Saturday, March 12, 2016

Best Boy

We had to say goodbye to our wonderful Edward this week. It was very hard.


He went in for a minor procedure that required anesthesia. Our vet called in the early afternoon to say he was having a hard time waking up and to pick him up a little later than arranged. When we got there, he still couldn’t walk. She had done an EKG and an x-ray, and it appeared that one of the drugs was probably the culprit. So she recommended we take him to the emergency clinic where they could administer an antidote and get him back on his feet.

However, the emergency vet discovered that unbeknownst to any of us, he had a tumor on his spleen, and that it had started bleeding. His morning procedure didn’t cause it, just coincidental. She said that there was a chance that the bleeding would start to clot and the blood be reabsorbed, so we settled in to be with him and wait.

Unfortunately that best-case-scenario did not happen. After about 7 hours we had to let him go, before his deteriorating situation caused him too much distress.

Edward was a very special dog. As much as I love them all, he was that dog that you get once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. 

From the day we brought him home, he was simply and purely a good boy. Housebroken at 9 weeks, easy to train, no serious issues. He was the last of nine puppies, 


and the folks we got him from said he was very shy and would hide when people came to choose a puppy. But I know he wasn’t hiding, he was just waiting for us.


He was the perfect little brother for our dog Lizzie, never taking her assertive ways amiss. I had to laugh at the description in my journal of her teaching him that all the toys in the house were hers. 
Once he was showing the proper respect, she let him have his own nylabones and rope toys. 
Ironically, we lost her in exactly the same way, a tumor on her spleen.

Edward was the perfect big brother for our Zoë. When we were somewhat past missing Lizzie, Zoë came along and immediately started whooping his ass. He loved it. 




I’m sure he also loved that he was big enough to jump over the barriers that kept her in the kitchen when those puppy teeth got too tiresome!




It’s part of our contract with these loving creatures that one day we will have to say goodbye. 
But before that day they bring so much love and joyfulness that the bargain is worth it. One of my favorite quotes is from the song “Two for the Road,” where it says, “Every day that you are mine will be a lovely day.” We forget sometimes to pay attention to the loveliness. Edward always reminded me, and so will his memory. 

35 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry. Bless his heart and yours. Edward looked like the best boy, ever.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I'm so sorry! What a sweet boy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so sorry for your loss! You both were lucky to have each other :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry to read about your Edward. He sounds like he was awonderful addition to your family of pets.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so sorry for your loss. Even though, as you say, we know we will one day have to say goodbye, when that day comes it's still wrenching. You've written a lovely tribute to your Edward. Bless you and your family for all the wonderful memories you treasure of him.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. Edward is obviously very much loved. I don't say was because his not being there in physical form doesn't lesson the love, does it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved Edward. He sounds like he was indeed a special part of your family.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so very sorry for your loss. What a sweet dog =) Beautiful post.
    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've always thought what a beautiful face Edward had. How lucky that you found each other, and how sad to have to say goodbye. I'm very sorry for your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So sorry to hear the sad news. I seem to remember you brought Edward to work a few times. Wish it could have been more! He was so sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a long miserable day for y'all. So sorry to hear of your loss. I'm sure that you've heard it, but the perfect quote for you is Groucho Marx.
    "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is so hard to say goodbye to a good dog. Peace be with you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So sorry for your loss -- even when you know you are doing the right thing, it is so tough. Be gentle with yourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So very sorry for your loss!
    Ruth in Oxnard Ca

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm so sorry. I lost my dog in May and miss her everyday.

    ReplyDelete
  16. So very sorry to hear you have lost a furry four legged family member. It sure hurts. He was a very lucky fellow to have had a wonderful family and a happy life.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so sorry for your loss. He sure was a special boy. In time you will get a new dog, because that is the circle of life. I lost Bob in June 2015, in January my Dad passed and we took in his cat, a lovely girl Meghan.

    ReplyDelete
  18. So sorry this happened...my condolences to you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. So sorry you lost Edward. I know how hard it is to lose a fur baby. My heartfelt condolences to you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. A beautiful & fitting tribute. He is missed!

    ReplyDelete
  21. You will always cherish the memories... Hope they bring you some comfort ~ thinking of you, and remembering all of your sweet posts about him.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am so sorry for your loss. I have loved all your dogs from afar. My fur babies are the world to me, I feel your sorrow. He will be missed.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm so so sorry. Tears came into my eyes as I read this. Edward always seemed such a lovely dog. I know you'll both miss him very much.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am so sorry to hear about your wonderful doggy boy. It's so hard to lose our pet family members.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am so sorry, Sharon. My heart goes out to you and to Steve for this loss. No matter how rational, reasoned, and ultimately compassionate, it is hard to let go of that earthly love. Edward was a wonderful dog. May his life and memory continue to be a blessing to you. Love from across the mountains, prairies, and rivers, Cousin Lillian

    ReplyDelete
  26. Our Kes - so much like Edward - crossed the bridge in much the same way last September. So many other posters have expressed how I feel so well. My heart breaks for you. A special boy.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am so sorry that you lost your Edward. My heart just breaks for you.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am so sorry that you lost your Edward. My heart just breaks for you.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am so sorry to read about your loss of Edward. He was a delightful dog, and I will remember him with warm feelings.

    ReplyDelete
  30. So sorry for the loss of your sweet dog. It is never easy, but part of parenting a pet. He had a good life with you.

    ReplyDelete

I really love your comments. Thanks for coming along on my thrifty adventures!

 
Pin It button on image hover