Saying goodbye to your pet is one of the hardest things to do.
A friend of mine has just been through the agony of losing his best buddy; his dog. Anyone who has had to say goodbye to their beloved pet will know just how painful it is.
It is around this time, especially, that I remember our little Tia Belle.
For fourteen years, we had a ‘duman’ child. A four-legged little princess who thought she was human.
Tia Belle was so smart she could unwrap her presents. She always seemed to end up with way more than she needed. How many toys can a dog have? In her case, there were lots.
Not only did she unwrap her presents but she would also de-tag them. Don’t ask me how she knew the difference between a toy and a tag, but she did.
She would attack the paper with gusto, almost trembling with excitement. Once the paper was disposed of, she would seek out the tag and rip it off with her teeth. The toy was now ready as far as she was concerned. Some toys ‘made the cut’ and became favorites. Others were cast aside with a typical Shih Tzu glance that said:
“This is not up to your normal standard. Do better next time!”
My wife and I had to make the horrible decision to have our beloved little girl, Tia-Belle, put to sleep 4 years ago. She developed an aggressive, inoperable brain tumor that was robbing her of her life and causing acute pain.
The pain of doing this has not stopped for us, but I know we did the right thing by her. She was our daughter, and we could not watch her suffer anymore. It was very aggressive, and developed very quickly in only a matter of less than 3 months.
I will never forget the look of love in her eyes, almost saying,
“Thank you. I could not go on anymore even though I did not want to leave you.”
I took some solace in the poem below, which I share with all those who know what I am talking about. I don’t know who wrote it or where it came from, but the words make me feel a lump in my throat every time I read it.
I do not understand why we are here (at the vet),
I do not understand why there are tears,
You always smile when I am around,
But today you stare at me with a frown.
A needle enters me but I do not fear,
You make me comfortable, and it all becomes clear.
I feel sleepy now.. and I see a light…
Thank you for being my last living sight…
I also have a plea to those who are ever faced with this horrible decision — Don’t let your beloved pet pass by themselves.
They have never deserted you, so return the favor to them. It is a very difficult thing to do, but ask yourself, “Wouldn’t they do it for you?”
They will know because dogs have a sixth sense. They know when you are sick or sad, and all they want is to be near you. That is why they are truly ‘man’s best friend.’
