she was a good old dog, my Maggie [from Mum]

As you all know our dog was not well in the past little while. She went deaf last fall, and had lost most of her sight by this month. However, she was still yappy, eating plenty and drinking and having fun, in a senior kind of way.She saw the vet at Sauble Beach last weekend and was diagnosed with incurable old age. She came home and we decided that we would wait and see.

Friday she was very poorly. She was having problems breathing, was drinking huge amounts and soiled herself several times. She could not go up the one step at our back door. However on Saturday we took her with us up to Mulmur to Adam's parents' Don and Frances' house. Maggie was very subdued, drank a lot, slept a lot, breathed heavily, and DID NOT EAT HER FOOD!!! Anyone who knew Maggie would know that indeed this sign above all else meant the end was near. She did however valiantly struggle to take a walk but you could see it cost her a lot to do that. She would not eat this morning and would only take a sip of water, we knew she could not survive til Friday to go to the countryside to meet her maker, as much as that was what we wanted.

So at 10:00 a.m. Sunday May 27 Maggie was euthanised. When Ji comes home we'll have a little memorial service.

I am heartbroken, I loved my pet. Even tho' I didn't like cleaning up chocolate bar barf, or picking up many, many candy wrappers etc she was my dog and I'll miss her sorely.I loved the way she used to tear around with a soccer ball, and how when it snowed she'd go out and plough through it nose first! I loved how she was so social, she was only happy when she knew where all her people were and that she was close to as many of them as possible. I am glad that my family gave me this wonderful dog so many years ago and altho' I'm so sad to have had to take this action today I do know that it was in Maggie's best interest.

I must say that it made it just a teeny bit easier that when we were leaving the Emergency Pet Hospital, a big old shaggy looking retriever was being 'walked' the dog had on one of those dorky head collar things, a cast on one leg, really patchy fur, it was hobbling, and the human walking it was carrying the dog's IV drip bag. I think Maggie went with a bit more dignity.

Love to you all, Margie/mil/mum

[Toronto-29-May-2007]