Casey came to me overnight, thanks to FaceBook. I opened FaceBook this morning to a video memory of Casey from a year ago (two weeks post-amp). He was running to me from across the yard, just bounding, with his tail wagging and a big ol’ Golden smile on his face. My Golden warrior, but what it really showed me was how much he’d declined with the paralysis over his last two months, and especially the last two weeks. This video showed me we really had done the right thing sending him to the bridge.
I have another video from the vet, the day he left us. I’d carried him in and they’d arranged a bed for him in an examination room. I set him on the bed and we fed him a cheeseburger and some ice cream with chicken treat sprinkles. He was one happy boy (Ann assured me he had an ice cream headache having downed about a cup of ice cream in one bite), but he was enjoying the attention. This is when I explained that at the bridge, he’d get his arm back along with the other stuff we’d cut off, and that the girls were going to be really happy to see him. That video haunts me, because he was so happy, but it had gotten to where he’d whimper at times when I lifted him, and I believe he was also whimpering at frequencies we couldn’t hear because Bode would get so concerned about his brother.
As my brother so wisely put it “He couldn’t dog anymore Tom. Aren’t you glad you were able to send him off before his life grew miserable?” I am glad, but Ann and I both miss him, a lot.
I am sure that was Casey tapping you on the shoulder to make sure you knew!
Pictures really do tell so much. I know you miss him, and we all know you did the right thing at the right time.
It isn’t going to make it any easier right now though, only time will take the edge off of your pain.
I would not be surprised though if Casey doesn’t send you more taps on the shoulder and memories of the good things 🙂
Sending good thoughts and wishing peace for your family.
Jackie and Huck
So glad you checked in….and si glad Casey checked in with you in a Casey-specific way! Such a special “connection” and in a way that reminded you how heal6 and whole he is now.
Of course he was happy “that” day He knew he was going to head to the Bridge and see the girls, plus he was on an ice cream high!! Actually, we do see this a lot where a dog “rallies” before they head to the Bridge. I honestly think they are looking forward to their next adventure! Yes, this is the memory Casey wanted to make sure he left you with, not one where he was in unbearable pain and had no wag left, and felt so bad he ouldn’t eat ice cream with chicken sprinkles.
And yes, you have a very wise brother. Poignant sentiment…”he couldn’t dog anymore”.
Casey was very special to us too. I’ll ALWAYS smile when I see his avatar picture. That dog just exploded with personality in every photo and every post.
Speaking of….we would love more photos and would love hearing more avout our smiling boy. And I agree with Jackie, Casey will figure out another creative way to connect with you.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Oh my gosh of course you miss your sweet boy. It’s not been long, and the pain is still so raw.
We all question our decision to help our beloved animals out of their pain. There’s no way around it. But please know, it’s so clear that you made all of your decisions out of total love and honor for Casey, and he knew that right up until his last breath. He felt your love and it carried him through to his next assignment, somewhere in the universe.
I agree, we need more photos and videos of Casey loving life. It would be our pleasure to celebrate the many gifts he brought to this earth.