I checked the caller ID. It was David.
Wait, let me back up.
For the last two days, I've been questioning my decision. What if Milo doesn't get along with my dogs? What if Trace hates him? What if he marks my house or causes Isaac to?
Why did I make a decision to keep a dog I don't know that belongs to people that I don't know? Why don't I think things through before I jump headfirst into things?
I'm trying to get my house ready to sell and now I've gotten myself into keeping Milo until the 20th. For eight days. I dog that I don't know. What if he chews? Digs the yard up?
You all know how I am with what ifs.
I answer the phone and it's David. He called to tell me that Milo had gotten sick after we left his front yard on Wednesday night. Milo threw up that night. But David though that he'd be okay. Milo had eaten a rock and David thought it might be that rock upsetting his stomach. Milo's a rock eater. Hey, we all have our issues.
Today, Milo was still sick. He could barely breathe. He seemed to be in pain. They had to lift him into the car to take him to the vet this afternoon.
After giving Milo the once over, the vet ran an ultrasound. He found a mass beside Milo's liver. Cancer in a rottweiler that's already eleven years old is not good. And so, David and Gary had to make the hardest decision. They had to put Milo down.
My vision tunneled as I listened to David say how they knew his lifespan was only around nine years and what a wonderful dog he had been. I thought that I would pass out.
I pulled myself back from the blackness to listen to a man that needed to tell me that this was the last thing that he wanted to do. Put his friend out of his pain. When there was such little hope. On the brink of their vacation.
He just kept saying how grateful he was that I was willing to keep Milo. And yet, tonight, I'm the one that is grateful.
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Phone Rang at 9:31pm
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28 comments:
Just tonight I got teary eyed while talking about my 14-year old deaf pooch and how incredibly difficult it would be to make such a decision as David had to make.
He is so fortunate to have met you. You are a beautiful and compassionate person.
Godspeed.
That is so sad.... :(
*hugs*
You gave them a measure of comfort in knowing that they would have had a place for him had they left. Instead things played out this way and they didn't need your services. Doesn't take away from the graciousness of your offer. On a more practical note, he could have died while in your care, and that would have been a horrible thing to have to tell them when they got home. It was all for the best and you did the right thing. It's ok to feel grateful.
Take care,
FMD
You may have been regretting making the offer in hindsight but you DID MAKE THE OFFER and made someone very happy! That's good m'dear, just remember that. x
Yes, this played out the way it was intended and you will always be remembered for having done it even though it never happened - having the dog die while they were gone would have left you with a different reputation...
How sad. Poor, poor man.
It just isn't fair that our best friends life spans are only about 10-15 years. I have had to put down 5 of my dogs, and it never gets easier. But then, I am genuinely grateful that I have that option of putting them out of their pain.
You gave them comfort at the end, you are a wonderful person!
I think your blessed!
That is a tough one. I hope Dave feels better soon and that Gary doesn't remember Milo at all. I am glad you made the offer, anyway.
Isn't it great how people just pop into our lives when they're needed? That big ol Universe....
yes...enough gratitude to go around I think. You've been blessed!
I could be wrong, but I think your gesture was extraordinary because you would have suffered your "what ifs" and kept the dog anyway, had fate not intervened.
CJ
I think this all came about so that David would have someone to tell about Milo
I'm sure you made him feel less alone by being so kind to his Dad and by being so generous in your offer to watch Milo
what if's are human and you are the best of human
You have such a roller coaster of emotion sort of life. Have you ever thought of writing a book and piecing all of this together?
Thank god Milo didn't get sick while you had him. You really dodged a bullet there.
How sad. We had to put my 11 year old cat, Max down in January and on Monday, Wifester's old-as-Jesus cat died, so we are certainly acclimated to loosing such close companions. I think that paths cross when they need to, and yours crossed with David's and Gary's just at the right moment. maybe your ear was needed more than your dog sitting...
I'm sorry about the dog. It's sad when we lose them.
That was a sad and uplifitng story all rolled together. Poor Milo.
How very sad. Poor Milo.
My very close friend Valerie just lost a very close work friend of hers to cancer...she cried and I cried. I didn't know her other from mention, here and there through our conversations.
It hurt me so vey badly to hear her cry. I could hold her, but I couldn't find the words to make it all better. :(
later sweetie.
wow... ::sniff::
I just read the previous post and was all teary eyed, then this. Wow.
How bizarre that this would happen on the eve of their trip. Nothing wrong in being grateful that circumstances turned out the way they did. Having to tell him when he got home would have eaten you up inside.
I'm really sorry to hear that, I've been in similar situation with the dog I had before Cheyenne.
It is for the best, you just have to keep that in mind.
It's good it happened BEFORE, and not during your babysitting!
Sad for Gary & David, relief for Milo.
Pet sittng for someone is stressful just like babysitting their kid. I do neither that way I can't be blamed for accidents or abuse (just kidding)!!!
Your blog is a good read :)
That is SO sad... it sucks how life can kick you in the ass eery once in a while, just to show you who's boss. You're a good friend.
holy cow, what a story!
my parents raised rottweilers growing up, and the last dog they kept after they stopped breeding them was kari. she got cancer, and ended up dying about the time i moved out of my parents house. it hurt my mom so bad she still hasnt gotten another dog, and that was 6 years ago.
i'm sorry about your doggie pain!
*hugs*
How sad!
I can barely see through my tears to comment.
Wow!
I don't know why but since I hadn't been here to visit in a little bit I decided to go back a few and started reading the story of how Gary, David and Milo came into your life (and by extension, ours).
To read this twist in the story, while I try and get rid of the initial sniffles had me thinking.
I believe all of this happened for a reason.
I'm thankful that Gary and David got to say goodbye to their old friend before their trip and that it didn't happen while Milo was with you.
I'm thankful you were there for David because going through the loss of a beloved companion and dealing with such a cruel illness that robs you of your loved one slowly may be too much for one to bear alone.
I'm thankful you shared this with us.
I'm thankful you are you.
*hugs*
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