Jake the Wonder Dawg, my running partner, is dying (Page 2)

Mike, I sooo feel what you are going through... our wire-haired dachshund baby is going through heart failure and I came home on Friday to her struggling to breathe and just laying there with those sad, sad, eyes.  We got her through this episode, but I know we are on borrowed time and the next time will probably be it.  I am choking up just thinking about this!  DOGS RULE.... you and Jake are in my thoughts....

Unfortunately, this type of news comes often with my woodworking friends, who are very often dog lovers. I hope the following poem will help:

The Rainbow Bridge Poem

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so that they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who has to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he runs from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your sepcial friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the rainbow bridge together...

Author unknown...

Man, this hit home more than you know.  For some reason, as I've been trying to comfort Jake today, between the tears I have song to Jake:

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

I don't know why that song...it's just a soft, comforting song.  Then you post this rainbow poem and I lost it.

Thank you all for all the kinds words and prayers.  Jake has congestive heart failure.  He has been on meds for a while but has been getting worse.  From everything I've read, eventually the organs begin to shut down due to insufficient oxygen. 

I've talked to the vet and she said there was nothing more we could do.  We have an appointment this afternoon to end his suffering.  We've had wonderful 8 years....I will miss him so much. 

I promised him I would run a 4:20 marathon in his honor.  He helped me train for my  marathons....he never got a finisher's medal for any of them...but he never complained.

~Mike

We took Jake the Wonder Dawg to the vet this afternoon and said good-bye to a beloved friend, running partner, scout, riding partner, security officer, swimming pool greeter…..member of our family for 8 years. He will be missed.

We buried Jake right by the back gate where he always came to see me off to work in the mornings and greet me when I came home in the evenings. If Jake did not meet me at the gate when I got home you can be sure he was out in the pasture with Casey. He was always ready to serve. I learned a lot from Jake.

Casey said we'd keep the clips on the gates in honor of Jake. Jake was too smart for a chainlink fence gate - he'd flip up the latch with his nose and release himself on his own recognizance. :-)

~Mike

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I am so sorry Mike.  Hugs from Steve and me and kisses from Dodger and Hoover

I'm so very sorry to here about Jake.  I dread the day that we reach that stage with our two.  My thoughts are with you and your family.