|
|
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
The reason I wanted to put up a new Avatar for a short time (will revert back to the head shot in a couple weeks) is as a tribute to my beloved Shaggy whom is in the photo with me. Shaggy is a very aged Old English Sheepdog - 15 years old. I had an appointment with the vet yesterday to have her put down as she's had a rough go the last week. Didn't want to do it - cried my eyes out -but finally made the call as I don't want her to suffer.
She had been unable to get up at all the previous day after falling down the stairs and so I carried her into the vet's office. Partially blind and deaf, arthritic and has heart problems - all age old illnesses. She was placed on the examining table. Now I'm really sobbing as I know the eventual will happen and I really want to be there right until the end for her. A miracle happens as Shaggy suddenly looks up - wants to get down off the table. She walks! She wants to leave the room and scratches at the door. I open it - she greets everyone in the waiting room and then returns to the examing room. The vet enters and she greets her too. She walks around, avoids a chair even with her limited eyesight and looks up at both of us. The vet checks her out, limp is gone, she is placed on stronger heart medication and something for her arthritis. The vet says it's not her time and I fully agree by her behavior at the vet!!! She got a reprieve and so did I!!! It's no suprise I'm crazy about my pets and often talk about my new puppy Merlin and my other animals but Shaggy is special. She was a therapy dog for special needs kids and without ever being trained would nudge balls into their hands if they were in wheelchairs. With other kids she dropped the ball at their feet. In her younger days she would stand behind a volleyball net and lunge and hitting the ball with her head send it sailing over the net. Rarely did the ball ever touch the ground. You could play volleyball with her for a good hour. She bounced balloons on her nose much to the delight of children. She spent 10 years of her life looking after my rabbit and often I would find the two of them sitting together under a tree. She inately sensed when anything was fragile or in need of care. On walks It would be common for her to find an injured bird and lay beside it. As recently as six months ago she mothered two homeless kittens I had been given by the Humane Society to foster. Even allowing them to eat off the same plate as her but would become ferocious if my other dog attempted to come near. We spent three years under contract with the Humane Education society, educating the public about dog behavior and visited hundreds of schools together. Adopted at the pound when she was a year old she had been beaten and starved which resulted in a very diminutive frame for a dog of this breed. She raised hundreds of dollars over the years as school kids donated funds to the SPCA shelters as a result of our visits. She was the dominant dog in the household even tho the other dogs outweighed her and were twice as big.They followed her rules and would not go after the cats or any other animals as she would become fiercely protective of any animal brought into the home. Okay I'm rambling (apologies for the long winded story.) I'm just so grateful I have a bit more time with her. The vet said it could be a week or a few months but not now. I'm so happy to have her for a little while longer. |
Chris Berry Special user 831 Posts |
Aw, Chrystal! Sorry to hear about what happened! I had to do the same with my dog last summer. Poor guy was very sick. Enjoy the memories of having a great friend (although you had to clean up his messes!)
Chris |
mvmagic Inner circle Has written 1322 Posts |
Now I am crying like a baby here
I had a golden retriever for 14 years and I adored that dog. Then one sunny Saturday morning when we went out for a walk, he had a stroke in the garden. I was more devastated than after my grandmother´s death. I am so happy for you and Shaggy. Give her a hug for me, will you.
Sent from my Typewriter
|
wayman Special user England - Sunderland 589 Posts |
See chrystal,
There must have been magic in the air! |
vinsmagic Eternal Order sleeping with the fishes... 10957 Posts |
Hi Chrystal. You are a very caring person. my daughter owns a beauty salon for dogs, she also has a very good heart. She visits to the pound couple times a week to groom the animals so they will look good and be adopted .If a dog is going to be put down then ahe takes the animal home and tries to get the animal adopted...
She has so many animals in her home that she got cited for running a Kennel, vinny ps great avatar |
Law New user 94 Posts |
Wow, Shaggy sounds like an incredible friend! How wonderful to know that Shaggy has made such a difference in so many lives and helped out so many of her 'brothers and sisters' in the animal world.
It's great that you have a reprieve from that awful last visit to the vet. Here's hoping that it lasts a long, long time. Hugs for Shaggy from me and my boy Arko too! |
MagicAndBlackjack Elite user 442 Posts |
Chrystal,
Shaggy sounds like a great, affectionate friend, and I hope that she lives extremely long. I just lost my dog in September, and I don't want the same thing to happen to you or Shaggy. It is so great the things she has done for everyone. Long live Shaggy!, TJ |
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Hi Everyone,
You guys are the best! I'm really at a loss for words - (Must be the first time that has happened.) I just wanted to thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. |
Wolfgang Loyal user TEXAS 223 Posts |
Thanks for sharing your story and the new Avatar. Enjoy the extra time you and Shaggy have been given together.
"Sure, I do Scotch and Soda in every show. What? You mean there's a trick by that name?"
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Shaggy and Me (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |