It's time... - Page 1

Ranger Aragorn - 2002 - April 10, 2016

"I will not say, 'Do not weep", for not all tears are an evil." Gandalf in Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

In the last week of March, I came home from work to find Ranger lying on the floor, in his own feces, and a small puddle of urine, unable to get up. It happened again on the next day, so I made an appointment with the vet. I was prepared to let him go, but decided to try a NSAID called Onsiror.

It worked very well after a few days, and he regained some mobliity.

Then, on Saturday, he crashed again. Every time he lay down, he wasn't able to get up on his own. He would whine and cry and then bark until I came to help him. When I managed to get him up on his feet, his hind legs were so weak they were actually crossing over each other, and I had to loop a towel under his stomach so I could help him walk. I just couldn't stand the idea of him falling down when I was at work, and lying there for  hours until I came home. I decided it was time.

I managed to find a vet clinic that was open on Sunday, and arranged to take him in. What made it all the more difficult was he showed a remarkable recovery between Saturday and Sunday. I slept on the floor beside him for most of Saturday night. When Sunday arrived, he was able to get up on his own, and hobble outside to pee. He even managed to get down the stairs to go to the fence and bark at the neighbour's two fuzzy little mutts.

When I took him to the clinic, he wanted to say 'hello' to all the people there and their dogs. (He also pooped on the floor, which has been a problem for over a year now. One of the vets at my regular clinic said "I can't imagine having to cope with that." I didn't say it, but my thoughts were "Hah! Just wait until it happens to YOUR dog!")

One of the receptionists escorted us into the 'Quiet Room' where euthanasia is done. He sniffed around a bit, then finally lay down, but his head was up, and he was doing what he's always done: listening to the sounds on the other side of the door, the thing that's made him a natural choice as my hearing ear dog.

I nearly lost my determination to go through with this.

Finally, the vet came in, and she sat and listened for a while while I explained the situation, and shared some stories about him. Then, she agreed to go through with the euthanasia, and gave him a sedative.

It took effect very quickly, but he still held his head up, listening to what was going on, until I gently pushed him over onto his side. I lay beside him on the floor, crying, and holding his paw, and petting him until she came to give him the final shot. It was over in less than 60 seconds.

Once she'd confirmed his death, and left the room, I sat there, staring at his body, expecting every moment to see his chest rise. It was so hard to accept what I'd just done to the dog I'd rescued, and owned for 11 years.

I finally left the clinic very quickly, afraid that some of the people who'd talked to me in the waiting room, and petted him would want to know what had happened.

What a hard, hard thing it is to let go...

 

 

 

From this...

to this...

My handsome boy!

Sunsilver

What a beautiful post. I am so sorry for your loss.

Don

SS, there are not words enough, in any tongue, that can come even close to what my heart is feeling for you tonight.

Releasing him from the body that was betraying him is nothing less than the most loving action you could take on his behalf, and I honor you for keeping that covenant we make with these marvelous, magnificent creatures when we bring them into our lives.

What a handsome boy SS, I am so very sorry for your loss. Your post was so touching, I feel your pain. The only down side of owning/loving a dog is when you have to let them go, you did the right thing and he's now in great company. Run free Ranger.

Now I'm crying at work....

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Ss very sory to here the words in your post at an insight into the bond u had with your frined no words will make it any easier .i wish u all the best.

 Oh, Sunsilver, what can I say ?

Mine was born the same year, also named

with J R Tolkien in hand, and more or less

collapsed after the same fashion when it

was time to go.  Think on:  you had a half-

year more with Ranger than I got with Taz... 

 

Know that you did THE right thing, they cannot

go on for ever, and WE cannot let them go on if

life is a burden to them.

Much love.

 

Linda.

I can fully empathise with you. I had to make the same decision last Thursday with my big and beautiful girl. She was 13 yrs old and had a massive tummy skin tumour and she struggled with her back legs to get up. On Thursday she didn't eat, not even a treat so I knew the time had come for us to say goodbye. The vet and her head nurse came out to our house, they were so kind that made me cry even more with how sensitive they were.

Maybe Ranger and Kira will meet at Rainbow Bridge. xxx

My deepest condolences to you, Sunsilver. RIP Ranger. He was well loved.🌹