Sadness

[intertext]

My friend Judith phoned me earlier this evening to tell me that her beardie, Henry, is very ill and not expected to live more than a few days. He's had a tumour on his lungs for some time, and it has finally caught up with him; he's not eating and is failing fast. Henry is Cholmondeley's brother, and they've known each other all their lives, almost. Judith and I met in the park one day, each with a beardie puppy, obviously the same age, and we quickly established that they were from the same litter; in fact, I had met Henry when I met Chums for the first time. When we started talking, it turned out that Judith and I had more in common than just our dogs, and we have become good friends. I also really like her husband, Bill.

I feel so sad - not just at the loss of a great dog, but because when I saw him last I didn't know it was going to be the last time I saw him. I wish I'd kissed him on the nose, or said goodbye properly. But how can you say goodbye "properly"? That's why we didn't meet last Saturday, when I spent the afternoon happily in the garden, because they were taking Henry to the vet - but they called me that evening and said they thought it was only an infection... but it wasn't.

And of course I know what they must be going through. I'm looking at my Chums and knowing that he's nearly fourteen and has been ill already this year and is getting thin and creaky.

oh, dogs.

Comments

[pc123.livejournal.com]

Reading your post has made me teary.... I recently lost my Beardie (I think I've posted that here before) - Crunchy was about 13 and she had a growth on her lungs as well - It was some sort of fluid build-up and it affected her breathing - it actually turned her tongue black - It was horrible. We were given enough time by our vet to say our good-byes - They were able to drain the tumor a couple of times so that she could breathe easily. We had about 2 weeks of back-and-forth with the vets. So, we weren't surprised when we had to put her down - But, that doesn't make it any easier. I miss her all the time. Dogs have a special way of touching your life and leaving a paw print on your heart!

[lidocafe.livejournal.com]

That is so sad. Sometimes I think our bonds with animals are the purest, the least complicated, of our bonds, and precious for that. I'm sorry for your friend and for poor Henry.