Ditto on getting another dog. I've always had rescues, and always 2 dogs at a time, with a several year age gap. Of the latest two huskies, Loki at 13+ is coming near the end. Mojo is 9 or so. Every time I think the end is near, Loki (blind, deaf and arthritic) comes hip-hopping along and walks 2 miles, albeit slowly. I love my dogs, have been surrounded by them since I was 2 yrs old. They love so unconditionally and bring out the best in us. My Dad, at age 96, put down his last dog 6 weeks ago, with a sad recognition that he will never have another dog. But what a run of dog love! It's the best.
It’s terrible when you can’t explain to them. Have you tried pill pockets? Chilo gobbles them right up. FELINE GREENIES PILL POCKETS for Cats Natural Soft Cat Treats, Tuna & Cheese Flavor, 1.6 oz. Pack (45 Treats) https://a.co/d/1zvgDyR
I stumbled over this through Notes--I'm liking Notes--and was reduced to tears. I'm tending my 18-year old cat, Zeki, as he declines from chronic kidney disease. I'm watching the life slowly leak out of him. I had seven cats, adopted when I found them, tiny and mewling, in a mosque in Istanbul; three of them are still alive. The whole litter was small enough to fit in my hands. Their mother had been killed by a dog. They've been my round-the-clock companions ever since. I work at home, so they've been by my side almost every minute of the day since the day I brought them home. It's the purest love I know--completely unsullied by the complex layers of grievance and ambivalence that mark all of our relationships with humans, however deep and loving. I simply love them, with no qualification, and vice-versa.
Losing them is agonizing. Watching them weaken is agonizing. I can't explain to Zeki why I torture him every day by forcing pills in his mouth, or sticking him with a needle and pumping fluids under his skin. He hates the pills and struggles against them, which makes me feel like a monster: I've never done anything to him that he hates before. It makes me so sad when he sees me coming and runs, fearful that another pill is in the works.
But it touches me so much that his love for me--and his trust--are so great that he forgives me within minutes of swallowing his pill and comes over to sink his head in my chest, press himself against my body, and purr.
That love contains, inherently, the sure prospect of grief is the unbearable truth of the world.
I wish you and Chilo peace and love in his last days.
Holly, what a beautiful and heart-rending tribute to Chilo! Yesterday I took our old dog Chico (just one letter away!) to the vet for various age-related issues, and we too are now facing what we always knew would come. Thank you for putting into words what I'm feeling. As A.A. Milne said, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. As terrible as it is, I'm so grateful for 11 years with this big dog. I'm so sorry for your grief. I'll be thinking of you and your family as you love Chilo with all your hearts.
Thank you for the best sobbing fit I've had since I watched "Denali - A Tribute to Man's Best Friend" (srsly - youtube search it but only after procuring a family size box of tissue). Chilo/Chulo thanks you for his amazing love-filled life. Hugs from Rusty, Scotty MacTavish, Hailey, Koko, Dallas, Athena, Beep-Beep & Bocephus in STL & Beyond.
Awwww, Chilo. We lost our beloved corgi in January--only 9 years old but she had zero platelets and we eventually needed to put her to sleep. Even so, we're planning to get another puppy in the fall.
Sending hugs as you say goodbye to Chilo. Dogs are a wonderful, funny addition to our lives.
Beautiful and poignant. Thank you. Our friends, Jim and Neal, love cocker spaniels; they’ve had many. Now that they’re in their 70’s they deliberately adopt rescues that are older because they don’t want their dogs to outlive them. As a result they’ve gone through what you just have too many times. And yet, each time, a few weeks later, they’re out looking again for one or two cockers that are old and/infirm and need a loving home for their last year or two… knowing that their hearts will break again.
Beautiful item, Holly. Reminds me of Matt Labash's item (which I sent to you) but also want to share here for others: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fweekly-standard%2Fafter-moses-solomon
Basically, dogs are great. Mourning them is painful, but get another dog ASAP. Dogs need good caretakers!
Ditto on getting another dog. I've always had rescues, and always 2 dogs at a time, with a several year age gap. Of the latest two huskies, Loki at 13+ is coming near the end. Mojo is 9 or so. Every time I think the end is near, Loki (blind, deaf and arthritic) comes hip-hopping along and walks 2 miles, albeit slowly. I love my dogs, have been surrounded by them since I was 2 yrs old. They love so unconditionally and bring out the best in us. My Dad, at age 96, put down his last dog 6 weeks ago, with a sad recognition that he will never have another dog. But what a run of dog love! It's the best.
It’s terrible when you can’t explain to them. Have you tried pill pockets? Chilo gobbles them right up. FELINE GREENIES PILL POCKETS for Cats Natural Soft Cat Treats, Tuna & Cheese Flavor, 1.6 oz. Pack (45 Treats) https://a.co/d/1zvgDyR
I stumbled over this through Notes--I'm liking Notes--and was reduced to tears. I'm tending my 18-year old cat, Zeki, as he declines from chronic kidney disease. I'm watching the life slowly leak out of him. I had seven cats, adopted when I found them, tiny and mewling, in a mosque in Istanbul; three of them are still alive. The whole litter was small enough to fit in my hands. Their mother had been killed by a dog. They've been my round-the-clock companions ever since. I work at home, so they've been by my side almost every minute of the day since the day I brought them home. It's the purest love I know--completely unsullied by the complex layers of grievance and ambivalence that mark all of our relationships with humans, however deep and loving. I simply love them, with no qualification, and vice-versa.
Losing them is agonizing. Watching them weaken is agonizing. I can't explain to Zeki why I torture him every day by forcing pills in his mouth, or sticking him with a needle and pumping fluids under his skin. He hates the pills and struggles against them, which makes me feel like a monster: I've never done anything to him that he hates before. It makes me so sad when he sees me coming and runs, fearful that another pill is in the works.
But it touches me so much that his love for me--and his trust--are so great that he forgives me within minutes of swallowing his pill and comes over to sink his head in my chest, press himself against my body, and purr.
That love contains, inherently, the sure prospect of grief is the unbearable truth of the world.
I wish you and Chilo peace and love in his last days.
Holly, what a beautiful and heart-rending tribute to Chilo! Yesterday I took our old dog Chico (just one letter away!) to the vet for various age-related issues, and we too are now facing what we always knew would come. Thank you for putting into words what I'm feeling. As A.A. Milne said, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. As terrible as it is, I'm so grateful for 11 years with this big dog. I'm so sorry for your grief. I'll be thinking of you and your family as you love Chilo with all your hearts.
You too. Hugs to Chico. Good pup.
That's a great, thoughtful tribute, and brings me right back to parting with our good little tzu, Oscar, a year and a half ago.
Awww. I'm sure Oscar was a very good pup.
Thank you for the best sobbing fit I've had since I watched "Denali - A Tribute to Man's Best Friend" (srsly - youtube search it but only after procuring a family size box of tissue). Chilo/Chulo thanks you for his amazing love-filled life. Hugs from Rusty, Scotty MacTavish, Hailey, Koko, Dallas, Athena, Beep-Beep & Bocephus in STL & Beyond.
Awwww, Chilo. We lost our beloved corgi in January--only 9 years old but she had zero platelets and we eventually needed to put her to sleep. Even so, we're planning to get another puppy in the fall.
Sending hugs as you say goodbye to Chilo. Dogs are a wonderful, funny addition to our lives.
I’m so sorry.
I'm gonna go hug my dog. She'll forgive me if I dry my eyes on her coat.
Beautiful and poignant. Thank you. Our friends, Jim and Neal, love cocker spaniels; they’ve had many. Now that they’re in their 70’s they deliberately adopt rescues that are older because they don’t want their dogs to outlive them. As a result they’ve gone through what you just have too many times. And yet, each time, a few weeks later, they’re out looking again for one or two cockers that are old and/infirm and need a loving home for their last year or two… knowing that their hearts will break again.
I love this. How lovely. Bless them.
This made me cry (but in the best possible way.) I've had to go through this many times and it never gets easier. Hugs to you and your family.
You put that so well.