skeeter

[Chyna]

Does anyone know what the outcome is on Skeeter? I know Mem was taking him in today sometime but can't remember the time and then how many time zones that is away from me. :rolleyes: I'm not good with the time zone thing. I hope someone went with her, I wouldn't want to have to make that decision alone.:(

[ChapterTwo]

I haven't read any posts from Memmey since Tuesday, so I really don't know if she went with Skeeter yesterday - I know just how hard it is when such a decision rests in your hands. I just keep praying for strength for Memmey..no matter what.

[cheapdiva]

Mem -

Do you see us here, worried about you? I hope you did what was best for Skeeter and I know how hard it is. I have had to put down 2 dogs in my life and both times thought I would be okay because I knew how much my pups were suffering. And truthfully, they should have been put down sooner than I did it but I kept hoping for some kind of miracle.

Then I felt guilty afterwards because they looked so peaceful at the end and I just have to believe they are in the big dog park in the sky. So if Skeeter is there now, he can go sniff out Rueben and Sadie and all the other CL dogs and know he has a ready made family there - just like you have all of us here.

And I also know there will be another Skeeter in your life when you are ready.

[Chyna]

I"m thinking in this case no news is bad news. You come back when you can Memmey. We're always around in some form.:o

[Memmey]

Hey everyone....It has rained every other day or so since my last post. The hard reality is that we can't dig his little grave when the ground is soaked. I have been thinking about you all and I have just stayed away. I don't want to be Debbie Downer.

I was shampooing my last customer yesterday and I got a call and this lovely lovely voice said, " Is this Memmey". I was shocked cause only my family and you all know me by my nickname. It was Maria. :) :) :) I couldn't beleive it. She called to check on me and little Skeet. I had to finnish my last customer( in record time ) before I could return the call. She told me ya'll were all concerned and now that I read all the posts this morning I realize I should have posted what was going on. Sorry.

It has rained and rained and his situation is about the same. I dread him going out and getting all wet and getting lost and cannot find his way in. One minute I say it's not so bad and them I know I'm being selfish. He wouldn't want to live like this . He falls down and runs into things and when he gets in, he lies around. When he is lying still I think it's not so bad but I can't hardly watch when he's outside.

We have an appointment for Wednesday at 2:30 and I guess that will be it. Emil is coming to dig and help me take him. If the gorund is dry enough I mean. I told them I may have to cancel if it isn't.

Maria calling was the greatest thing and I need to call Lisa also. She contacted me and I said I would call.
I'm not laying around crying, I just have to not think about it.
The weather here is so ugly. Wet and cold . The gound looks like cold wet fudge. My puppy is NOT gonna be buried in that.

I think about you all and I have great affection for each one of you, especially those of us who have been here for a while. The sound of Maria's voice was so comforting. Like I had known her forever.

This is just life....and it stinks. The stuff that breaks your heart. I am grieving a handsome and loyal protector, some sweet people have to grieve losing a child. It is life and the best we can do is say our prayers and be thankful for getting to know them at all.

It has been an extreme honor to know Skeeter. His integrity and unfailing loyality still takes my breath away.

[WannaBHomemaker]

My heart hurts for you Memmey! Sometimes I have nightmares about one of my dogs getting run over by a car or semi (there's hundreds that go 80mph down the road in front of the house) and it breaks my heart to think someday I'll have to say goodbye to them. You are in my prayers this week. And I'll be praying for sunshine on Tuesday and Wednesday.

[Lisa S]

Nothing gets out of life alive. It's such a huge gift to love each other.

[RoseMary]

I'm still praying for you, Memmey. I'm so glad that Emil is going to be with you.

[rubyslippers]

Memmey ... I'm thinking of you!

[dedavis]

Me too, I think of you every day. I'm glad you and Emil are doing this together.

Hugs to you...

[Evelyn]

Memmy,

I am thinking about you and Skeeter...........

Attached is a photo of headstone that I made for my beloved dog. She was 12 yrs old and terminally ill. A friend and I made this stone for her the day that I had the appt. to take her to the vet. She slept quietly on her bed while we worked........It has been over 10 years since she died and I can still cry at the drop of hat about it (like now). I love having this reminder of her in the garden.....

Evelyn

[Evelyn]

I got so teary-eyed I forgot to attach the photo!!!!

[SusiesQs]

Aww, Evelyn, it's beautiful.

Memmey, I am sorry you are having to go through this. My hopes and prayers are with you and Skeeter.

[gigiG]

Choked up. Evelyn- what a beautiful headstone. Memmey- hope you are okay. :(

[Chyna]

Wow Evelyn that is beautiful.:) I got a stepping stone over where we buried our two little doggies. Says something along the lines that if love could have kept you alive you'd live forever.

Mem
have you thought of cremating Skeeter? That way you could bury him whenever it finally dries up there. We've done that with both of our cresteds, Ivan went with his favorite blanket wrapped around him and his Taco Bell dog in his front legs. I do have to chuckle thinking of the Taco dog saying "How cool is this?" as they went in. And Worf went with his little cow. Jason cremated his American Eskimo and we spread her ashes off the Beartooth Highway into a valley below. All my dogs will be cremated and buried in my rose garden, well except for Gus. I made a promise to his owner that I'd bury him with him and I'm going to do that one way or another.

[ChapterTwo]

Somehow I lost track of this thread, but found it now, in the early hours.

Evelyn, the headstone is beautiful and is a fitting testament to how much you loved your pup! He sure was a special doggie.

As for cremation vs. burial...if I had my druthers, I'd have gone for burial when I found my sweet Mysty (Pomeranian) in "forever sleep" a year and a half ago. (She suddenly got sick, and she was only 8, but that's another story.) But it's just me and my two kids (in their twenties) and we're a bunch of softies...just couldn't pick her up (after she died during the night) and you know what condition she'd be in. Heck, I found her in the morning, and the kids wouldn't even come down to see her that way....I don't blame them - I didn't want to either, but I found her that day! And my kitties were circling her, and standing by her side...sniff, sniff. They all got along so well.

Several years ago, my Dad would have done all he could to help me, or my uncle would have too...but they're gone now.

So I did the only thing I could do - I called the vet's office (and it was 4th of July weekend, so I went crazy finding someone who would come) and took my sweet baby and cremation was done.

My friend in PA and her husband have had many many pets, and they find comfort in having the boxes with the ashes of their pets. In fact, when their own time comes, they want the pets buried with them!

But for me - it creeps me out - the one time I came across Mysty's box and I felt that "electric shock" feeling through my body - it startled me, and then made me sad. I'd much rather have had a place I could go to and put flowers...
But again, that's just me.

I still have Mysty's leash hanging by my front door.

Memmey...How is Skeeter doing these days? I think of you both so much.

[Lisa S]

I was cleaning out a cabinet in my room yesterday and found Fredo's old collar. It still smelled like her, my sweet and stinky old dog. My tummy fluttered just to smell her smell.

[Memmey]

Good morning everyone it's Saturday, yea!!!!!
Skeet is still hangin on. It's a beautiful day. The high is gonna be 68 and the sun is finally shining. My boy is still the same without the circling. Thank goodness. I'm gonna post a photo of him in the googles. Poor soul.
Your not gonna believe this but my best friend Louise took her dog to the vet and she has cancer. They removed her spleen but I think it may be too late. She has lymphoma. What are the odds that two people who are close friends would face their dogs being very ill at the exact same time????? Skeet he is just an old man but Maggie is only 7.
I think my decision to cancel the appointment for Skeet was correct. When the sun is shining things look much better. Isn't that always the way it is. Sunshine..... what a wonderful thing.
Here is my new idea( because the sun is shining) , I'm gonna enjoy each extra day I get with him.
I miss ya'll here and I tired of being such a downer.
I need batteries for the Diva's camera and I'll post his googles for you to see. Who thought to make googles for blind dogs...someone really sweet I bet.:)

[Lisa S]

Memmy,

I have a best friend that I've know since I was 16. Her doggie died on the very same day that my doggie died. I called her sobbing from the vet to get comfort and she was sobbing when she picked up the phone. A very unlucky event, but somehow it's like it's ment to be.

I'm glad Skeeter is hanging in there and I'm really glad that you made the decision that you did. You're right to enjoy every little moment with him now. Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle. Kiss him on the nose from his Auntie Lisa. I just adore old dogs. They all have the face of the most faithful of friends.

[ChapterTwo]

I think my decision to cancel the appointment for Skeet was correct. When the sun is shining things look much better. Isn't that always the way it is. Sunshine..... what a wonderful thing.
Here is my new idea( because the sun is shining) , I'm gonna enjoy each extra day I get with him.



Yup, that's the way TO live each day...as if it were a gift, because each day IS!

[dedavis]

I've decided to have Hawkeye to stay for awhile, because I want to have time with him before he goes away. You all said it very well below. It's going to make things chaotic for awhile, and the old cat isn't going to like it. But I'll buy a couple bottles of Nature's Miracle to clean up his protest pee and just deal with it.

It's worth spending time with a beloved companion. I think you're brave, Memmey.

Here's a picture of me and dogboy when we were both younger.

[gigiG]

Deb- That one great picture. I love the black and white tone. And aww....just look at that beautiful dog. A little drama is good, enjoy your visit. :)

[Chyna]

I know what you mean about running into the box with the ashes in it. We sort of forgot about those boxes and then would run into them unexpectedly. It does give you a shock! We did bury the ashes last fall/summer. And they have permanent flowers with them. I put them between two rose shrubs. :) My brother in law had all his beloved dogs cremated and dumped into one urn, and he told all of us, friends included, that when he died he wanted to be cremated and his ashes mixed with the dogs or at least the dogs buried with him. We couldn't do the mixing part (even though Jason's aunts kids managed to do that with their mom and a dog) but with the funeral director not looking we included that urn with Trent. We had made arrangements with him earlier that Gus was to be included if he died within a couple years, well Trent beat him to it but I intend on going up to the cemetary and digging a hole for Gus' ashes or at least some of them. It seems only right.

That is great that Skeeter is doing better. The goggles have to be cute on his little face. You may have to change your sign to "Warning, Blind Attack Dog". :() You do what you have to do when they become injured. I had already decided that if Wuffie was permanently paralyzed I would get her a wheelchair. would probably have to make my own since they are so expensive but I was prepared to do so. Still need to make the appt for her next vet specialist. She can walk in a fashion and doing good but I would like her to have a spinal manipulation or something. See if they can get that disc moved or unpinch whatever nerve is being pinched. And probably do some changes to my deck so she can get up and down the stairs easier. It is not an easy track we're on my friend.:(

[Memmey]

Deb ....look....... how cute you and Hawkeye are. The photo looks like a postcard. That is a handsome boy. Good luck. I hope we haven't talked you into something that is gonna make life too stressful**;

[cheapdiva]

I'll take Hawkeye! We had a friend's dog last week for 4 days and on the 3rd day she got VERY sick. I awoke to her crying at 2:30 last Friday morning and as soon as I got out of the bedroom and into the hall I could smell it . . .

it had come out of both ends of her in 8 different places - all on the 100% wool oriental carpet. By the time I got her outside and cleaned up the carpet (soap and water, then the enzyme stuff then fabreezed the rug to death) it was nearly 4. By this time Lucy is up and out of her crate wanting to play (if I had left her in the crate she would have whined and gotten the other half up). I got Molly (our guest dog) back in with Jeff and Lucy and I went and slept in the guest room.

Molly spent Friday with stuff coming out of her every 30 - 60 minutes . . . usually right after I got back from taking her out. I called my friend who was due to come home from a conference (in sunny warm Miami) to let her know what was going on.

She felt awful about the rug and offered to replace or have it cleaned but really I was just concerned that Molly wasn't alright. She is 12 and a pretty old 12 at that.

They are like kids when they're sick - you feel so bad and helpless and just hope they'll get better.

Needless to say every square inch of my house got cleaned over the weekend. :()

[RoseMary]

Deb, that dog is beautiful~you'll love having him with you for a while.

Tanya, I had a little dauchshund that had back problems. When he was 10years old, his back legs became paralyzed for about five months. Everyone (vet included) said I should put him down. But, he felt good, no pain and I just couldn't do it. Five months after he was paralyzed, he slowly started gaining strength in in back legs and eventually began walking again. He lived for 3 more years and did fine. He had kind of a 'funny' walk , but it didn't bother him.

cheapdiva, sounds like you had a rough weekend. I do hope that poor Molly is okay.

I'm looking forward to seeing pics of sweet Skeeter in his goggles! I'll bet he is adorable!

[Chyna]

What was it with the weekend?! Saturday my dh screeches that someone had made a huge mess in the bathroom and starts saying how the cat made a mess, toss her outside, etc, etc. Yet no idea who did it. so I clean it up (the strong one of the group) and bleach the floor. Later on that afternoon it happens again and I'm convinced it isn't the cats and has to be a dog. later that night we're all sitting and watching some tv and Gus stands up and proceeds to do a gushing puke on the couch. yup we have our winner of sick dog. I still have no idea what made him sick excpet dh had finally taken the garbage out and of course dropped stuff all over the place. And Gus being a Chinese Crested therefore a Hoover on paws must have eaten something that didn't sit well.

Horrible things go thru your mind at this point. Liver/organs are shutting down, will they be alive in the morning. Thankfully he was fine and dandy on Sunday (Gypsie attempted to barf in the house that morning but she I rushed outside) and not showing any effects of his mess making. I swear to you it looked like he stood in one place and just spun like a water sprinkler. he couldn't even just make the mess in one spot but had to make an arc.

[Chyna]

Rosemary

Funny but the vet the most people here have suggested happens to be the one they took their daschies too. The one guy happens to have a couple of cresties in his practice too (which if I'd been thinking straight would have remembered). If it comes down to surgery the weiner dog doc is the one I'm heading for. I've had 3 different vets from 3 different practices look at her and none of them have any idea what is going on with her. One suggested death, another wanted to do every expensive procedure they have then surgery and my vet says rest and quiet. Can you guess which one I'm listening to? devious She is done with the prednisone and now we wait. Well actually I need to see vet #4 but that is on recommendation of my vet.

[Lisa S]

Deb, how did I miss your beautiful picture? You look like a gal from the 40's in the ranger garb and the black and white photo. I love it!

[Chyna]

I hope she has it framed. It is a really great pic. I tried the black & white pics once and they just never worked out that well for me. It is great when someone can do such a nice job with the abscense of most color.:)

[RoseMary]

Yikes, all these sick dogs~sure hope all of them are better. Don't you just love the way they throw up on whatever you don't want them to? The last time our cat threw up, my dd rushed over and shoved newspaper under him, and of course he moved right over from it and threw up on the wood floor. Guess he didn't want to ruin the paper:lol: !

[Lisa S]

My life is a series of cleaning up someone's ick. Cats, dogs, kids. Don't we feel so loved?

[dedavis]

My goodness, there is a lot of vomiting going on. We've had a spate of it here too--Hibachi is working on getting rid of a persistent hairball.

My ex is a good photographer. From time to time he would shoot a roll of black and white. That photo is from a sketching trip to my secret canyon. The great thing about Hawkeye is that he always seems to know not to step on whatever I'm drawing.

I want to see Skeeter in his doggles. My friend has them for her dog.