I admit today blew even me away. Cooper was ... a friend. There are days and weeks sometimes on here that are just more difficult than others. I told this to Karen last night on the phone. Im going to share it here. I wrote this several years ago in honor of one of the best teachers Ive ever had. Its not about an IMHA dog. I found Foxy (sheltie/corgi mix) tied to a fire hydrant when he was 4 months old. He lived to be about 1 week shy of 19 years old. (really really old for his breeds). But its about a dog who taught me SO much. About love ... about how much I did *not* know (Id never had a herder before ... boy ... did I have a lot to learn). And he taught me a WHOLE lot about ... crossing Rainbow Bridge. If that is offensive to you dont read this. Foxy the MOstlie Sheltie lived to be 19. For either sheltie or corgi that is truly AGED. I talk to my dogs all the time. (For those who know me, I know -- hard to believe -- ME talk??? *smile*) But one of the topics at our house tends to be Rainbow Bridge. We work with sick dogs a lot -- often we take ones that are very very ill or elderly. So ... it happens. But my dogs know the words Rainbow Bridge. I have allowed them to see a departed fur or feathered friend so they know they are gone ... and I talk about that animals spirit being at Rainbow Bridge a lot. A bit of this is sad. I swear this is true. Every single word. My vet still talks about it to this day. But for those that cant handle it, go down to the +++++++++++++++++++ and you can go right to the rest of the story. ___________________________________________________________ I came home this noon, and long story made very short, it was abundantly clear Foxy was tired and too tired to try any more and honestly ok with that. It would have been easier to make the hard decision to help him over the Bridge last week, and David and I were prepared to do that. But Foxy wanted to KEEP trying. Even yesterday, Dr. B changed his antibiotic (anyone other than me actually HAVE Baytril at home? sheesh, so we switch him to that as hopefully easier to keep down), when David took him outside he WALKED for like 3-4 minutes. In circles ... but he was trying hard to walk. But somehow between last night and this morning Foxy gained peace that it was ok to stop trying really hard and just relax and not try any more. This morning we werent sure if it was just sedative doing that or what. But when I came home at noon, it was then that Foxy truly made me understand he was ready to stop trying and accept it. And that I should too. I hugged him for a good while and talked to him to be sure. he no longer would swallow when I gave him water. He was very dehydrated but just plain wouldnt swallow. That in itself told me it was time. Dr. Bailey agreed. Sadly. But he agreed (and cried with me). Apparently when a dog becomes truly aged, when some great trauma (like old dog vestibular disease in this case) occurs, altho perhaps a younger version of this dog could have dealt with it, the trauma can at that point simply begin to make the body shut down. The skin that so deteriorated SO fast for no real reason -- this happens sometimes in these cases. The fact that he couldnt process food -- again apparently sometimes the stomach just plain begins to deteriorate (which becomes more and more painful). So yes, it was time. All I was waiting to hear was that Foxy was ready. I owed him that. Not to cut short HIS chance to try. All the way up to the vets I talked ... When you get to Rainbow Bridge -- PLEASE ... find Prissy for me and tell her I still think of her? Then you can meet everbuddy else -- Mike tha Dog. Muffin the Intrepid. Hootie. Moonie. Curley. Socks. Pollyanna. And your buddies from the boards -- Nigel. Cedar .... youre gonna be busy Foxy!! SO many friends up there! ALL these were animals he knew. Had been there when they passed. He got it. He KNEW what was going to happen. He was totally at peace about it. HE was ready. He was ready for the release. I held him and rocked him and Dr. B administered a shot of valium first. I rocked him as he fell fast asleep. And then Dr. B administered the pink stuff that stops the heart. ++++++++++++++++ And an unusual thing happened. Foxys feet began to move like they did when he was running in his sleep. He was heading full tilt over that Bridge. He cleared the fog at the top going full speed HERDER ON HIS WAY!!! My vet looked up at me in total astonishment. LOOK at that. LOOK at his feet. Hes **GOING** somewhere. IN fact, this dog knows exactly where hes going! Mrs. Kennedy -- I can NOT believe this. When the heart stopped his feet stopped. This hadnt been simple death throe muscle twitches. No -- in fact, this dog hadnt been able to MOVE at all nor walk on his own for days -- his feet hadnt moved that fast in years. He was 19 for Heavens sake. But ... the feets moved fast as he went over Rainbow Bridge. My vet told me later that afternoon that had he not already been a man who believed in the Hereafter he would seriously have had to re-evaluate everything he believed in ... just because a little herding dog mix RAN so hard to get to his friends at Rainbow Bridge. Now ... Im going to finish the story with what I think he was running to. All of the above this is **fact**. Pure and simple fact. From here on? Its my belief. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Foxy the MOstlie Sheltie ran down Rainbow Bridge WAY too fast to stop. In fact, he flatly had no intention OF stopping. The crowd at the bottom who had gathered to welcome this old, but much loved, and very well known dog simply watched in awe as this red and white blur barrelled down at them and at the last instant veered off to the right and circled tightly around the back of the crowd driving them a bit off to the left next to the River of Life.. The crowd shifted a bit to the left as the Mostlie Sheltie circled back around the foot of the Bridge and made a second pass around the crowd edging them a bit more to the left. Nigel, the stately collie, bowed his head to the blonde retriever mix at his side and said Mike, I have seen good herders in my time, but THIS guy is truly GOOD. Look at him move this crowd and he hasnt even broken stride ... Whoa ... lets see where he takes us! Finally, the Mostlie Sheltie made a slight detour and gathered in two small guinea pigs (one of which had a lovely straw hat with roses on it), and a small apricot poodle sitting nearby. CEDAR BUDDY ... cmon ... I gotta see EVERBUDDY!! Foxy declared ... only a bit breathless. And so the crowd sat and welcomed Foxy the Mostlie Sheltie into their fold. MOM SAID that just as soon as I got here I had to say hi to PRISSY, and RAH .. RENO MY BUDDY ... and Pollyanna ... dang, havent you got Socks to turn loose of that Frisbee YET??? and Benny and Blossom ... and wow ... SO MANY OF YOU .... Hes not done yet. He has too many to say hello to. I promised him as I held him in those last moments that he would find MUCH better things to herd up there at Rainbow Bridge than just pine needles. I have to wonder if hes found Cassius the Betta Fish in the River yet and has attempted to herd fish yet. He will. Give him time. He has eternity now. And hes got his speed back. And I loved him. SO very very much. But dang ... that dog taught ME how to grow old gracefully. And now hes taught me how real it is when a MOstlie Sheltie runs down that Bridge to his friends. I love you my boy ... wait for me ... WELL. wait .. well. And I will see you someday. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Yes, Karen & Patricia I hope this helps. But I know many many of you have been particularly saddened today. Be comforted ... its well known on that side of The Bridge how much love is here. And for each dog we all come to love and care for ... that much more awareness occurs about this heinous disease. Touch your keyboard please -- ((((((GROUP HUG))))))
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 05:43:48 +0000
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