On The Last Day Of Our Tucson Vacation

On the last day of our vacation, the pet sitter called to say Cuddles wasn't drinking or eating normally.  We had her take Cuddles to the Vet immediately.  The Vet said she was dehydrated and unsteady on her feet (it was 97F at home on Wednesday).  They rehydrated her, did a blood panel, made her cool and comfortable.  She was able to eat a bit, and enjoyed it.  They left her for the night, relaxed and sleepy.  In the morning, this morning, she was dead.  The vet thought perhaps she'd had a minor stroke, then a major one in the night. 

She arrived suddenly in our life.  A relative of a relative had gotten her as a puppy and had her for ten years, then could no longer care for her.  We took her immediately, sight unseen.  For all of us, most especially Hoover and Teddy, it was love at first sight.  We never knew her as a puppy, only as a dignified, rather old lady.  She was our girl for just a few weeks shy of six years.

Old lady or not, she loved toys. 
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And cream.
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She'd do anything for food.  Like pose.
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And she loved teasing Hoover.  Hoover loved being teased by her, too. 


And she loved sneaking onto the furniture and sleeping all over it when we weren't looking.
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And she loved the little lawn we kept, just for her.
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And napping. 
 
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And being beautiful


And digging behind the Hydrangea.  
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And now she's gone, just like that, like a fist when you open your hand.  

    
We didn't get to say goodbye.  I say goodbye now, dear girl.  

So the moral of the story is to be a little kinder and more patient with the ones you love.  If you lose your patience, clench your hand into a fist, and then open it, to remind yourself the ones you love might vanish, just like that, before you can say goodbye.  

Comments

  1. I am very sorry for your loss, We have a border collie - Ben, and he is 3 years old. Before him though, we had a collie cross kelpie and he was an amazing beautiful dog, we lost him at the age of 15, he had a few strokes and seizures and collapsed, he was rushed to the vet, incoherent, and had to stay for a few days, he wasn't going to get better, only worse, he lost the use of his back legs, and the vet recommended he be put down. We were distraught, we wanted to spend more time with him before we had to do this. I wish i had spent more time with him, and not taken him for granted, as sometimes we do the ones we love. Just having to write this has brought tears to my eyes, and once again i am very sorry for your loss.

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  2. I am soo sorry I loved the rowdy playfullness of your photos...she was so lucky to have be adopted by you...what will Hoover do...:-(

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  3. Oh, I'm so sorry! Sounds like you enjoyed each other greatly though -- lots of good memories.

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  4. My deepest sympathies! First Hoover, then Cuddles. It has been a rough year for you and your hubby.

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  5. What shocking news about your dog. I wish you all the best and strength to come over this loose.
    Warm wishes marijke

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  6. What an awful homecoming for you. You gave her such a wonderful home, as these photos show so well, so let that comfort you a little.

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  7. So sorry to hear of the loss of your lovely dog Cuddles. Dogs really are part of the family. Thinking of you.

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  8. I read those words, "she's dead" and felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I can't imagine what it's like for you. The loss is bad enough, but the suddenness of it magnifies. I am so sorry.

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  9. So sorry to hear that. It is obvious how big a part of your life the dogs are.

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  10. So very sorry that you didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Cuddles. Been there—and for a long time it may stab to look at “her patch of grass” or her favorite outdoor napping chair. Surely there’s a big, painful hole in your heart right now, but look what a wonderful life, what a great loving home you gave her. There is solace there, but it will take awhile to find its way to where it hurts the most. Gardening helps. So does hugging Boris and Natasha every chance you get. . . but I suspect you already know that.

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  11. I am so, so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose a fuzzy member of the family. I'm glad you have the little troublemakers around to keep a smile on your face through this sad time.

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  12. Oh, I am so very sorry. It's clear she was a beloved friend and a beautiful girl, too. You didn't write a lot about Cuddles, but occasionally we'd see her there in the background while other members of the family took center stage. It must be very hard to be home with her gone, but maybe it will help to think of her once again teasing Hoover - over the rainbow bridge.

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  13. Sorry at your loss. Just remember the good times and enjoy all your great photos of her. Take care, John

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  14. How terribly sad, I am so sorry you have lost your beautiful Cuddles, my thoughts are with you.
    Sincerely, Dianne
    xoxoxo ♡

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  15. I am so sorry Cuddles is gone. When I read it I gasped, not that I knew her or know you, but I know that loss several times over. Every time it happens I say I can't go through it again, but then I imagine what my life would be without dogs, and a new relationship (not a replacement) soon comes.

    Peace to you and your family.

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  16. So sorry to hear about Cuddles, but from your post she appears to have enjoyed her life to the full.

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  17. Thanks to all for your kind comments. Still hurts. It will be while yet.

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