On Sunday Maisie became ill and the following day we took her to the vets where she was diagnosed with a tumour in the lung. She was frightened and unhappy by the tests. We brought her home on Tuesday evening but it became clear that the effort to breathe surmounted all else and we returned to the vets and requested that she be put to sleep. She died gently in my arms.
Yesterday we dug into the hard surface frost to bury her in a favourite spot beneath the walnut tree, a place where she liked to bask in the sunshine and keep an eye on me as I worked in the vegetable patch.
You will know how I feel.
11.12.2012
I am so so sorry, I have tears in my eyes as I write this, I know how special these dogs are and yes, I know how you are feeling. Bon Courage.
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Dear Dash, thank you for your message, for which I am very grateful. As the owner of a smooth fox terrier, the handsome Crusoe, you will know what sort of a special character we have lost. The house is very quiet.
DeleteRosemary and Peter,
ReplyDeleteI'm SO sorry about Maisie. I know how horribly difficult it is make such a decision, especailly when it's forced so quickly. These photos are a beautiful tribute.
We will be sure to toast her wonderful life on this side of the pond.
xo Steve
Dear Steve, How lovely that you raised a toast to Maisie, now I can feel that she was appreciated on both sides of the Atlantic.
DeleteStill weeping.
Really sorry to hear about Maisie. It looks as though she had quite a life with you two.
ReplyDeleteQuite a character, quite a life, but not long enough.
DeleteRosemary, I am so very sorry. My heart is aching for you. Thank you for sharing the pictures of Maisie. Rest well sweet Maisie! Hugs! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteDear Bonnie, Thank you for your kind words. I was brought up in a household that always included one or more dogs and each death has broken my heart. I cannot say that it gets any easier with time. As a child my father had the hard decisions to make but now they are mine. I could not bear Maisie to suffer and am glad that her illness was so brief. For such a little dog she leaves a very large space.
DeleteCondolences...
ReplyDeletemy heart goes out to you at this time of sadness.
It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved before....
Dear Hostess, thank you. Yes, this loss is the downside of love. When the grieving has passed I shall recall the ten years of wonderful fun and delight that Maisie brought to our lives.
DeleteDear Rosemary, I am so very sorry that you lost your beautiful Maisie. We have loved and lost several of our best friends. It is always heart wrenching and difficult. Thank you for sharing, through pictures, her charming and loyal personality. ox, Gina
ReplyDeleteDear Gina, thank you.
DeleteI'm so sorry to read of your loss, what lovely memories she left for you
ReplyDeleteDear Lilac, thank you. Yes, the memories will make us smile.
DeleteOh how relieved we are that we caught up with Maisie the weekend before she bowed out of our lives forever. She was still up and about her usual patrols - if a trifle slower; she was always particularly good on "meet and greet" where we all got a very waggy tailed inspection upon entering the house, in fact her whole body wagged and she sort of rhumba'd round the room (how do you write the adjective for doing the rhumba)?
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing all the old photos of her, specially the ones when she was broody and protected all her toys by hunkering down with them in her basket - woe betide any of us trying to sneak one out - she was a perfect Mother Courage.
We will come and pay our respects at the walnut tree next time we come to see you,
love Janet
Dear Janet, oh, how quiet we are now, no one patrols the garden, no welcome at the door.
ReplyDeleteWe are so pleased that you were over for lunch on that Sunday. It gave us a nice memory to keep of Steve and Maisie. He heard her coughing as we sat in the dining room and when I went into the kitchen to check her there he was on his knees talking to her as she lay in her basket.
We've shared some great dog days. Rosemary xx.
oh rosemary, i'm so very, very sorry for the loss of your beloved maisie. what a beautiful name! and what a beautiful life she looks to have led. sending prayers from southern california. xo janet
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