Sean,
Felix is now in peace. I was with him throughout the entire procedure
and I was holding him as his soul left his body. The vet gave me a
hair clipping and the vet tech took a plaster paw print for me. I am having Felix cremated and his ashes will be returned to me. I'll also
get the plaster paw print when I pick up his ashes.
My condolences to you, friend. Been there, done that, with numerous pets
over the years.
I know that I did the humane thing but there is a part of me that is resenting my decision. Felix was my first personal pet (one that I was fully responsible for) so this is hitting me hard. You'd think at 48
and all the things I've been through it wouldn't be so bad but it is.
I cried like a baby for 15 minutes the day my late wife, Janice, and I,
had to have our dachshund put down. So, if you need a good cry, go for it.
I'll get through this ... just will take longer than expected.
Take all the time you need...we understand.
... Pets were put on Earth to show that unconditional love is real.
Amen to that!! Plus, if the pets didn't like a visitor, chances are
their owner wouldn't either.
The dachshund Janice had when I first met her (named "Sweetie"),
apparently resented me...she pooped on my shoes. Maybe "Sheetie" would
have been more appropriate. <G>
The dachshund Janice had when we got married...must have wanted me.
He would let me give him belly rubs, but he would NOT let Janice do
likewise. She'd put him on his back in "the wolfpack correction method".
That made her so angry, when Fritz would submit to me, but not to her. <G>
Two days before I proposed to her, I went to visit her at her
apartment...and he was thrilled to see me. She asked me if I wanted
to walk the weiner widget, and I said "Sure!!". He was on one of the retractable leashes...which I initially thought were fantastic...as it
let the dog go in the poop filled grass, and I could stay on the
sidewalk.
Well, I was holding the leash in front of my groin...that was my
first mistake. Somehow, the leash came off his collar, retracted at
full speed, and popped me in the groin (talk about a kick in the
b@ll$)!! I fell to the ground, and then the dachshund jumped on my
groin, with the look on his face "Is there something wrong??!!". :P
Janice had gone into the apartment, but realized I hadn't followed
her in. She came back outside, and was horrified to find me on the
sidewalk in agony. She asked "What happened??", and in agony, I said
"I got bit by a leash". Well, she got the dog inside first (dachshunds
have a mind of their own <G>), and then helped me inside. I was still
hurting, and thought I was in mortal danger...as males can bleed to
death from an injury in that area.
So, I dropped my pants and underwear, to have her "take a look" (I
was in such pain, that sex was the last thing on my mind). I thought
she'd dump me like a hot rock, for "exposing myself". I asked her "Do
you think any less of me??". She replied "I give you credit for your
common sense. I would've called the paramedics if I had seen blood".
I knew, right then, that THIS was the woman I was going to marry...
and proposed to her the next day.
A couple of years before her death from a heart attack at 48, we
were on the Futon, and he was at her feet. She was asleep (being both
diabetic and narcoleptic), and I either looked at him funny, or he
perceived me as a threat. He started showing his teeth, growling,
and coming toward me in attack mode. Well, it was if The Good Lord
told her "Your husband is about to die at the hands of your dog".
She sprang up, as if given a shock, and screamed "FRITZ!! NO!!".
I backed up, and popped him on his butt as he jumped off the Futon,
still snarling. Now, this woman...who was dead to the world seconds earlier...is now moving as if Satan and the whole host of Hell was
after her. She's screaming at the top of her lungs "IN YOUR CARRIER!!
NOW!! MOVE IT, LARD @$$!!" I don't know if I was more in shock from
the dog's actions, or hers (so much for a quiet petit, woman). He
nearly bit her, as she got him into his carrier, and locked the door.
She growled "Overgrown four legged sausage ball!!". I asked her
"What would you have done, had he gotten to my face??". She looked
at me, dead serious, and said "First, I would've taken care of you.
Then, I would've killed me a dog. I will NOT let an animal rule me
in my own house!!"...and that really set him off!! She looked at me,
and sweetly said "Excuse me, darling. I'll be right back!!". She had
fire in her eyes...it was the angriest that I ever saw her.
By this time, Fritz was truly ballistic. She grabbed the water bottle
and a high pitched training device (she called it "Mister Blue Dude"),
and both squirted him, and hit the button, and yelled "I can take it
longer than you can, fatso!!". I thought for sure the neighbors would
call the cops on us, as it sounded like we were fighting. Her Mom (who
passed away 6 months ago) said "Janice was so d@mn protective of you,
it was a sin". It took the dog a few days to "mellow out"..we never
figured out what set him off.
Another time, Janice had given him some green beans to eat. Now,
giving chocolate to a dog is POISON...but green beans and carrots
are good for them. Well, she put the green beans in his dish...yet,
he walked up to them, sniffed them, and walked off. Janice groaned
"Great!! I forgot to salt them!!". I exclaimed "What??!! Does he want
a bottle of red wine to go with his beans??"...and she growled "He
isn't getting any of my Jamaica White Rum". <G>
But, Fritz became diabetic, resistant to the insulin, then went blind
from glaucoma and cataracts. Yet, he had a working nose, and a full set
of teeth. We knew it was the only humane thing to do (putting him down),
but it didn't make it any easier. As noted, I cried like a baby for 15
minutes afterwards...but Janice stayed in there, until Fritz was gone.
He was 11 when we put him down, although dachshunds can live at least
15 years or so...even with all their health issues. While they are
hard to housebreak, and stubborn...they are very loyal to their owners.
We got a new one 3 months after Fritz was put down, named Slinky. But,
I re-homed him the day Janice died nearly 14 years ago...as I couldn't
afford to keep him. Plus, after Janice's funeral in Arkansas, I had to
go to Florida for a second funeral (she's buried in a cemetery in Apopka, where her Dad lives now...as noted, her Mom died last August). So, I "got
a double dose". I went back to visit her grave a year after her death,
and just like when Fritz had to be put down, I cried at her grave for 15 minutes.
I know it's a hard time for you emotionally, but I hope some of the
moments I noted made you smile. The thing is...whether our loved ones
were spouses, family, or pets...you have all the wonderful memories that
no one can take away. :)
Daryl
... "Inflation has gone up over $1 a quart". - W.C. Fields
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