Our sweet 14 years and 23 days old dog, Sadie, died Saturday morning. Sadie had been gradually going downhill over the last few months. She started having strokes a couple of months ago and we thought that the next 1 or 2 strokes might do her in. But on Friday night or early Saturday morning, I woke up and noticed her breathing was labored. Shane got up with her and kept her comfortable until she fell asleep.The next morning she wasn't any better so off to the vet we went. She was having trouble walking on her own, another sign something was wrong. Our vet said her heart was beating erratically and we got to hear just how erratic it was with an EKG. It was fluctuating between 120 bpm and 183 bpm over just a few seconds. There wasn't anything we could really do for her. In addition to heart failure, there was fluid in her lungs which was causing her breathing problems. We hated to make the decision to put her down but felt it was the best thing for her. She had been suffering off and on for the last 2 months. The vet gave her a sedative and we talked to her and loved on her until she fell asleep. Her last moments were very peaceful.
I have read the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. It is a very hard read but worth the effort. In the book he discusses how Heaven will be much like the Garden of Eden, God's Heaven on earth. In the Garden of Eden there were many animals. The bible also talks about walking beside lions in Heaven. Although we won't know until we get there, I believe our animals will be there. For me, Heaven would include all of my animals (well most of them minus the cat litter and piles of poop in the backyard :)
Sadie was a gentle dog. She loved babies (I found humor in watching friends pull their babies away from her...all she wanted to do was love on them). She also loved cats and thought they should all be her friends. Too funny! One of the cats on our street attacked her when she got too close once. But they fast became friends and would sit next to each other at the bus stop.
I will miss the sound of her breathing at night (a comfort to me). I will miss her nudging my hand for some affection and always laying at my feet. I will miss her "kisses". I will miss her when it is too quiet in our house. She was a good protector of the boys and our home. I will never forget when Jacob got out of my sight on the gully and fell riding his bike. She heard him and pulled so hard that I finally had to let her leash go. When I caught up, she was sitting right by his side, making sure that he was ok. She loved to ride in the car and to go on walks...what dog doesn't? She was so accepting of other dogs and cats "visiting" our home. She put up with a lot around here :)
Now I understand why some people replace their dogs so fast....they can't stand how hard it is to lose them!
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