When I started this blog, my intent was to research over the coming weeks the plethora of questions we had regarding Gracie’s cancer diagnosis. It saddens me to report upon this posting, that we lost our sweet Gracie yesterday. It is with her loss that I wish to share the last act of kindness one can do for their beloved companion.
Over the past several weeks Gracie was slowly succumbing to the cancer. It’s a hard thing to watch. Though, she tired much easier, she still loved her nightly walks and put every bit of energy into it. She always greeted everyone with a smile (yes, dogs smile) and a circling tail wag. She was a real good sport. She spent Friday not able to keep anything down. She was miserable and I did what I could to keep her calm and comfortable. Later that evening, I realized her time was running out. I had always been told you would know, and never understood how. But, it’s true, you do know!
I had previously read a couple articles on dealing with your pet’s death. One article was really 8 steps to prepare for your dog’s death. The 1st step suggested using the time wisely to prepare if your veterinarian provided a time line in which to expect a loss. I wish I had taken this step a little more seriously. I guess I secretly hoped her time would be on the longer end of the time frame. Another step was about keeping tabs on her health; consulting with the veterinarian and taking her in for check-ups.
Some of the other steps that I found of use were striking a balance between her health and general happiness, familiarizing myself with options for her burial and keeping a positive attitude around her. Dogs are highly sensitive creatures and can sense when their owners are upset. Find ways to lift your spirits so that your dog can be happy and comfortable during this period. This is also a good time to make great memories with your pet; take your dog to do all the special things that she enjoys.
I would say that Gracie was wonderfully spoiled and often was treated to some of her favorite and special things she enjoyed; piles of leaves, the dog park, long walks, real meat snacks, a good bone, a squeaky toy, snuggling, belly rubs, lots of hugs and kisses, etc. Gracie enjoyed all these things during her final months, weeks and days. I made the most of my time with her and hopefully eased her suffering by making her as comfortable as possible and lavishing her with lots of love and attention.
The 2nd article I read touched on my thoughts when I realized Gracie’s time was drawing to an end. That article was the influence for the title of this posting. The article mostly focused on having a dog put to sleep, staying with your pet during that time (or not), and the care of her remains. The author even indicated that the process of putting a dog to sleep is fast and painless. I was glad to read that as I wondered if I would have to make a decision to have Gracie medically relieved of her battle with cancer.
Reading between the lines, along with other information I acquired over the last several weeks, I just knew that I needed to be with Gracie and ensure she felt loved and comforted. So, I laid down with her, spooning, if you will, and my other dog, Maggie, laid down with me. The 3 of us laid for almost 4 hours. I spoke to Gracie, hugging her gently, stoking her and recapping all sorts of memories. There is a level of comfort in having been able to be with her for her final hours and breath. I think she also felt at ease, loved, and at peace. To me, this was the last act of kindness.
Little did I know, but was soon confronted with – the last act of kindness was the manner in which we dealt with her remains. There are many choices; backyard burial (if permitted by your homeowners association and/or county), pet cemetery burial, or cremation. I selected a private cremation, as I want her ashes. I want to be able to keep Gracie with me. So arrangements were made at 2a and Gracie’s body was taken to the local 24 hour veterinary hospital who arranged for the crematory to pick her up. Now I am pondering the urn. It will be 1-2 weeks before we have Gracie’s ashes.
Looking back at the last several months; Gracie was diagnosed in July, some of my choices for treatment were financially determined. However, it is amazing to add up the costs thus far. I am interested in just how much pet owners are willing to spend on their pets. I wonder if there are statistics. As I laid with Gracie, I certainly wondered if I had been willing to spend more money, would it have prolonged her life, and would she have wanted that?
I will miss Gracie. Rest in peace my sweet girl.
Citations
Gracie. (2008, August). Image of Gracie from the Treadwell family digital photo album.
How to prepare for a dog’s death. (2008, April). Ehow.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009 from http://www.ehow.com/how_2154528_prepare-dogs-death.html
The last act of kindness: how to prepare for the death of a pet. (2008, June). Retrieved November 2, 2009 from http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/06/dog_death_dying_dogs.php.
It is hard to let go. You always feel you should have done more or something different. That how it was with my parents. But then you ask yourself, is it for them or is it for you? The last couple of weeks each parent was alive, they had hospice care which enabled them to die at home with all 3 kids present. It made a difference at the end for them and for us children. It takes time to adjust t5o the death which varies from person to person.
ReplyDelete