For the past couple of days JD has not eaten well and lost control over her bowels a couple of times. This morning she looked at me with her beautiful, soulful brown eyes and whimpered….
A couple of times we have had her paloured for her final journey and then my courage forsook me. I kept finding excuses why she should not go for an injection. Her cough was better, “she has a sparkle in her eye”,” she “bounced” around her snack”…. Yesterday I gave her some of her all time favorite treats i.e. dried sausage (droëwors) and she did not touch it!
Last night she sat upright – I think it was too difficult to breathe. JD had congenital heart failure.
Today Danie came home from a business appointment and I said “It is time”. He knew exactly what I was saying. Vic came through and sat on the carpet with JD. She said goodbye. I picked JD up and walked to the car. Danie drove.
We took JD to our local SPCA. A young, sympathetic, female veterinarian asked me if I wanted to leave. I said “No.” She battled to find a vein. “It’s the congenital heart failure” she said.
“She is almost 16 years old” I said.
“Wow, she is really very old. She is a pretty little dog” she said
“Have you ever had a dog euthanized?” she asked
“No” I said
“I will inject an anesthetic into her veins and she will fall asleep. She may have a muscle contraction or a bowel movement. It will be unpleasant for you but not for JD. She would have passed on.”
“Okay” I said
She found a vein and JD slipped away whilst my tears fell on her coat.
At 12:05 on the 24th of August 2012 JD went to Doggie Heaven.
Vic's Final Journey 
Sorry to hear, but you gave her your support last up to the last minute.
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Thanks Renee!
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I had a lovely German Shepard dog, that I loved. After repeatly telling my ex to keep the car window rolled half way up when the dog is in the car, he forgot one day and she jumped out of the car window and got hit by a passing car and died on impact. I cried like a baby when I got the call at work. So, I understand your feeling of lost. I think she knew I loved her, but she wasnt with us that long to really feel the love of our family.
However, JD was with you for a long time and you have taken great care of her and loved her dearly. I am sure she felt the love, right to the very end.
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Thank you for your kind words. She stared into my eyes and I saw life leave it….We miss her!!
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I commend you for making the very, very difficult decision. In addition, I commend you for putting your pet first and chosing to not let her suffer. I made the same decision this past October to release my beautiful lab of 15 years from the grips of painful, crippling bone cancer. Maggie was her name. Your story brought the tears back in full, pulled on my heart strings so hard. I too, stayed in the room as my Maggie fell asleep, and I can still remember her face, her last breath. I had to take her, I had be in the room with her, and I would not have wanted it any other way. I wanted to be there with her, I and believe she will be waiting “over the rainbow bridge” as the poem reads. She was my friend, a family member, my hairy child, my running partner, and my dog. I still miss my Maggie, but I have so many memories (and I am STILL finding black dog hair here and there!!! lol). I wish you peace and fond memories.
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Thank you. I find myself looking for her. It is unbelievable that such a tiny little bundle of joy can leave such a humongous gaping hole in one’s life. Thank you for your kind wishes and visiting my blog. I enjoy your writing too!
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A brave deed but one you won’t regret. My daughter Simone (7) and I sat with our beloved Wolfie (14) when we put him to sleep, while husband Tom and other daughter Kari (9) sat crying in the reception room. We all have different ways of saying goodbye. To me it was good to see him go peacefully while we were holding him and he looked into our eyes untill he passed on. I had to know that he felt we were with him to the end. We miss him and his picture remains on the fridge. I dearly love all my animals, they make my world so much better and full of fun. Good luck mom.xxx
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Jon-Daniel wrote on his BBM status: “Today is the first day of my life without JD.” Dankie Lani!!
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