Tribute to Amy, the BEST DOG EVER
Last night, after getting home from work, I had to do the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I had to decide whether my dog lived or died.
Carb depleting can’t hold a candle to the pain of losing your best friend. Amy was about 12 or 13. I’m not real sure because I adopted her through a shnauzer rescue group. She was rescued from a shelter where she was sent to die after having served her owner for many years; giving him/her several litters of miniature schnauzer puppies. Once she was no longer useable for breeding, she was sent to die.
That’s the point where I got her. Amy lived a lot of her life in a crate so consequently she did not play. She didn’t fetch, or rollover or play tug-of-war with our other rescued schnauzers. Amy just kinda lay around, ate the occasional offered dog biscuit and barked at cars. I just figured she deserved to just lay around and bark at cars and chase squirrels.
Amy was also a loving and watchful dog as evidenced by her habit of putting herself between my other dogs and strangers. She could be very aggressive and protective. But so very gentle. Amy was black, her fur soft as silk. Her eyes, deep and black as night.
Amy ultimately would have died from congestive heart failure. She could have lasted another couple of days, maybe even three months. But in the emergency vets office, she was physically suffering. Her abdomen swollen from holding water brought on by her heart problem. Struggling to breathe, she looked at me. Her eyes, begging for some relief. I was given the choice. I chose in Amy’s favor to end her suffering rather than prolong her agony through medication.
As the vet stood by with her final farewell I said my goodbye to Amy. Holding her, I could feel her warm body; her sorrowful eyes begging me to help her. As difficult as it was to say goodbye, I did not prolong it. I told the vet to get on with it. Holding Amy, her breaths coming on rapidly, then fading as quickly; she fell limp in my arms.
I can only hope that her time spent with me was far more pleasurable than the miserable life she no doubt had at the hands of unscrupulous breeders.
Goodbye Amy - I loved you so much. You were a good dog.
January 27, 2008 at 6:29 am
((((())))) You did the right thing. She sounded like a wonderful companion. I’m so sorry!
January 27, 2008 at 6:33 am
I don’t cry often but when my grandmother’s orange stray "Tommy" died I cried great big huge tears. Just a very loving lap cat and a great hunter too.
Rest in Peace to Amy, the best dog ever.
January 27, 2008 at 6:43 am
Being that I have recently gone thru the same 2 weeks ago - I feel your pain and and crying with you as I read your words- It was so very hard for me as well to make the decision - had my Dani been on "deaths door " so to speak- the decision would have , ( i guess ) been a little easier for me.Dani, had Lymphoma- multiple lesions thoughout her body- approx 10 that I could visualize. I also did not want her to suffer- she was VERY uncomfortable -, nasal flaring- and lethargic - on and off.
I was very sad that day and still am- she was cremated , and I pick up her ashes this past Wed.
I have 2 others- as well in good health, the hardest part was for Dante, he was crying and howling for her for days… so sad - he lost is best friend too..
please keep me posted - I will be thinking about you
Kat
January 27, 2008 at 6:50 am
Thats horrible! I carried my Max, (full size German shephard) in and out of the house for a few weeks when he could not walk anymore. I kept holding on to hope. I couldnt put him down myself and had to wait for my husband to come home at the time. I couldnt even go to the vets office…the guilt ate me up. I now have portraits of him in my house. 14 years of knwing him……..he was family to me.
January 27, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I understand you verry well ,i lost also a nice doggy after 13year’s!!!…It’s painfull,i know…take your time to let her go!!it chal be a hole in your heart,that can never be fix!.
It is good to reed, that here are peolpe,with a great heart for animals!….that means….THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!…stay on the side please!!
February 1, 2008 at 5:43 am
Sorry to hear that you had to go through that! We lost one of our babies, Chloe a Cavalier King Charles, a few years ago and that was so painful. We also have a Japanese Akita (my baby) and she is 12 years old and I must admit I am really dreading the day that either she passes or (god forbid) I have to make the life or death decision! Seems like there are a lot of animal lovers on here and I think I can truly say ‘our thoughts are with you and we wish you the best!’
February 1, 2008 at 6:08 am
Money and the greed and need of it - it is the root of all evil. My sympathy to you in your loss , these things are never easy and the choice is never really a choice but its a cross we have to bear. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
February 1, 2008 at 6:16 am
Hey Six, sorry for your loss. I had to do the same thing a couple of summers ago with my German Shepard, KOKO.
I too got her from a shelter (as a pup) and had her for almost 14 years. The last few years were not so good for her as several ailments came on her. In the end, relieving her of her pain was the only thing I could to to help her.
I hope things get better soon for you. Keep on going and stay safe - Ole Smokey