne was out of town and she wasn’t ill until she just was. She started throwing up and having bloody diarrhea, and I got very concerned quickly. After a trip to the vet, we found out she was in kidney failure. My vet pumped her full of liquids in an effort to flush out the kidneys and perhaps have a little more time with her, but the day she came home from the vet she just got progressively worse.
So on Tuesday morning, I made “THE” appointment that every pet owner dreads, and I cradled her as she passed away.
On Father’s Day, two days before she passed, we spent the entire day outside in my backyard, where she dozed and just watched all the magic that a wooded backyard provides.
She watched the deer, ants, butterflies and me as I puttered about the yard and garden. It was a blissful day.
The weather was literally 72 degrees and sunny with a light, warm breeze. All day I had passing thoughts that this must be what if feels like to be in Heaven.
That was her last good day before she died, and I believe that it was such a gift for both of us.
I’ve been through this before.
Four years ago, my sweet silver poodle, Sadie Mae, passed away from cancer. I was with here when the vet said it was ‘time’.
I vowed back then that I didn’t want to get another dog for a long while because their deaths are just so brutal to go through, but God had other plans for me.
Pets are wonderful, aren’t they? They teach us so much about life–the good, the bad and the joyful.
I buried Little Abby in our backyard, in her favorite spot to to watch the deer and the other critters that call our backyard home. She is next to Sadie Mae.
And I’m ok. I had to do all the things one does when you lose a furry family member by myself since Shayne was out of town when this all went down. That was hard. But a part of me is thankful that he wasn’t here, since the last 24 hours of her life was so painful and hard to witness.
The night before she died was horrible. But I was there, holding her and comforting her as she battled. The vet told me you will know when it is time, and boy, was she correct. Monday afternoon she seemed so much better, but as Tuesday morning dawned, I knew what had to be done.
I took the day on Wednesday to collect myself and process the grief that accompanies death. And today, as I look outside my window at the backyard where she is buried, I am reminded about the preciousness of life. ALL LIFE. And I am resolved to appreciate every moment I have with my loved ones above ground.
