Just got back from the vets where the ex and I had to put an old friend to rest.
Our 15 year old Cocker mixed has been suffering from congestive heart failure and had taken a turn for the worse. He could hardly get around that last couple of days and his breathing was very labored and worst of all he hardly recongnized us anymore.
It's a beautiful fall day here in Lower Michigan, upper 60's, sunny without a cloud in the sky. We took "Wendall" out on the side lawn where he could be comfortable. While a light breeze blew we held him in our arms as the vet administered his final medication. Soon his labored breathing subsided and we cried while he quietly slipped into a peaceful, well deserved rest. When we looked up Tim, our vet, was wiping the tears from his eyes as well, you see Wendall had been his friend for 15 years too.
An old dear friend has gone to a better place where he will be in pain no longer. Waiting to welcome him will be my father and his best buddy "Mac" who passed a few years ago. Tucked in the blanket we wrapped him in was the remains of a tattered old sock that he and Mac use to play tug of war with. The sock had been virtually untouched since Mac had to be put down, without his buddy Wendall had simply lost interest in playing sock tag and found other activities to hold his interest.
Tonight I'll build a casket for him and Wednesday night the family will hold a small service to pay our last respects to a devoted member of the family. We will lay him to rest in woods on our property next to his faithful old buddy where they can be together once again.
It was a beautiful day in Michigan today but still my heart aches at the passing of an old friend.
And as a last parting gesture, he left a puddle in the trunk of my car. He always had that problem whenever he went to vet. This time I won't complain or curse him, I'll just clean the car with tears in my eyes.
Our 15 year old Cocker mixed has been suffering from congestive heart failure and had taken a turn for the worse. He could hardly get around that last couple of days and his breathing was very labored and worst of all he hardly recongnized us anymore.
It's a beautiful fall day here in Lower Michigan, upper 60's, sunny without a cloud in the sky. We took "Wendall" out on the side lawn where he could be comfortable. While a light breeze blew we held him in our arms as the vet administered his final medication. Soon his labored breathing subsided and we cried while he quietly slipped into a peaceful, well deserved rest. When we looked up Tim, our vet, was wiping the tears from his eyes as well, you see Wendall had been his friend for 15 years too.
An old dear friend has gone to a better place where he will be in pain no longer. Waiting to welcome him will be my father and his best buddy "Mac" who passed a few years ago. Tucked in the blanket we wrapped him in was the remains of a tattered old sock that he and Mac use to play tug of war with. The sock had been virtually untouched since Mac had to be put down, without his buddy Wendall had simply lost interest in playing sock tag and found other activities to hold his interest.
Tonight I'll build a casket for him and Wednesday night the family will hold a small service to pay our last respects to a devoted member of the family. We will lay him to rest in woods on our property next to his faithful old buddy where they can be together once again.
It was a beautiful day in Michigan today but still my heart aches at the passing of an old friend.
And as a last parting gesture, he left a puddle in the trunk of my car. He always had that problem whenever he went to vet. This time I won't complain or curse him, I'll just clean the car with tears in my eyes.
