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Farewell, my friend.
Nov. 22nd, 2008 12:54 pmI just took Underfoot to the vet today -- for the last time. He was about 11 years old (from what I gather, 10-14 is normal for Corgis). He had reached the point where he couldn't walk very well, and was in a lot of pain. We tried some pain killers but they just made him kind of stoned (I could have lived with that if I thought he could appreciate a continuous loop of Pink Floyd, but....) We were afraid he might go outside while we were at work (the dogs stay in the garage with a dog door to the outside) and not be able to make it back inside and get caught in the cold weather that is looming or the sub-freezing temps at night or a cold rain. He would see the other dogs getting excited about SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT that they would have to go running outside and he would whimper because he couldn't follow them. It sounds weird to say this, but while I will never forget him, and already miss him terribly, a great burden of worry has been lifted from me. I will probably sleep better tonight than have for the last couple of weeks.
Good points:
1) The other dogs AREN'T going crazy looking for him, like I thought they might. Maybe it's because he's been so inactive of late that he sort of slipped into the background for them (This was another concern for us; Argus, as sweet as she is, is an attention whore and a clumsy cow, and kept pushing him out of the way. We were afraid she might accidentally hurt him even more) Maybe they can't count and haven't figured out someone is missing (sadly, I can and do).
2) He didn't suffer long. Two weeks ago, he was chasing Puck around and chasing him and boxing with him like a pup. No long sad decline (I've been there before and it hurts).
3) Our vet is so cool. He sat down on the floor with me and Underfoot and told me that he has had several corgis himself and he always had a soft spot for Underfoot. When He gave Underfoot the final shot, he put a bandage around where he'd stuck in the needle. I almost laughed. I mean, what, are we afraid he's going to bleed to death? I know, It's for the owner, and not the animal, but it's cool anyway.
"Many nights, lost in confusion,
Caught between right and wrong
Though our love we've formed this union,
Through our love this friendship will stay strong"
---Larry Long "Farewell My Friend"
Good points:
1) The other dogs AREN'T going crazy looking for him, like I thought they might. Maybe it's because he's been so inactive of late that he sort of slipped into the background for them (This was another concern for us; Argus, as sweet as she is, is an attention whore and a clumsy cow, and kept pushing him out of the way. We were afraid she might accidentally hurt him even more) Maybe they can't count and haven't figured out someone is missing (sadly, I can and do).
2) He didn't suffer long. Two weeks ago, he was chasing Puck around and chasing him and boxing with him like a pup. No long sad decline (I've been there before and it hurts).
3) Our vet is so cool. He sat down on the floor with me and Underfoot and told me that he has had several corgis himself and he always had a soft spot for Underfoot. When He gave Underfoot the final shot, he put a bandage around where he'd stuck in the needle. I almost laughed. I mean, what, are we afraid he's going to bleed to death? I know, It's for the owner, and not the animal, but it's cool anyway.
"Many nights, lost in confusion,
Caught between right and wrong
Though our love we've formed this union,
Through our love this friendship will stay strong"
---Larry Long "Farewell My Friend"
