Our elderly dachshund Guinevere, the matriarch of the clan, has had health problems for the last few years due to the pancreatitis she gave herself by raiding too many garbage cans. In the last few months, her health took a nose dive, and her quality of life deteriorated. She slept most of the day, skipped many of her meals, couldn’t control her hind legs well, had trouble navigating even small stairs, and often seemed confused and dazed. We considered taking her to the vet for that last trip then, but she seemed to bounce back a little. The vet examined her, concluded that she had had some sort of neural event—stroke, maybe—and told us that we were basically down to palliative care for her.
Today was the day we had been dreading for a while. She got up, refused her food, went back to her bed and spent the morning alternating between crying in obvious pain and walking around the house on failing hind legs. It was a heartbreaking sight, and we decided that she had no quality of life left. So I let her take one last nap with me on the bed upstairs while I said good-bye. Then Robin came home from work to put her into the car and take her for that last drive to the vet, to render her dog of almost fifteen years that last service. Guinevere is no longer in pain.
This dog was the most magnificent example of her breed I have ever met. Super-smart, stubborn, combative, yet loving and loyal. She gave birth to seventeen puppies and lived to her last day with three of them, plus one granddog, as the boss of a happy little pack. She raided many trashcans, fought many battles—against other dogs, poultry, small furry critters, and once even a fully-grown raccoon—and never backed down from a fight.
I always said she was too tough and mean to die, but of course I was wrong. The fight against her ailing older body was the one battle she couldn’t win in the end. We will miss her dearly, none more than Robin, who took her home as a little puppy in 1997, and who has been her companion for almost fifteen years. Guinevere vetted me for the position of mate for her human when I met Robin, and she has been a part of my life for ten years, but she was my wife’s dog first and always.
Farewell, Miss Guin, Battle-Bitch, destroyer of trash receptacles, eater of lobster shells, implacable foe of furry wildlife. You’ve had a good and full life, and the house won’t quite be the same without you to guard it.
Sounds like you gave her a great life. She was as lucky to have you as you her.
At the last there is that one last favor we must eventually do for our pets. However knowing it is necessary doesn’t make it easy nor does the number of times you go through it.
OMG So sorry for your loss. Totally stumbled on your website by mistake, and now am literally a blubbing mess bawling into tissues.With animals, I just fall apart. They’re so pure in their love and so innocent. I hate that. I wish they could stay forever.
Sorry to hear about her passing,Robin and Marko. Still ..the love was real and mutual. Went though the same with my Airedale. All the best.
Regards,
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Very sorry for your loss. I’ve been there on multiple occasions, most recently with a little feline companion of 16 years. It’s never easy, but you made the caring and compassionate choice.
Damn. Always hard to take. Condolences to all
Marco, my condolences. We went through this last year with our 16 year old Jenny, and my brother just went through this a few days ago with his 15 year old Eaton Weeds. I just hate that they get their tender hooks into our hearts so much, but the dogless life is even worse. We lasted 2 weeks after Jenny passed before getting Trapper, our boxador, from a dog rescue organization. Life with Trapper is infinitely better than life without Jenny.
My last post was a reply to the Rainbow Bridge post. I thought it would show up there.
This is one of my favorite stories, I read it when my dogs died.
Darn. I’m sorry to read the news and glad that she had such a good life. My condolences to all of y’all up there.
I am so sorry, Marko and family. 🙁
That’s wrenching. I hope you’re all feeling reasonably OK.
I’m terribly, terribly sorry for your loss, Marko. My deepest condolences to your family.
Robin and Marko, I’m sorry for your loss. She lived a full, good life and was clearly loved very much.
My most sincere condolences.
::scotaku
Condolences to the loss of your family member.
Damn! My allergies must be acting up again. My eyes are all wet and weepy.
So sorry for your loss, Marko.