Best Dog Ever
When I got home from work yesterday, I found that the little man who lives in Pele's head had been running all over, switching things off.
I noticed her standing next to her bed in the corner of the living room as soon as I entered the house. She wanted to stand up and walk outside, but her left front foot wouldn't work. The leg moved, but the foot wouldn't land pad-side-down so she could take a step. I hoped she just had a leg 'asleep' from her resting so much recently.
So, I carried her outside and set her down. After getting her balanced and all her feet under her, she tried to take another step. Same result - the foot rolled under, her back legs gave out and she started to go down. I held her up for a few minutes, hoping that circulation would resolve the issue.
No luck.
I carried her back in (no poop, no pee) and made her comfy on her bed.
I lost if for a minute.
Hubby and
bedpimp were at the movies, but I tried the cell phone anyway. Left a message.
Pele was resting without looking upset, so I put on a movie and curled up next to her. She went to sleep. I didn't.
Hubby got home and we reviewed our options. We tried getting her up and outside for another attempt at potty and walking. No go. Same result.
We came back in and set up the futon mattress in the living room with some soft blankets and a pile of pillows. That is where Pele and I slept last night, with hubby watching over both.
This morning, I called the vet. Dr. Brewer agreed to come by the house at 2:00 PM and to bring the medicine necessary to put Pele to sleep. We spent the next five hours loving on her, calling local friends so they could come by for a last visit, trying to keep her as relaxed as possible. Hubby, Fritz, Pele and I all curled up on the futon together: She slept, had a couple of 'chase dreams' (which I liked to watch), sipped a bit of water and then slept some more.
I took some time to thank her for being my dog, to thank the universe for bringing her into our lives, for letting us have these last few weeks to have her while she slipped away. To tell her I loved her and always will.
Abby Pet Hospital called at 2:00 PM, Dr. Brewer was on her way. Hubby took Fritz upstairs (I didn't want him to bite Dr. Brewer when she was being nice enough to come take care of this at our house), and we waited. At 2:10ish the vet came through the door. I was curled up next to Pele. Rene (Dr. Brewer) talked to us a little bit about her condition, hubby noted that she hadn't been breathing well that night while he was watching us sleep.
The needle came out, Pele didn't move until Rene had put it in her leg (a tiny yelp and a little jump - then she settled again). Rene did a slow push of a large volume of sedative. I had my hand on Pele's neck and felt her pulse fade out. She sighed once, relaxed and then stopped.
Tomorrow, I am going to buy a Thank You note for Rene and the other folks at Abby Pet Hospital. They didn't have to come out to our house to take care of us, but they did it without complaint, didn't charge us and have taken care of Pele's remains getting to the pet cemetary for cremation. Those will be on the mantel along with Leopold's and Nichodemus' early next week.
I miss her already.
Someday I may own another greyhound, but I need to wait a bit - because right now any other grey would only suffer by comparison to my little baby.
Pele
Pele-a-mei
Pepe-la-mei-a
La Bouch
Legs
Skinny Dog
Bologna Tongue
Stripe
J Lo Booty
You are the best dog ever.
I noticed her standing next to her bed in the corner of the living room as soon as I entered the house. She wanted to stand up and walk outside, but her left front foot wouldn't work. The leg moved, but the foot wouldn't land pad-side-down so she could take a step. I hoped she just had a leg 'asleep' from her resting so much recently.
So, I carried her outside and set her down. After getting her balanced and all her feet under her, she tried to take another step. Same result - the foot rolled under, her back legs gave out and she started to go down. I held her up for a few minutes, hoping that circulation would resolve the issue.
No luck.
I carried her back in (no poop, no pee) and made her comfy on her bed.
I lost if for a minute.
Hubby and
bedpimp were at the movies, but I tried the cell phone anyway. Left a message.
Pele was resting without looking upset, so I put on a movie and curled up next to her. She went to sleep. I didn't.
Hubby got home and we reviewed our options. We tried getting her up and outside for another attempt at potty and walking. No go. Same result.
We came back in and set up the futon mattress in the living room with some soft blankets and a pile of pillows. That is where Pele and I slept last night, with hubby watching over both.
This morning, I called the vet. Dr. Brewer agreed to come by the house at 2:00 PM and to bring the medicine necessary to put Pele to sleep. We spent the next five hours loving on her, calling local friends so they could come by for a last visit, trying to keep her as relaxed as possible. Hubby, Fritz, Pele and I all curled up on the futon together: She slept, had a couple of 'chase dreams' (which I liked to watch), sipped a bit of water and then slept some more.
I took some time to thank her for being my dog, to thank the universe for bringing her into our lives, for letting us have these last few weeks to have her while she slipped away. To tell her I loved her and always will.
Abby Pet Hospital called at 2:00 PM, Dr. Brewer was on her way. Hubby took Fritz upstairs (I didn't want him to bite Dr. Brewer when she was being nice enough to come take care of this at our house), and we waited. At 2:10ish the vet came through the door. I was curled up next to Pele. Rene (Dr. Brewer) talked to us a little bit about her condition, hubby noted that she hadn't been breathing well that night while he was watching us sleep.
The needle came out, Pele didn't move until Rene had put it in her leg (a tiny yelp and a little jump - then she settled again). Rene did a slow push of a large volume of sedative. I had my hand on Pele's neck and felt her pulse fade out. She sighed once, relaxed and then stopped.
Tomorrow, I am going to buy a Thank You note for Rene and the other folks at Abby Pet Hospital. They didn't have to come out to our house to take care of us, but they did it without complaint, didn't charge us and have taken care of Pele's remains getting to the pet cemetary for cremation. Those will be on the mantel along with Leopold's and Nichodemus' early next week.
I miss her already.
Someday I may own another greyhound, but I need to wait a bit - because right now any other grey would only suffer by comparison to my little baby.
Pele
Pele-a-mei
Pepe-la-mei-a
La Bouch
Legs
Skinny Dog
Bologna Tongue
Stripe
J Lo Booty
You are the best dog ever.