I had to go with a friend today to have her dog Tony put to sleep. He was eleven years old, and had developed a large and horrible mast cell tumor. I and another friend went with her, as she has no one else; her husband died six months ago.
I've known Tony, who was a Catalan sheepdog, since he came to them as a little puppy. He was friends with Billy, Bones and Bella, and also more lately with Poppy and Merlin. Going to the vet's was hard; he was still wagging his tail and smiling, but the tumor was horrible and bleeding and the vet said this was the kindest and best thing to do, and was sapping his strength and energy. It brought back so clearly the last time I was there with Bones, and although I meant to be supportive and strong, I have to say I broke down in sobs as Tony was helped onto the table and was fed his last treats.
Honestly he wasn't my most favorite dog, he was very hairy and smelly and he was not well trained at all, would bark and bark in the garden if my friend was out (her husband had multiple sclerosis and was in a wheelchair), and always had to be on a long line as he would run away in the forest and be gone for hours otherwise. But... he was a part of our little circle of neighbors and their dogs, and she is devastated.
2020 is pretty shite so far.
I've known Tony, who was a Catalan sheepdog, since he came to them as a little puppy. He was friends with Billy, Bones and Bella, and also more lately with Poppy and Merlin. Going to the vet's was hard; he was still wagging his tail and smiling, but the tumor was horrible and bleeding and the vet said this was the kindest and best thing to do, and was sapping his strength and energy. It brought back so clearly the last time I was there with Bones, and although I meant to be supportive and strong, I have to say I broke down in sobs as Tony was helped onto the table and was fed his last treats.
Honestly he wasn't my most favorite dog, he was very hairy and smelly and he was not well trained at all, would bark and bark in the garden if my friend was out (her husband had multiple sclerosis and was in a wheelchair), and always had to be on a long line as he would run away in the forest and be gone for hours otherwise. But... he was a part of our little circle of neighbors and their dogs, and she is devastated.
2020 is pretty shite so far.
