So, it's been about 24 hours since I had Marley's head in my hands, locked eyes with him and felt the spirit of that beautiful animal leave. 

Thursday we witnessed the dizzying descent. 
He seemed to plummet. 
Unable to put any weight on his back legs, his spirit still pushing him to play. 
He was would fall and then pull himself up and then collapse again. 
We made him as comfortable as possible, giving him three aspirins and some "pet ease" which knocked him out until the following day. 
The next day, he seemed a bit better. I carried him to the car, went by Burger King and got him two bacon cheese burgers and went to the park. 
He was so happy. 
He walked and sniffed and had that lovely smile on his face...even as his body betrayed him. 
He wanted to go further but he simply couldn't. 
So we sat on a blanket and he ate his treats with his head on my lap. We sat together absorbed in the beauty of the day, the joy of just being together. 
All in all we were in the park about an hour. 
But it was the best hour I could have had with him. 
He knew, I know that he did. He never complained or gave up but he knew. 
His nervousness at the vet was different. 
Of course, he never enjoyed going to the vet. 
But there was a difference this time, a resignation but a hesitancy. 
We went in together, we sat on the blanket on the floor with him and held him. 
When the vet came in, we put him on the table.
He shook a bit but he never took his eyes off of me, never flinched. 
He looked into my eyes and I told him I loved him and he left. 
As we left, I turned back. He looked so peaceful, as if asleep on our living room floor. There was nothing traumatic or horrifying about the process. 
Last night the dogs were completely thrown off. The storm was raging and Baxter, Spencer, Maya and Twee didn't understand. They ran back and forth to the back door, to the front gate looking at the front door waiting for the their leader, their alpha to return. 
Dinner time was a jumble. 
Early evening there was complete unease. 
There is a hole. 
A gaping abyss that had been filled for 16 years. 
It was the right thing to do. 
He was ready.
It was time. 
And we did everything we could do to make his life a good one and God knows he returned the favor tenfold. 
Our Marley is gone. The big goofy wonderful dog, scarred by the cruelty of others, but finding sanctuary with our family, with two wonderful, empathetic energetic boys, and a gentle and kind man that drew him out of his fear and past and helped him to become a brilliant example of companion animal. 
We will miss you and thank you for all that you brought to our family. 
We love you.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All Aboard…. Is Rosie O’Donnell’s documentary on HBO about a cruise ship she chartered for 2000 gay and lesbian family members and it aired last night. I only saw it today as we had recorded it. I have to say that I was tearful through at least 80% of the film. I don’t know if it is something innately a part of who I am, how I’m wired or just simply what I believe through life experiences that are the driving force behind my feelings on this subject. Over and over as I saw loving parents care for their kids, overcome incredibly obstacles to fulfill their desire to nurture and raise children, it just revolved in my head – love is love is love. Isn’t there enough hate running rampant in this world? I mean, given the opportunity to allow love to flourish don’t you think as humans that is our goal? To allow love to dominate? I know that’s what Christianity is all about. I know that when presented to Jesus, he said that love was the most important thing. This cruise wasn’t a gay pride, ...
Read more
Post Easter Musings I’ve been thinking about this whole legalistic point of view the right has been taking on immigration. And the thing that keeps getting stuck is how they (the hate radio guys) keep saying repeatedly that they want to get the guys that “cut in line” that “jumped in front of everyone else who is going through the process”. Now, believe me, I hate cutters. I have always hated cutters. There’s an entitlement issue there that really leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I have no problem, none whatsoever, in letting people who cut know that it is not acceptable. But let’s switch tracks here. Cody fell down the stairs at school. He was in a lot of pain and after calling his pediatrician, I was instructed to go to the emergency room. We went in. I spoke to reception. I filled out paperwork. I elevated his foot. Got him something to drink. Went into the triage nurse, got vitals, went back into the waiting room. Filled out more paper work. And sat. And sat. X came with loud...
Read more
This is from the site : www.gopauctionhouse.org Pretty revealing stuff..... How The GOP Auction House Hurts You Health Care Under Republican rule, millions more Americans have gone without health insurance, even as health care costs continue to skyrocket. The Republican Medicare bill, which barred Medicare from bargaining for lower prices, kept re-importation from Canada illegal, and punishes seniors with an enrollment cost hike for every year they do not sign up, also provides for an estimated $139 billion in windfall profits for the big drug companies. And despite minimal savings for seniors, it puts the federal budget in the red as far as the eye can see. The Medicare bill is the perfect demonstration of how the Republican Culture of Corruption comes at a cost to the American people every day. $139 Billion in Windfall Profits for the Pharmaceutical Industry Blocks Medicare from Collective Bargaining for Lower Prices Prevents Re-importation from Canada "The Medicare drug benefi...
Read more