Odie Pearl was just over 13 years, 3 months old when she "crossed the Rainbow Bridge", as they say. It does sound much nicer than died. She was suffering from heart failure, diagnosed in January. Medication had held off symptoms fairly well for four months - but this past week she'd lost her appetite, She started wheezing and coughing - indicating end stages of the disease.
I spent a long week tormenting myself over a difficult decision. I must admit I didn't get much sleep, getting up with her, massaging her chest as she coughed and wheezed. Somehow Paul slept through much of it. I could have taken her back into Dr. Merk for a tweak of her meds - but then ultimately we would have been at this same place again, only Odie may have slid even further down in health after not eating.
That last night I wept silently in my bed as Odie (in between coughing and wheezing) and Paul slept. Then I got up and sat in my chair, researching topics euthanasia and canine heart disease. I cried some more. I determined I did not want Odie to suffer from this disease just so I could enjoy her company longer.
When Paul got up at 5 a.m., I talked it over with him. I was still waffling. It was morning - things would be okay, right? But I thought back on my nighttime angst. I knew more of those nights could be in store with this illness. I let Odie out to go potty and her coughing returned. I knew it was the right decision. A painful decision.
Odie sat quietly on my lap on the way to the Specialty Clinic at 6 a.m. It was quiet there. They were very helpful. It was where Odie was first diagnosed. They will notify our regular vet about her passing, so they quit sending notices. In addition, Odie's ashes will be shipped to our regular clinic.
The procedure itself was very peaceful. Odie had an IV port inserted and she was a little nervous when she came back from that. The veterinarian came in next. He turned out to be a guy we knew from Amy's volleyball days - when she played with a traveling team from Corning. He put a shot of something in the port to make her sleep. It worked in about a minute. The next shot into the port stopped her heart in less than a minute. I cried. Paul hugged me.
Ever since Odie was diagnosed with this serious illness I have tried to drink her in. Her soft, soft ears and warm brown eyes. The way she would bop her nose into my calf and lick it when I came home. Odie's huge appreciation of people food. She loved raw carrots and I loved the way she crunched them. If I didn't feed her quickly enough she would whine insistently. I won't always miss that. I'll miss the way she burrowed under the covers at night - nestling against my calves early. Later we'd wake up and she'd be between us like a third person.
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| Odie loved treats! |
Odie was a "people" dog. She especially loved ladies - like all of my Creston gang, Diana, Bobbie, and Deb. We moved from Creston over five years ago, but she still remembered them and would make a big deal about those gals.
Of course, she loved her sibs - Amy (Sissy) and Jud (Juddy). She called them the names in parentheses. When I'd say, "Juddy's coming", she'd sit staring at the door until he showed up. She loved taking naps with Sissy on the couch. It's hard to believe Jud was a sophomore in High School when we got Odie. Now Jud & Kara, Amy & Corey each have two dogs. It brings me great joy to know that my love of dogs is being carried on by my kids.
Though Odie was my dog, she had a special relationship with her daddy, Paul. Paul has never been a "pet" guy. He's a farm kid. They had pets - but easy come, easy go. Paul is very understanding of my commitment to our pets, and has gotten "sucked in" to loving them too. Every night Odie would sit by Paul's chair and gaze at him. He's pat his lap for her to jump up and get a nice petting massage. She loved it! He took good care of her.
While Odie loved people, she was not wild about her dog relatives. It's my fault - I didn't socialize her with dogs when she was young. She did learn to tolerate Gidget, the boxer owned by Leslee who provided care when we went out of town. We were lucky that we had Lila and Bill when we lived in Creston and Leslee and family here in WDM.
Our house is going to seem pretty empty. No greeter when we get home. I won't need to save tidbits of food from my supper - to share with the tiny hungry hound. No more lingering in the yard while Odie sniffs every blade of grass. Nobody to talk to when I toast English Muffins on Fridays, asking, "Are you ready for the Muffin Man?". She always answered with her bright eyes, barely chewing, gulping the food. There was little she didn't like.
Odie's ashes will be stored in a special place with Moki. Two good dogs. They are loved. RIP Odie Pearl. A good girl.
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