In Memory:
Mandy - 2011

Ok, this is the THIRD dog (and my last) that I've had pass away in the last two years, and this is the last time I'm going to post a blog about a dog passing - I really don't want this to be some type of memorial page instead of what it was intended to be, a way for friends and family to keep up with things (including GOOD things, which sometimes do happen) in my life.

Long story short - Mandy was a stray I found years ago when she was about 5. She had numerous health issues along the way and survived each one, ranging from advanced heart worm when I found her, to epileptic seizures, to having to have an operation to remove tumors at one point that only left her a 50/50 chance. She made it through all of it, but eventually, at the approximate age of 13-14, she succumbed to complications with a tumor that was against her heart, among other things. Mandy had to be put to sleep on New Years Eve 2011 when her symptoms took a sudden and irreversible turn for the worse earlier that day. She had reached that line where she was no longer an old sick dog that medication could at least partially help any longer - she crossed the line to where she was seriously ill, and could not even eat or drink due to the complications, and once there, a dog is suffering, and you simply cannot allow it to continue.

I try to look at the journey in my life as a book, and just as with any book, our life is filled with "chapters". For the last 15 years, this chapter in my life was my dog chapter - my world was centered around my dogs, as they were my children, basically. I was incredibly fortunate to have three wonderful dogs in this previous chapter of my life... each with their own completely unique personality, and each of them lived a healthy life until their old age of at least 13+ years. In their own way, they were each incredibly smart, and unlike many of the horror stories you hear from some pet owners, never, ever, caused trouble around the house or with others. I could adopt a hundred dogs from this point onward and don't think I would be lucky enough to find these qualities in any of them compared to Lucy, Roxy, and Mandy.

With the passing of each, a small part of who I am passed with them, and with the passing of this last dog, this particular chapter in my life, comes to an end. Many (if not most) people will adopt a new dog before their last passes, or, immediately after it. I've decided not to do this provided my will power and love of dogs doesn't override my common sense. I think if a book has several chapters that are too similar, that book becomes boring, and we tend to stop being interested in it. So I think the next chapter in my life then, needs to be different than the last. I'm not sure what that means yet so soon into it, but we'll see.

So while life is sometimes heavy with trials and sadness, I want to be able to remember my dogs with a smile and laughter, and not with tears. I hope to be able to fill this blog in the future with more happy notes from my life. Stay tuned for the next chapter...

( Clicking on any photo will allow you to see a larger version )

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Notation:

When Lucy died suddenly two years ago, there were no decision to be made. Unfortunately, with Roxy and Mandy, their conditions made it necessary for me to make "the" decision that every pet owner prays they won't have to make one day. When this time comes, the very last thing you want as a last memory is having to take your dog to a Vet's office (where most dogs don't want to be regardless), and to have to have them Euthanize your pet there, in a public office, and to have to have the pet and you have that as the final memory.

Larger cities have some Vets that will come to your home to do this when the time has come. Both times I've needed it, I have used a service in North metro Atlanta called "Sweetdreamsmypet home Euthanasia". Ok, so I'm not crazy about the name, but it's run and staffed by some incredibly nice, caring, people. They will discuss your options with you on the phone, and when needed, will come to your home where you and your pet will be at the most comfortable setting for this to take place. No, it's not cheap, but for me it was worth it - my pets gave me unconditional love for many years, so the very least I could do in their final moments was to make sure it was done in a setting that would not upset them. If you have need of such a service, ask around your local are for one that has a good reputation and references. If you are in the Atlanta area, I would highly recommend the service I used. Their web site is: http://sweetdreamsmypet.com/