Dogless in Seattle

[akirlu]

Sarah's gone. We took her in to be put down today -- Saturday evening
the tumor on her clavicle ulcerated through her skin, and the string
of smaller tumors on her leg were bothering her to the point where she
was obsessively licking herself raw. And, as we noticed at the vet,
there was another large tumor forming on her spine. So it just seemed
like it was time. She was game right to the end, though. We walked
her over to Earthworks park this morning and she was still eager to
chase the ducks and leap into the muddy shallows. She always did run
full tilt right to the end of her tether. We will miss her terribly
and I don't know that I'll be ready to talk about her in person soon,
so I just wanted to let y'all know to save anyone having to
ask after her the next time we see each other. I don't know when I'll
be ready to deal with in-person condolences either. I'd just rather
not break down in public. I know you're all kind-hearted and generous
and well-meaning and so if we see each other and we don't talk about
Sarah, I will not be offended. (E-mail is fine, I can be a blubbering
wreck at home.)

And, we got a month more with Sarah than I feared we would, back in
early September. It was a good September. We got a lot of beach
time, she dug many holes in the sand, chased a great many sea birds,
and got a great many people-food snacks. So there's that.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oh I am so very, very sorry.

...

[the-ogre.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathy. It's never easy.

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

As I said to Hal, very sorry to hear this. My condolences to you both.

[ceemage.livejournal.com]

You are in our thoughts. Run free, Sarah.

[dhole.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I had a chance to meet her. She was a wonderful dog.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

I want to find some perfect thing to say here, even knowing from recent experience there is no such thing.

I'm glad she had you guys. I'm glad you had her. I'm sorry for your loss.

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful photograph. All our sympathies.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

sorry to hear this.

[samildanach.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your loss. She was a great dog.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear this. Hang in there.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

My heartfelt sympathy and sorrow for your loss. That's a lovely photo, so full of doggie happiness.

[prettymuchpeggy.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear of this. I am "thinking" in your direction much comfort.

[lintninja.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. It's always so hard to say goodbye to a family member. Bles you for not putting her through anymore than she had to. You guys are great dog parents.

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[richardthe23rd.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. I was glad my cat got to spend some time in the grass and the sun at the end.

[davidgoldfarb.livejournal.com]

May you be comforted.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. I know how you loved her, and losing her like that just sucks big time. *Hugs*

[dlacey.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

That is a tough loss. Hugs across the e-ways.

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

She was a wonderful dog -- I could tell just from your posts about and pictures of her. I know you both will miss her a lot. And I'm glad to hear that she had that last fun visit to the park. Hugs.

[ladyjestocost.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear this. She was such a joyful dog.

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Man, that really sucks. The cruelest joke ever played on mankind: giving our best friends one-sixth our lifespan. I feel your pain; been through it a few times already. Its something we just have to expect when we adopt a pet, and yet when it happens, it's devastating. My condolences.

[jophan.livejournal.com]

Jag beklagar sorgen.

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. And that's a very lovely photo.

[urlgirl.livejournal.com]

I am so, so sorry for your loss, both of you :(

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Maggy.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Ann often said that it's our duty to give our animals both the best life and the kindest death we can, although we can usually only manage the former for ourselves.

As I just said to Hal, she was a lovely dog and a very happy memory of my stay in Seattle.

I am so very sorry

[u-must-b-joking.livejournal.com]

I remember from my own experience that somehow it becomes possible to cry your own body weight in a single day. When you think there's nothing left... there is more.

[claireeddy.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this sucks. I am glad that you guys had the extra time with her but so sorry that it went this way.

My condolences to you and Hal.

--claire

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Claire.

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry for your loss.