 Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Matt Lang ]
#353115 - 01/09/2012 01:49 PM |
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Thanks everybody - your support and information has been invaluable. I let Dante check out her body yesterday evening and just as you guys said, he sniffed her all over and then came to me and my dad for a little petting, and then went back and sniffed her a bit more and licked her on the chin about a half dozen times, and then accepted it and was over it.
I'm still in shock, because it was so sudden and the prognosis was so good. She was a good dog and a great friend.
As Michael said, it's a little helpful to me to see how the surviving dogs, even a dog's constant companion, "understand" death. They check, make sure, maybe sit and "consider" for a few minutes, and then it's over.
Imagine how bewildering it must be, though, to suddenly lose a pack member and perceive pack disruption without the natural explanation of death.
It may sound like I'm humanizing, but the difference between the two experiences is so clear.
I'm so sorry you experienced such a horrible reverse. It's hard to train our minds to "click" to the important thing: the life that blessed ours. Hard not to focus on the smallest part of that life: its end. 
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#353116 - 01/09/2012 01:59 PM |
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Matt, I am so very sorry. To go from a good prognosis and then an unexpected death does send the mind and heart realing, doesn't it? I sincerely hope that the knowledge that you did the best for your gal in life, during her illness and after her death brings you sincere and genuine comfort. NO living creature can hope for more. You did good - I'm just sorry you had to.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Barbara Schuler ]
#353632 - 01/16/2012 01:43 AM |
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Hi everybody - thank you again for all your good thoughts and words. Your support helped me immensely in this past week and I really appreciated reading all the posts on here.
As requested, here is a photo of Zora on one of her happier days. Sorry it took so long for me to get this together but life has been hectic lately. I will also post later in the grief section as Connie suggested.
In the meantime, I want to wish you and all your dogs a fantastic year in 2012 
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Matt Lang ]
#353633 - 01/16/2012 02:11 AM |
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She was so beautiful. I am sorry you lost her. She looks very well loved.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Matt Lang ]
#353641 - 01/16/2012 07:30 AM |
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What a pretty girl! She looks like a happy dog. You gave her a great life. We never forget the ones we lost, but I hope that time will ease your pain.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Matt Lang ]
#353646 - 01/16/2012 08:33 AM |
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Wow, really good looking girl Matt.
It must be difficult not having that beautiful face and wonderful soul around.
They leave us far too soon. My heart goes out to you. Time will help ease the pain, but thankfully, something about those great memories seems to live on forever.
Cherish them always.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#353648 - 01/16/2012 09:22 AM |
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Reg: 10-03-2006
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Thanks everybody - your support and information has been invaluable. I let Dante check out her body yesterday evening and just as you guys said, he sniffed her all over and then came to me and my dad for a little petting, and then went back and sniffed her a bit more and licked her on the chin about a half dozen times, and then accepted it and was over it.
I'm still in shock, because it was so sudden and the prognosis was so good. She was a good dog and a great friend.
As Michael said, it's a little helpful to me to see how the surviving dogs, even a dog's constant companion, "understand" death. They check, make sure, maybe sit and "consider" for a few minutes, and then it's over.
Imagine how bewildering it must be, though, to suddenly lose a pack member and perceive pack disruption without the natural explanation of death.
It may sound like I'm humanizing, but the difference between the two experiences is so clear.
What if showing the body is logistically almost impossible? I haven't really had a dog that I could physically carry, so bringing them home from the vet office to show to my other dogs, and then back to the vet's for cremation (I keep the cremains so they can be buried with me) has just not been feasible. I have sat with my dogs and tried to 'emote' to them what happened to their pack member though. I haven't had any of them really react badly, go off their food or look for their missing friend. They seemed to understand somehow. Any thoughts about this approach?
I am so sorry for the loss of Zora, especially for the circumstances of her passing. She was really gorgeous
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Kristel Smart ]
#353661 - 01/16/2012 10:43 AM |
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... What if showing the body is logistically almost impossible? I haven't really had a dog that I could physically carry, so bringing them home from the vet office to show to my other dogs, and then back to the vet's for cremation (I keep the cremains so they can be buried with me) has just not been feasible. I have sat with my dogs and tried to 'emote' to them what happened to their pack member though. I haven't had any of them really react badly, go off their food or look for their missing friend. They seemed to understand somehow. Any thoughts about this approach?
You do what you can, Kristel. I have once had the PTS done at my home and have other times had the other dogs (under control of a second person) come into the room at the vet's after the PTS.
There was no upheaval or resistance by vet staff or anything like that. They did not attend the PTS. They came in through the waiting room with someone else and then we all left through the side door that I had asked to leave through myself for emotional reasons after spending time with the body.
As it happened, they came in a different car, but they could also have come in mine and stayed in it for the PTS. Either way, I would have that second person to handle that end of it without blurred eyes, etc.
I am impressed every time (more times than I wish, with my usual adoptees being adults and seniors) with vet staff accommodation and care.
And Kristel, I am sure, knowing you, that they were helped enormously by the solidity of their pack and the strength of their leader.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Matt Lang ]
#353662 - 01/16/2012 10:41 AM |
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Matt, she is really beautiful. Thank you for letting us see how her face truly matches her name.
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Re: Urgent question re: death in the pack
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#353679 - 01/16/2012 11:59 AM |
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Matt, her face truly matches her name.
That it does. Very sorry for your loss Matt.
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