Manatee Mentors 2014--CLOSED (begging & bribes MAY work) (Page 38)

Naughty Ernesto!

Hiya sweet piglet Manatees.

As some of you know we had to say goodbye to our beloved working-dog-family-member-pet-extraordinaire Dana today. I accept that I am going to feel horrible no matter what for a while, that nothing is going to make me feel better, and that since I was going to feel horrible no matter what decision I made, the one that favored her was the right one.

We (Mutti, Tina and I) are taking this worse than we did my father's death. I know grief needs no explanation and defies it anyway, though some people may find it odd we are more pained over a dog than a human ... my dad was a tremendous soul who pretty much got to command everyone and everything in his life, for most of it. The dog--she lived only to serve us. She put her entire life and trust in our hands. And she would have stood patrol, guarded the perimeter, warded off strangers, and kept Mutti company no matter how broken down, cancerous-infected, or in pain she was. To the very end she wanted to stand up on her own four legs, and be on the alert, and make sure Mutti was okay.

Those of you who have any knowledge of these things--on a (relatively) minor level, this is a dog that stoically accepted tooth scaling and planing without anesthesia (a very rare specimen indeed), and on a major level, for the last few weeks wound debridement with not a whimper, complaint, or any resistance (somewhere between rare and nonexistent). And this is even among humans to whom you can explain the necessity.

Her tumors were going gangrenous. Her hips, spine, and every joint were severely degraded. You could actually hear loud grinding, creaking, clicking and popping every time she moved, and she strained so hard her muscles would be shaking. It's unbelievable she got around as long as she did. Even in a dog wheelchair, her thoracic spine would have been under tremendous stress, and even her front paws were beginning to curl down (like how old people's arthritic hands curl into claws).

I know I don't need to explain, justify, etc. etc. The deep feeling of guilt is normal and it's not going to go away through reason; just through experience and the process of going through grief.

She was an extraordinary creature, and I guess my endless words are some small way of talking about her and honoring her.

OK, Kirsten's new avi got me thinking Super Bowl this morning. I think the list starts like this:

Seattle Seahawks - Kirsten, Salty, Monica

Denver Broncos - TJ, Chris

So, who do you like for next Sunday's game? And are you ready for a little trash talking? 

And speaking of non-tri sports, Janyne, your Canes were on the road last night. Did you see Gerbe's goal? Awesome!!!!

Have a great day everyone, the weekend is nearly here!!!! Stay warm, my northern friends, it sure looks brutal up by some of ya'll.

I'm still hoping the Dolphins get in   But if I have to pick b/w the Seahawks and Broncos, I'll lean toward the Broncos b/c I think Manning's commercials are funny.  Oh, and I hate Pete Carroll.

Hiya sweet piglet Manatees.

As some of you know we had to say goodbye to our beloved working-dog-family-member-pet-extraordinaire Dana today. I accept that I am going to feel horrible no matter what for a while, that nothing is going to make me feel better, and that since I was going to feel horrible no matter what decision I made, the one that favored her was the right one.

We (Mutti, Tina and I) are taking this worse than we did my father's death. I know grief needs no explanation and defies it anyway, though some people may find it odd we are more pained over a dog than a human ... my dad was a tremendous soul who pretty much got to command everyone and everything in his life, for most of it. The dog--she lived only to serve us. She put her entire life and trust in our hands. And she would have stood patrol, guarded the perimeter, warded off strangers, and kept Mutti company no matter how broken down, cancerous-infected, or in pain she was. To the very end she wanted to stand up on her own four legs, and be on the alert, and make sure Mutti was okay.

Those of you who have any knowledge of these things--on a (relatively) minor level, this is a dog that stoically accepted tooth scaling and planing without anesthesia (a very rare specimen indeed), and on a major level, for the last few weeks wound debridement with not a whimper, complaint, or any resistance (somewhere between rare and nonexistent). And this is even among humans to whom you can explain the necessity.

Her tumors were going gangrenous. Her hips, spine, and every joint were severely degraded. You could actually hear loud grinding, creaking, clicking and popping every time she moved, and she strained so hard her muscles would be shaking. It's unbelievable she got around as long as she did. Even in a dog wheelchair, her thoracic spine would have been under tremendous stress, and even her front paws were beginning to curl down (like how old people's arthritic hands curl into claws).

I know I don't need to explain, justify, etc. etc. The deep feeling of guilt is normal and it's not going to go away through reason; just through experience and the process of going through grief.

She was an extraordinary creature, and I guess my endless words are some small way of talking about her and honoring her.

I'm still hoping the Dolphins get in   But if I have to pick b/w the Seahawks and Broncos, I'll lean toward the Broncos b/c I think Manning's commercials are funny.  Oh, and I hate Pete Carroll.

OK, Kirsten's new avi got me thinking Super Bowl this morning. I think the list starts like this:

Seattle Seahawks - Kirsten, Salty, Monica

Denver Broncos - TJ, Chris

So, who do you like for next Sunday's game? And are you ready for a little trash talking? 

And speaking of non-tri sports, Janyne, your Canes were on the road last night. Did you see Gerbe's goal? Awesome!!!!

Have a great day everyone, the weekend is nearly here!!!! Stay warm, my northern friends, it sure looks brutal up by some of ya'll.

So many thoughts/stories running through my head about pets and what animals can do and are for us.  None of my words can express it.  There are those we have, but there is always that ONE THAT HAS US.  I sure am grateful to be in a group of people that understands/experiences the depth of it.  I still think about/miss/see my Oreo 2+ years later.  I like to think that when they are gone from here, they are all together in a beautiful garden, reunited with the doggie/kitty/horsie friends they had in life.  In fact, when we said goodbye to Idgie, I told her to go find Oreo.