All dogs to go heaven.
I have so much going through my head right now. It's summer vacation and I'm still stressed. When to transfer and if I even get in.
Exactly a week after I come home from school my mom wakes me up by saying "you might wanna spend some time with your dog today". After taking him to the vet because all he'd done for 2 days was shake and sleep and vomit once or twice we found out Rags was in kidney failure and was dying. As the vet put it "toxins that he couldn't filter out were building up in his system and slowly killing him like poison". They did tests to see how advanced this was and his levels were off the charts. He was anemic and losing weight. But somehow my dog could still walk and jump and wag his tail when he wanted to. Which is what made it so hard. The vet suggested putting him to sleep that day. We talked about it as a family and decided if we would do it that day (saturday) or try to get a few more days out of it. We came to the conclusion that we didn't want the dog to suffer more and it would only be harder on us to wait longer. So the family hopped in the car and took my dog to the vet.
I've never seen my family all cry together. I've never seen my dad cry at all untill then. Luckily we've been blessed enough to not have anyone extremely close to us pass away yet. The 4 of us packed into the vets office and continued to cry. Worst feeling ever. My dad and brother couldn't bear to be with Rags when he was given the injections. Mom and I were with him, we couldn't let that happen to him without being surrounded by family.
The vet said it would be quick but we didn't know it would be that quick. Something was put into his arm to make sure his veins wouldn't burst because he was so anemic. It takes two shots...one to put him to sleep and then one to stop his heart. The vet said he'd quickly fall asleep. Well as she was giving him the first injection I'll never remember the horror of Rags just falling. Mom and I were petting him the entire time and he was given the second shot. After a minute the vet checked his heart and said "he's gone" and apologized and left the room. His eyes were open. I'll never forgot the sound of my moms cries as she hugged his lifeless body. She told him what a good boy he was and how much we loved him. I couldn't form words, I opened my mouth and nothing comprehendible came out.
By far the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. Decide what to do with my first and only real pet. And see my dad go through it. Rags was my dads dog. I would always joke to my dad about how the dog was his only friend.
My dad never wanted a dog. Since I could talk I begged my parents for a puppy and finally when i was 5 I got one. We got him either the day of, before or after valetines day and have old school video footage of us with Rags the day we got him. I have so many great memories, his many nicknames: killer, cornmuffin, scragginmuffin, corey always saying how he chased him down the street, he was a huge part of our neighborhood!
That night I had to go to a family party to get stuff ready for Amy's wedding. I drank one glass of wine. You know I feel fucked up when I only have 1 glass of wine at a family party. I felt bad here we are planning a wedding and I just sat there staring into space trying not to cry. I hope they understood. At least the sabres advanced to the next round that night.
Mom and I came home early, around 1 oclock both stone cold sober. I cried myself to sleep and found out my parents did too. My dog used to sleep with my dad right by his feet. My mom put his collar up on the bedpost. I never would have thought losing Rags would have impacted me and my family this much. Maybe because it was so quick and unexpected. Or cuz he was the first and only. But it's been 3 days now and I still can't think about him without crying. I'm already looking up new puppies just to get my mind off things but its too soon for everyone to get a new dog. Mom told me Rags waited for me to get home to see him before he had to go. I hope he knows that no dog could ever replace him and I hope that like my aunt says he "can go play with snoopy and cookie".
RIP Raggamuffin Rex Bertini
November 28, 1992 - May 13, 2006
Exactly a week after I come home from school my mom wakes me up by saying "you might wanna spend some time with your dog today". After taking him to the vet because all he'd done for 2 days was shake and sleep and vomit once or twice we found out Rags was in kidney failure and was dying. As the vet put it "toxins that he couldn't filter out were building up in his system and slowly killing him like poison". They did tests to see how advanced this was and his levels were off the charts. He was anemic and losing weight. But somehow my dog could still walk and jump and wag his tail when he wanted to. Which is what made it so hard. The vet suggested putting him to sleep that day. We talked about it as a family and decided if we would do it that day (saturday) or try to get a few more days out of it. We came to the conclusion that we didn't want the dog to suffer more and it would only be harder on us to wait longer. So the family hopped in the car and took my dog to the vet.
I've never seen my family all cry together. I've never seen my dad cry at all untill then. Luckily we've been blessed enough to not have anyone extremely close to us pass away yet. The 4 of us packed into the vets office and continued to cry. Worst feeling ever. My dad and brother couldn't bear to be with Rags when he was given the injections. Mom and I were with him, we couldn't let that happen to him without being surrounded by family.
The vet said it would be quick but we didn't know it would be that quick. Something was put into his arm to make sure his veins wouldn't burst because he was so anemic. It takes two shots...one to put him to sleep and then one to stop his heart. The vet said he'd quickly fall asleep. Well as she was giving him the first injection I'll never remember the horror of Rags just falling. Mom and I were petting him the entire time and he was given the second shot. After a minute the vet checked his heart and said "he's gone" and apologized and left the room. His eyes were open. I'll never forgot the sound of my moms cries as she hugged his lifeless body. She told him what a good boy he was and how much we loved him. I couldn't form words, I opened my mouth and nothing comprehendible came out.
By far the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. Decide what to do with my first and only real pet. And see my dad go through it. Rags was my dads dog. I would always joke to my dad about how the dog was his only friend.
My dad never wanted a dog. Since I could talk I begged my parents for a puppy and finally when i was 5 I got one. We got him either the day of, before or after valetines day and have old school video footage of us with Rags the day we got him. I have so many great memories, his many nicknames: killer, cornmuffin, scragginmuffin, corey always saying how he chased him down the street, he was a huge part of our neighborhood!
That night I had to go to a family party to get stuff ready for Amy's wedding. I drank one glass of wine. You know I feel fucked up when I only have 1 glass of wine at a family party. I felt bad here we are planning a wedding and I just sat there staring into space trying not to cry. I hope they understood. At least the sabres advanced to the next round that night.
Mom and I came home early, around 1 oclock both stone cold sober. I cried myself to sleep and found out my parents did too. My dog used to sleep with my dad right by his feet. My mom put his collar up on the bedpost. I never would have thought losing Rags would have impacted me and my family this much. Maybe because it was so quick and unexpected. Or cuz he was the first and only. But it's been 3 days now and I still can't think about him without crying. I'm already looking up new puppies just to get my mind off things but its too soon for everyone to get a new dog. Mom told me Rags waited for me to get home to see him before he had to go. I hope he knows that no dog could ever replace him and I hope that like my aunt says he "can go play with snoopy and cookie".
RIP Raggamuffin Rex Bertini
November 28, 1992 - May 13, 2006