Your story is touching. Like most dog owners, I too have had some of my best friends pass to the other side.
My most recent were a yellow lab named Sneaky and her mongrel son Rascal, whose father’s race and lineage were questionable at best.
For Sneaky, when she could no longer get herself up and out of the messes she made, I called the veterinarian and she came over on a beautiful afternoon just before sunset. I hade bathed Sneaky and her near white coat shone as she laid there basking in our love and attention. As the vet administered the drugs and explained what would happen. A couple of Macaws even came by to join in our farewell to her. I have been witness to a few deaths, and this one somehow seems to have been the most “humane”, at least up until a few years ago when her son Rascal faced a similar fate.
When Rascal reached the same point as his mother and was unable to get up out of the messes he made, I called the vet once again, but this time, due to travel restrictions with Covid, she couldn’t come right away. So instead, I simply decided to dedicate the next several days to Rascal, taking care of him.
When I got up in the morning, I would clean him up, dry him off and then carry him to where the sun would warm him. If it started getting windy or rainy, I carried him to a more sheltered area. By this time he wasn’t eating anything and I was helping him drink some water with an old syringe without the needle to keep his mouth moist.
During that time the vet called and said she could still come if I wanted. Since he hadn’t eaten for several days, I told her I would just wait it out. She explained to me how his body would just gradually shut down. And so I waited and watched as he slowly slipped away. Amazingly even without eating, and drinking very little, they keep pooping and peeing, so I just kept cleaning, washing and drying.
When he finally took his last gasp, I was by his side, ready and was able to give him a proper burial.
The whole process of both his and his mother’s death have helped me to understand death perhaps better than any other deaths I have witnessed, including those of my parents.
While I didn’t have a harp at the time to accompany me in the process, I can see how it could help tremendously. Thanks @HvyMtlHarmonica420 for sharing your story.
RIP it China Doll
You can imagine how the class reacted to my presentation. I just owned it since then.
