I just found my 13 year old recessive Pembroke Corgi named Derby, dead under the deck. I went down to feed him this morning and I couldn't find him. I walked in our woods, up and down the street calling him to no avail.
I knew he was winding down in his quest at life as he was sleeping more and not eating as well. My husband came home this afternoon and went to look for him. I knew he had gone out to die. I just didn't know where.
So he has been bathed and wrapped in a baby blanket and we will bury him in our backyard. My son is coming home for the first time in 8 months for the weekend and Derby was his dog. I am not telling him until he gets home so we can mourn as a family.
I feel so blessed to have had this funny little dog who made us laugh and was good with horses. My shepherds were acting funny this morning and I couldn't figure out why. Animals have this innate sense that people could truly learn from on so many levels.
RIP Derby 11/99-8/13 I loved you a lot.
Oh man. The same thing happened over 2 years ago here around Thanksgiving. My son's wolfdog, Miesha, went under the house and wouldn't come out. She had gone deaf and went blind in one eye, our other WD would walk on her blind side and help her navigate the property.
Pulled her out from under the house, made her nice and comfortable on the couch (all 65 lbs. of her) and made her a nice dinner, which she scarfed up, no problem. Took her out to do her business that night and she went to sleep.
Next morning she lapsed into unconsciousness, our other WD forever at her side, and died within the next hour. We let Ontos (the other WD) stay with her several hours and mourn. He would not let us near her for quite a while. Buried her down at the pond.
My son was in school, S.F., and it totally broke his heart. Miesha was his Easter pup he got when he was 8 years old. She was his best bud and it was tough leaving her here when he left. He had me take pics of her to email him.
First thing he did when he came to visit that following January was visit her grave.
It'll be tough, but it helps knowing their pup had a good life and died on their own terms. I can't deal with taking them to a vet to be put down, I want to tell the vet to stop, stop, stop! The whole "where there's life, there's hope" thing. Just in those few seconds as they slip away, I found myself question my decision. I had to do this once, and I've never done it again. Just too hard on me.
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raying:
