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January 26, 2007
Spencer
All of my life, the dogs that have come to me through childhood till nearly 4 years ago have always lived into old age. I just took it for granite.
It is hard to see them slow down and lose abilities to function. We love our animals so much. Never did I envision losing so many dogs long before their time should be up.
I have such a sad heart at this moment. I have lost one of my best friends and closest family members... Spencer. He was not yet 3 years of age.
A very strong, over 90 lb., reddish brown male mix of Rottweiler and we don’t know what else... just a sweet, big bear of a dog who charmed us completely.
Nearly 4 years ago, we lost Cooper. This was such a tragedy for many reasons, but mainly because we never found out what really happened to him... he just disappeared. He was almost 2 years old... a beautiful, large Rottweiler, Catahuala mix with one blue eye. We were crushed, as George went to the City Pound and the SPCA daily, for over two months.
I continued to check every animal shelter web-site, with all the sad pictures staring back at me each day. We are fairly sure of what probably happened to him.... so similar to Spencer.
Jake was Weimaraner who helped me raise the boys... he was a big part of their childhood, to say the least. He was almost 17 years old, and I have realized since, that he was probably suffering for far too long, but who ever wants to have their loved one put to sleep? He had tumors, and I was told that he had a massive brain tumor that was his demise. How could I not be aware... why did he have to suffer?
Oscar and Zoe were brother and sister, who were a Catahuala and we think, a Chow mix. Both had a very special place in our hearts. Oscar went first, and six months later, his sister died from the same genetic heart problem... they were both just 6 years old.
Zoe was a huntress, and the matriarch of the pack. She had a sweetness about her, but she was also cunning and quick. My youngest son really bonded with her, and this was funny, because originally he didn’t want a female. She would just slip up onto his lap and curl into his arms... he loved her.
In the early evening yesterday, I realized the two male dogs were not in the backyard. It was getting dark as I got into my car and called George about their missing. I drove around for about half an hour and George arrived to help. Nearly 20 minutes later, Louie showed up at the house without Spencer. Then George looked at me and said, “You should probably look on Bellaire”. I went with a sense of dread and as I drove up past the middle school, there he lay on the sidewalk. He had been hit by a car.
His body was still warm, but he had already left it behind. George came to take him away.
I did not sleep much. I continued to believe that this was a terrible nightmare, only to realize that it was... a living one.
My entire body aches. My face is swollen with red, distorted eyes. How can a body weep so much? I feel like something was pulled from my deep inside of me.
We loved Spencer so much, and he will be sorely missed.
Posted by kay at January 26, 2007 01:46 PM