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 