OT - Shop Dog is Gone

RonB · 2010-07-17T03:36:23+00:00

We boarded our 13 year old German Shepherd early this week while wewent to Table Rock for a few day. He has been going downhill duringthe past year; and lately he has had trouble just walking to the endof our 120' driveway and back. I weighed him on the way into theclinic/kennel and was surprised he lost about 8 pounds since April. Iasked the veterinary clinic to give me an assessment while he was withthem, because I have been fearing a decision we might have to makesoon.Ever-faithful, Sam saved us the pain. When I went to pick him upThursday morning, I notice three young ladies standing at the end ofthe hall looking at me and I got a little uncomfortable. Soon, one ofthem called me into an exam room and told me he had passed theprevious day.One of my most frequent visions of this dog has been him laying infront of the dust port of my jointer and letting himself get coveredwith shavings. Why he did it, I don't know but he did it from time totime and would just lay there looking up at me with his head betweenhis paws; with a pile of shavings on his back.Occasionally he would wait until a tool was turned off and he wouldwalk over and stare. Once his ears were scratched he would walk backto his rug and lie down for a while. Lately the act of just gettingon his feet was very difficult, but he did it because he knew he couldget me to stop and scratch those ears. I think he did it more duringthe past month than usual. Maybe he knew.He was a big, gentle dog and he is missed.RonB