Such a Terrible Week

[Kathy Adams]

This week started with us having 12 dogs - each so different - all very much loved. There were 5 that lived outside, Rocco, JC, Colonel, Maybelline and Raven. I have very serious chronic back problems and it got very difficult to care for them - just going out to feed them was difficult some days. They also were escape artists. Even though we had an electic fence, they would find a way to get out and I would have to go fill a hole or mend the fence. Very early Tuesday morning they did just that and I couldn't take it anymore. I had been trying to find a no-kill shelter but none could take large breed dogs because they were so full already. I had to call animal control. They came that afternoon and picked up 4 of the 5. The 5th, Colonel, wouldn't come out from under the house. My husband is a trucker and came home on Wednesday. He took Colonel in on Thursday. He had a long conversation with the supervisor and we learned some wonderful news. This shelter will keep the dogs as long as they have the room and nobody takes them. They will help them with any medical probles, clean them up and make them pretty again. They'll also make sure, if they can't all be in the same pen, that at least they'll be able to see each other. They've been together since they were tiny pups - all but Rocco are litter mates and they were born here. If they do end up running out of room, they will send them to a no-kill shelter south of us that they work with. So my husband and I felt better about what had to be done.

Then there was Chewy. Chewy has been fighting pain from something pressing on the nerve in his neck. He's been on medication (Chewy was almost 11 years old) because surgery was out of the question, both financially and because of his age. After taking Tramadol, Prednisone and an anti-biotic for 3 weeks, he was placed on Rimadyl. It seemed to work at first but eventually he went from 2 a day to 3 to 4, which was as much as he could take. He had a couple of good days early in the week, but went downhill very quickly to the point he cried all night Thursday. We made the decision yesterday to send him to the Rainbow Bridge.

Chewy was such a special dog, so smart and so good. We both miss him terribly already. It's just not the same without that big black dog lying on the floor in whatever room we happen to be in.

Chewy came into our lives when he was just 7 weeks old. I only hope, in all that time, I made him as happy as he made us.

Goodbye, Chewmonster. We love you and miss you so much.

RIP Chewy.

[Connie Wagoner]

I am so sorry to read about your loss. It is so hard to lose something you love, but I know you made Chewy very happy

[Regina D.-PBP Event Admin]

I'm so sorry to hear about Chewy and the other dogs. He had a very wonderful and loving life. One day you will see him again and your others as well. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. I do hope your other dogs will find a very loving home as much as their precious one was.

[Laura~PBP Admin]

I am so so sorry for your loss , Kathy. Chewy was very very lucky to have the two of you to take care of him. He had a wonderful life....he will live on forever in your heart. You're in my thoughts and prayers. ~Laura~

[Gladys Rydbom]

Kathy, I'm so very sorry for your loss. Chewy was loved and had a good life and when his time came you showed him how very much he was loved as you did what was best for him. He is free of pain and because of you he had a wonderful life.

[Nancy BAll]

Kathy, just want you to know you're not alone in your pain. With everything you've had to deal with, I know this was a terrible decision to make. We had to make the same decision earlier this year, I'm so sorry. If you need to talk, please PM me with your number. We are all here to support you.

[Denise Santoro]

I'm so sorry for your loss...Chewy had a great life with you and lived to a ripe old age. Now he isn't in pain anymore.

[Shirley Robinson]

I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR YOUR NEWS. IT BREAKS MY HEART. WE HAD TO HAVE OUR OLDEST BIG BLACK GIRL PUT TO SLEEP IN MARCH, I MISS HER SO MUCH, THEN IN JUNE MY BLACK CAT WENT MISSING AND MY OLDEST CAT DIED THEN THIS PAST WED. MY FATHER PASSED AWAY. IT HAS BEEN A VERY HARD FEW MONTHS FOR ME SO I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. THEY KNEW YOU LOVED THEM AND WANT THE BEST FOR THEM.

[Lisa Barr]

Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear about Chewy and the rest of your dogs. I hope they find new homes quickly and are loved as much as you love them. Hugs, Lisa