I have been trying for the last four days to come and write this but haven't been able to without bawling. I think I have finally got a grip so here goes!
In Sept we got a rescue puppy for our older and (we thought) slightly arthritic dog Zeus!! They hit it off instantly even though there was a 100 lb differences between them, Zeus perked up and was happier than we had seen him in a long time. Then about a month later we learned that what we originally thought was arthritis turned out to be bone cancer. Between his size and bad joints he wasn't a good candidate for treatment and unfortunately bone cancer is very aggressive and painful. He made it a month and half with a smile on his face most every day, trying his best and yearning to be able to participate in his favorite activities. The last couple weeks we realized he just wasn't himself anymore. This once 115 lb dog was now skin and bones and we were having to carry him in and out to go to the bathroom, something he did NOT appreciate. Still it was so hard to make a decision because every time we would look at his face he just had a huge smile. Finally last week we did what was best and called the vet. We are very lucky to have vets who will come and do it in our home and on Saturday afternoon he passed peacefully at home with his head on my lap.
I have been a wreck and miss him terribly, the first day I felt some relief for him but now just miss him. He was such a huge presense.....literally. Every morning when he would hear me getting up you could hear his tail...THOMP, THOMP, THOMP, sounded like someone hitting the floor with a baseball bat. We always joked that he didn't have a tail but a baseball bat hanging off his rear end!! This time of year I always had to wrap my Christmas ornaments extra tight on the branches of my tree or else they would go flying around like it was batting practice!!
Here he is with his puppy Tinker!! He was a wonderfully crazy dog, did tons of stupid stuff but was also the most loyal and somewhat obedient
(LOL) dog and was happiest just being with us outside!!
In Sept we got a rescue puppy for our older and (we thought) slightly arthritic dog Zeus!! They hit it off instantly even though there was a 100 lb differences between them, Zeus perked up and was happier than we had seen him in a long time. Then about a month later we learned that what we originally thought was arthritis turned out to be bone cancer. Between his size and bad joints he wasn't a good candidate for treatment and unfortunately bone cancer is very aggressive and painful. He made it a month and half with a smile on his face most every day, trying his best and yearning to be able to participate in his favorite activities. The last couple weeks we realized he just wasn't himself anymore. This once 115 lb dog was now skin and bones and we were having to carry him in and out to go to the bathroom, something he did NOT appreciate. Still it was so hard to make a decision because every time we would look at his face he just had a huge smile. Finally last week we did what was best and called the vet. We are very lucky to have vets who will come and do it in our home and on Saturday afternoon he passed peacefully at home with his head on my lap.
I have been a wreck and miss him terribly, the first day I felt some relief for him but now just miss him. He was such a huge presense.....literally. Every morning when he would hear me getting up you could hear his tail...THOMP, THOMP, THOMP, sounded like someone hitting the floor with a baseball bat. We always joked that he didn't have a tail but a baseball bat hanging off his rear end!! This time of year I always had to wrap my Christmas ornaments extra tight on the branches of my tree or else they would go flying around like it was batting practice!!
Here he is with his puppy Tinker!! He was a wonderfully crazy dog, did tons of stupid stuff but was also the most loyal and somewhat obedient
(LOL) dog and was happiest just being with us outside!!
Last edited:
It was meant to be that you got your puppy. It's so wonderful that Zeus had him in his final days and that you have him to hold onto now.
