Our family lost a good friend this week. Sadly, we had to put down my wife’s 6 year old Black Lab, Addy.
Addy in her last week with us
Back at the beginning of February, she was diagnosed with bone cancer of the jaw, and by then the cancer had spread throughout her lymph nodes. The vet gave her only 2 weeks to a very few months to live. Heartbreaking news.
We decided then that as long as she was enjoying life, we would keep her on pain killers and pray she would die peacefully in her sleep at home. If that were not to be, then, when she no longer had a good quality of life, we would take her one last time to the vet. That day arrived all too soon. Such was Addy's indomitable spirit that we could feel her fighting the euthonol to the very end, but she finally couldn’t win that battle and slipped peacefully away.
Six years ago, we got Addy and her sister Roxy at 7 weeks of age.
Addy (L) Roxy (R) at 4 weeks
Roxy, a big boned, chunky, bull-in-a-china-shop dog, with all the strength and speed of a Clydesdale chose me. Addy, a small boned, sleek, almost dainty dog, with the speed of a race horse bonded immediately with Miss Linda. She was a natural sh*t disturber. She knew she wasn’t allowed to do certain things, knew she would get whacked for it, but she.. Just. Didn’t. Care! After doing the deed, she would come and sit in front of me, tail wagging, a huge grin, on her face, and wait for her whack. Every single time.
Addy’s world revolved around my wife. If she saw Miss Linda, or even heard her in another room, then 100% of her attention was focused on her to the exclusion of all else (at that point in time, I just became chopped liver).
I’ll miss her greatly, but Miss Linda is truly devastated—lots of tears and heartache.
Life is strange now, having only one dog to step over and around, only one dog to pet, walk, feed treats, and talk to. It is unbelievable how attached to a dog you can become when they have been part of your life for six years. Addy will be sorely missed.
We had Addy cremated, and this spring, when everything is green, we’ll spread her ashes over our land. She will forever run free and chase deer and rabbits (she might even finally catch one), and her spirit will always be with her “pack”.
Addy in her last week with us
Back at the beginning of February, she was diagnosed with bone cancer of the jaw, and by then the cancer had spread throughout her lymph nodes. The vet gave her only 2 weeks to a very few months to live. Heartbreaking news.
We decided then that as long as she was enjoying life, we would keep her on pain killers and pray she would die peacefully in her sleep at home. If that were not to be, then, when she no longer had a good quality of life, we would take her one last time to the vet. That day arrived all too soon. Such was Addy's indomitable spirit that we could feel her fighting the euthonol to the very end, but she finally couldn’t win that battle and slipped peacefully away.
Six years ago, we got Addy and her sister Roxy at 7 weeks of age.
Addy (L) Roxy (R) at 4 weeks
Roxy, a big boned, chunky, bull-in-a-china-shop dog, with all the strength and speed of a Clydesdale chose me. Addy, a small boned, sleek, almost dainty dog, with the speed of a race horse bonded immediately with Miss Linda. She was a natural sh*t disturber. She knew she wasn’t allowed to do certain things, knew she would get whacked for it, but she.. Just. Didn’t. Care! After doing the deed, she would come and sit in front of me, tail wagging, a huge grin, on her face, and wait for her whack. Every single time.
Addy’s world revolved around my wife. If she saw Miss Linda, or even heard her in another room, then 100% of her attention was focused on her to the exclusion of all else (at that point in time, I just became chopped liver).
I’ll miss her greatly, but Miss Linda is truly devastated—lots of tears and heartache.
Life is strange now, having only one dog to step over and around, only one dog to pet, walk, feed treats, and talk to. It is unbelievable how attached to a dog you can become when they have been part of your life for six years. Addy will be sorely missed.
We had Addy cremated, and this spring, when everything is green, we’ll spread her ashes over our land. She will forever run free and chase deer and rabbits (she might even finally catch one), and her spirit will always be with her “pack”.
