(no subject)

[madrobins]

This weekend our 15 1/2_year journey with Emily came to an end. We got Emily when she was three months old from the SF SPCA. For the first ten years of her life, I was the alpha parent. For the last five years my husband Danny sort of took over. During that time I've written about Em and her antics, foibles, and demands. In the last year or so she started really showing her age (although on a good day she was still capable of dragging one from one end of our hilly San Francisco neighborhood to the other, looking for humans to charm and treats to demand). But in the last week she started to decline sharply. Her already-wobbling hindlegs gave out, and then her front legs, and it was... time. The vet who came to our house was kind and gentle--I think there's a special place in heaven for someone who does what is essentially hospice work with pets--and he was very sweet with us as well. He listened to our Emily stories and understood our familial we-deal-with-stress-with-laughter reaction. And then she was gone.

The house is quiet. I can hug my husband without Emily immediately responding with "Excuse me? You're supposed to be hugging THE DOG" (freely translated from barking and nosing in between us. I may be able to take a fur-free breath some time this decade (it turns out I'm allergic to dogs... who knew, until we had one?). But the house is still infused with her silly, ridogulous spirit. And can you believe the side-eye she's giving me?

Comments

[estara]

I remember when we had to do that to our first dog, too. My mum and I cried in the car outside the vet's and I feel for your loss.

[madrobins]

Thank you. I have to say, having a vet who will come to your home is a godsend--I cannot imagine how awful it would have been for Emily if we'd had to go to the vet--a place she Did Not Love.

[sartorias]

I am so sorry she's gone--she sounded like such a character. She was lucky to have you, and had a good long life, especially for a dog that size. Her memory for a blessing.

[oracne]

I'm so sorry. She was a good dog.

[nineweaving]

Oh, I am so sorry. She was indeed a great character, and made family life into a comic novel. You were fortunate all round. Her memory for a blessing.

Nine

[carbonel]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[alfreda89]

She will always give you side-eye, Mad. She has Gone Ahead in the liminal portion of the year, and she may hang around until all her people are on the same side of the last door.

Virtual hugs over a life well lived, that brought joy to your family.