What a tough and at the same time great thread. Our pets do fill a very unique spot in our lives.
Last year in a 9 month period I lost my cat, my dad and our golden retriever.
I was never a cat person until I dug a tiny kitten out of the fender of my truck. I named him Dodge. He grew to a 15 lb cuddle machine. When he decided it was time for my lap, it did not matter what was there. It got knocked out of the way so he could lay down. He loved teaching the dogs things. There isn't much funnier than watching a grown lab and fat retriever trying to sit and balance on the back of a couch like the cat does. Both would sit in the picture window with the cat, with 2 legs on the sill and 2 on the floor. Dodge was 10 when he died while I was petting him.
Dad died from a pulmonary embolism after emergency surgery. When it comes down to it, it was plain stubbornness that did it. He had a cancerous mass in his colon. There is no doubt it had been giving him problems for years, he just ignored it. Worked for 41 years and never took a day off that wasn't an emergency. No vacation, just work. Enjoyed a year and a half of retirement.
The night of the surgery the hospital requested a family member stay with him. He was pretty restless, so I played Roy Orbison on the laptop all night. Although Dad was only awake for a few minutes at a time while I was with him, I am so grateful that I spent that last night there with him listening to all the songs I heard him sing while I was growing up. The next day he was doing great and the hospital said we didn't need to be there that night. In fact he would probably be released early because he was so strong and doing so well. Then we got the 3 A.M. call. Mom is still a wreck. 6'5" 350 lbs of attitude and heart shoe horned into a 5'1" 130 lb package.
Sage the Golden Retriever just went from good to sick in a few hours. The vet was at a loss, but thought something with her liver. We gave her the prescriptions, but the next day she was gone. She was the happiest, goofiest dog I have ever encountered. She was 4 so it was very unexpected.
Our sheltie is pushing 12 and his age is showing. He lays on the pillow next to my chair with his blanket on, waiting for some loving. Such a huge change from the bundle of energy he was a few years ago. When I take the lab out to throw her ball I have to put him on the bed and cover him up. Once he is taking his nap I take the lab out. He would for sure try to chase the ball and he has hurt himself the last few times.
The lab is very much Daddies girl. Her favorite place in the world is leaning against me. She is 8, so I hope we have lots of good years left.
It's funny, none of the pets started out as mine. Wife, daughter and son got them. Now there is no doubt who they claim as their owner.
I apologize for the length of the post. I have not written about any of this before. It does help to get it out.
Roge
