bummer entry -don't read me if you're already down. bah.
So my dog has been put to sleep. I know i probably shouldn't be snuffling and being all weepy, but i am. Pepper the Black Lab will be missed - she's was 12 1/2 years old and lived a long, full life. She was a big, silly, dumb-as-a-bag-of-hammers, loyal, loveable, smelly, wonderful friend. My dog, my puppy, my pseudo-sister. since i've moved out of my folks and she stayed (due to lack of space in NYC - she never did learn to walk well on a leash ) i have missed her. that's why i suppose i keep thinking it shouldn't have hurt this much to know she's gone. i mean, she hasn't been a part of my day to day life in a few years now...but the thought of going home to visit and not seeing her just tears me up. and causes the weepies and all that snotting/sniffling business. bah. and i'm worried about my mom - she's a teacher and summer vacation is coming and i think the dog has become something of a surrogate "kid" to her. she never really had to contend with a truly "empty nest" since when my brother and i moved out, there was still ole Pepper Rose. i hope mom's going to be ok. i was going to suggest volunteering at a local shelter or kennel or even vet hospital, but somehow i think that would be a bad idea. she'd probably end up bringing one or two home...
anyway, i'm bummed and that sucks. too many animals have been dying around me lately, and i can honestly say that for a zookeeper, that is one incredibly SUCK-ASS situation!! grrrrrrrrr.....in the past 3 weeks, we have lost an Eland (here's a pic, if you're interested in what one is: http://www.wild-africa.co.uk/eland.jpg), a Caracal cat (http://www.dewildt.org.za/imgs_dewildt/caracal.jpg) a Serval cat (http://www.recordsburpee.com/images/serval_cat.JPG) and a Mississippi Sandhill Crane (http://www.othello-wa.com/images/facts_2.jpg). talk about depressing... times like this when i don't like my job so very much. its so hard to have things like that happen when there's nothing anyone could do about it. only 1 of those animals was a euthanasia...and it was the only thing we could do for her. exotic cats in full-blown kidney failure have no other option. it was THE right thing to do. the only thing left we could do to help her. but that doesn't make it any less sad for me than knowing putting my old dog down is the right decision to make. i can't handle animals suffering like that. but still, missing them sucks, too.
anyway, i'm bummed and that sucks. too many animals have been dying around me lately, and i can honestly say that for a zookeeper, that is one incredibly SUCK-ASS situation!! grrrrrrrrr.....in the past 3 weeks, we have lost an Eland (here's a pic, if you're interested in what one is: http://www.wild-africa.co.uk/eland.jpg), a Caracal cat (http://www.dewildt.org.za/imgs_dewildt/caracal.jpg) a Serval cat (http://www.recordsburpee.com/images/serval_cat.JPG) and a Mississippi Sandhill Crane (http://www.othello-wa.com/images/facts_2.jpg). talk about depressing... times like this when i don't like my job so very much. its so hard to have things like that happen when there's nothing anyone could do about it. only 1 of those animals was a euthanasia...and it was the only thing we could do for her. exotic cats in full-blown kidney failure have no other option. it was THE right thing to do. the only thing left we could do to help her. but that doesn't make it any less sad for me than knowing putting my old dog down is the right decision to make. i can't handle animals suffering like that. but still, missing them sucks, too.
