She Just Died--The Dignity Of Death In Dogs
Without Prejudice
In the middle of life, we are in death. No truer a word was said than for our Family today.
We have been on a high since Sunday when a tiny baby girl was born to seven brothers. My daughters first girl, a little surprisingly three weeks early, but perfect in every way. We are blessed.
However, today our beautiful, pretty, large Siberian Husky died, aged 7, a shock, a waking nightmare.
And I was the one that found her.
Our beautiful Kayko, a pure bred Siberian Husky, our family member.
I woke at 4am today, sighed, beat the pillows into submission and tried to go back to sleep. I heard one of the dogs barking, and annoyed called out shut up. I thought at the time, the dogs don't bark in the early hours of the morning, the annoying bark bark bark dog over the back was barking its head off and I knew something was weird, I had a feeling of unease.
So fell asleep and overslept, and woke with a start. One of the boys was rocking the baby gate at the top of my steps. That also was weird as the two youngest boys aged 5 and 3 were due a sleep in. I went out and let him in and as I did I saw the Husky slumped on the grass near the washing line. I was immediately concerned as she hadn't been herself since going " on heat ", 2 weeks ago.
I crossed the grass to check on her and saw her back legs were smeared with mud and she barely raised her head when I patted her. I knew something was terribly wrong and ran inside to get help. I ran back out and held her head, stroked her and realised all at once she was dying. She licked my hand, she knew I was there.
I spoke to her and told her we loved her so. I pulled out her tongue, her funny tongue that she lolled out of one side of her mouth like a village idiot. I poured water into her mouth and she drank it, gratefully. Her back legs felt cold and I ran back inside and woke the entire house, this time. I knew she was dying.
I talked to her and prayed. Patting her magnificent ruff around her neck. Willing her to life. Our other dog , ran back and forth and approached her sister dog and barked, whined. I sobbed as the others came out, my daughters partner in shock. He had been at the hospital welcoming his new baby daughter, Shilo. A little but premie but fine. I rang my dog handler friend who adored this dog too. He told me to start CPR.
She died quietly, no whimper, no sound, the light went from her eyes. My daughter had to be told. Her partner rang her at the Hospital and couldn't tell her, just couldn't tell her. I demanded he tell her straight away, she needed to know. Had to know. Kayko was her dog, her constant companion for the last seven years. Her fatness, her Princess, her love.
I had knelt beside her sobbing and babbling, wanting her back, and was calm after that. Things had to be done, practical things. I gained strength from God knows where and went to tell her boy handler, Jai. 16 soon. He punched the wall and roared and locked himself in his room, wanting to grieve on his own.
To be continued
In the middle of life, we are in death. No truer a word was said than for our Family today.
We have been on a high since Sunday when a tiny baby girl was born to seven brothers. My daughters first girl, a little surprisingly three weeks early, but perfect in every way. We are blessed.
However, today our beautiful, pretty, large Siberian Husky died, aged 7, a shock, a waking nightmare.
And I was the one that found her.
Our beautiful Kayko, a pure bred Siberian Husky, our family member.
I woke at 4am today, sighed, beat the pillows into submission and tried to go back to sleep. I heard one of the dogs barking, and annoyed called out shut up. I thought at the time, the dogs don't bark in the early hours of the morning, the annoying bark bark bark dog over the back was barking its head off and I knew something was weird, I had a feeling of unease.
So fell asleep and overslept, and woke with a start. One of the boys was rocking the baby gate at the top of my steps. That also was weird as the two youngest boys aged 5 and 3 were due a sleep in. I went out and let him in and as I did I saw the Husky slumped on the grass near the washing line. I was immediately concerned as she hadn't been herself since going " on heat ", 2 weeks ago.
I crossed the grass to check on her and saw her back legs were smeared with mud and she barely raised her head when I patted her. I knew something was terribly wrong and ran inside to get help. I ran back out and held her head, stroked her and realised all at once she was dying. She licked my hand, she knew I was there.
I spoke to her and told her we loved her so. I pulled out her tongue, her funny tongue that she lolled out of one side of her mouth like a village idiot. I poured water into her mouth and she drank it, gratefully. Her back legs felt cold and I ran back inside and woke the entire house, this time. I knew she was dying.
I talked to her and prayed. Patting her magnificent ruff around her neck. Willing her to life. Our other dog , ran back and forth and approached her sister dog and barked, whined. I sobbed as the others came out, my daughters partner in shock. He had been at the hospital welcoming his new baby daughter, Shilo. A little but premie but fine. I rang my dog handler friend who adored this dog too. He told me to start CPR.
She died quietly, no whimper, no sound, the light went from her eyes. My daughter had to be told. Her partner rang her at the Hospital and couldn't tell her, just couldn't tell her. I demanded he tell her straight away, she needed to know. Had to know. Kayko was her dog, her constant companion for the last seven years. Her fatness, her Princess, her love.
I had knelt beside her sobbing and babbling, wanting her back, and was calm after that. Things had to be done, practical things. I gained strength from God knows where and went to tell her boy handler, Jai. 16 soon. He punched the wall and roared and locked himself in his room, wanting to grieve on his own.
To be continued