Anyone who has ever welcomed an animal to the home, bonded and developed emotional ties with that other being, just like with other family members, dreads the day that might come when a decision would have to be made. I was always hoping that life would allow all of our animals someday to just fall asleep whenever their time had come.
Lucky joined our family in 2002 when my husband found and adopted her through a private rescue place. He had been searching for a friend and companion for our then 12 year old son and I remember him bringing her home, entering our house for the very first time, I can still see her standing there quietly, looking around, checking everything out while her eyes kind of asked, "Will this be my new home?"
Lucky joined our family in 2002 when my husband found and adopted her through a private rescue place. He had been searching for a friend and companion for our then 12 year old son and I remember him bringing her home, entering our house for the very first time, I can still see her standing there quietly, looking around, checking everything out while her eyes kind of asked, "Will this be my new home?"
| It was clear to see that she felt comfortable with us immediately but it took a few weeks until she could proudly hold up her tail during our walks. Since that day this gentle loving and always appreciative soul had been around me day and night, she was my daily walking partner and for some reason she liked people much more than other dogs even though people have not always been good to her before she came to us. I was the one in the family Lucky seemed to be most attached to, never wanting to go anywhere unless I too came along. Her nose was always busy, and in the later years her sense of smell seemed to increase while her eye sight started getting weaker. Our walks would have taken 4 times as long would I have waited for her to be done with smelling this bush, that corner, the flower bed or this tree. As it seems unusual for a female, she peed a million times during one walk, making her mark along the way. Lucky had been a traveler too and loved going to the mountains. We took her along on trips and people noticed how well behaved and quiet that dog was. |  |
One could sense that she never wanted to be a burden, she was just grateful for being able to be with us. She was such a good dog and the best four-legged friend and family member we could have wished for.
| Last Fall Lucky started developing serious health issues and the vet told us that she would have only another 2 - 14 days to live. We took her back home and with the help of Lucky's grandmother's knowledge in Homeopathic healing practices Lucky got an extension in life and we were able to have her around longer than we thought possible. She started eating again, gained back weight and had 6 more month of quality life with us. She received Arnica montana D6, Apis mellifica D12 and Rhus toxicodendron D30 along with Homeopathic heart drops and a natural ginger like remedy for good digestion. |  |
The natural flower essence I found online worked so well to make her bad seizures go away, I can only recommend it to anyone who's dog experiences those viscous and scary attacks.
In the last few weeks her health again started to slowly deteriorate, she became so frail and weak, yet tried so hard not to be a burden by keeping her bodily functions going and taking her business to the yard. She sometimes walked like a drunk and bumped into things, and when she stopped drinking water it became obvious that this time there would be no recovery. Still I was hoping she would be allowed to just fall asleep peacefully at her home in one of her many dog beds. I just couldn't imagine making that decision and having to ask someone to take her life.
Last night - in spite of her bad condition and weakness - she was restless. The sound of the "tap tap tap" when she walked through the house always kept me on alert even when I was asleep, and sleep had been interrupted many times a night during the last few month. So I got up at 4 am to check on her and found her resting by the entrance door of the house. It was a very unusual place for her to linger, never ever had she done that before and she stayed there until my husband left for work.
When I got up in the morning she walked out of our bedroom and there was this look in her eyes, telling me that she didn't want to live like that anymore, asking me to let her go. Suddenly it dawned on me, the place she chose last night - right by the entrance door - was her way of telling me that she wanted to leave, that it was her time to go. In the end, she was the one making the decision for me, giving me the strength I needed to take her to the vet. She took the weight off my shoulders and it feels like her final gift of love to me, all she had left to give.
Last night - in spite of her bad condition and weakness - she was restless. The sound of the "tap tap tap" when she walked through the house always kept me on alert even when I was asleep, and sleep had been interrupted many times a night during the last few month. So I got up at 4 am to check on her and found her resting by the entrance door of the house. It was a very unusual place for her to linger, never ever had she done that before and she stayed there until my husband left for work.
When I got up in the morning she walked out of our bedroom and there was this look in her eyes, telling me that she didn't want to live like that anymore, asking me to let her go. Suddenly it dawned on me, the place she chose last night - right by the entrance door - was her way of telling me that she wanted to leave, that it was her time to go. In the end, she was the one making the decision for me, giving me the strength I needed to take her to the vet. She took the weight off my shoulders and it feels like her final gift of love to me, all she had left to give.
| So, this morning I packed her into her red fuzzy doggie bed and together with my son we drove to the animal hospital. He had brought a gorgeous rose from his own garden with the most amazing smell. When I carried her into the building she had her head pressed to my chest and it seemed like she knew that this would be the last time she would see the sun on this side of life. Holding the rose close to Lucky's nose, embracing and constantly dropping kisses and tears on her head, Lucky crossed the rainbow bridge this morning at 11 am, peacefully and gentle, as the gentle dog that she had always been, leaving behind heavy hearts and so many beautiful memories of 12 years together. |  |
Back at the house everything reminds me of her, I hear the sound of her steps, I see her coming to me, licking her mouth and signaling that she is hungry, jumping for joy when I put on my red sweat shirt before our evening walks and I think of that little dog's happiness whenever a family member came back home, even when gone for just a few minutes.
| As I miss her so much and always will, I look into another pair of affectionate eyes, Sam, our four-legged grandson and the next dog generation visiting, he wants to go for a stroll. Sam is just 9 month old but already three times Lucky's size and weight. So I take this handsome boy out for a walk through the nearby park. The breeze feels good in the heat of the afternoon and it reminds me of Lucky running with her ears flying in the wind, chasing cats, squirrels and birds, barking at skateboarders, bikers and anything noisy, and I find myself smiling. |  |
It's almost as if she tells me through the wind, "All is good, I arrived at the garden on the other side and the roses smell wonderful here."
At night I look out of our window into the front yard and I see the little candle burning in our stone temple, shining in honor and the memory of Lucky. My little pawsome angel will be in my heart forever.
At night I look out of our window into the front yard and I see the little candle burning in our stone temple, shining in honor and the memory of Lucky. My little pawsome angel will be in my heart forever.
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