We said goodbye to Nestle yesterday evening
We are all devastated even though it was definitely time to let her go. She lived with Degenerative Myelopathy for 18 months and her front legs were starting to give her more and more trouble. We also had a growth removed from her ear once in January and again in April but it came back again and spread quickly, especially in the last week.
She was still very alert and enjoyed cuddling and eating anything that came her way. Actually having to make an appointment to let her go was one of the most heart-wrenching decisions but we didn’t want to wait until she was in pain. We called on Friday and prepared to spend one last weekend with our girl.
The end was very quick. I knew that it wouldn’t take long but I was surprised at just how fast it happened. She was here, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. She was surrounded by our family and we stroked her and told her she was the best girl. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
I had a friend wait outside with Hobart and then I brought him in the room once Nestle had passed away. I had no expectations for how he would react but I wanted to at least give him the opportunity to perhaps realize that she was gone so he wouldn’t be staring out the window for her like he’s done in the past when she’s had surgery. He sniffed her feet and then was kind of frantic, walking around to each of us. It was hard to tell if he had any concept of what had happened but the doctor said that usually they seem to have some sort of understanding immediately after seeing/sniffing their companion. He was panting and sort of jumping on everyone which is something he doesn’t normally do. He sniffed her a couple more times, we each said a final goodbye, and then we left.
Nestle had one of the strongest spirits; she was just a tough lady all around but she had a genuine sweetness as well. We will all miss her terribly. There is such a heavy sadness over this little life lost. But it was a life well lived and a life well loved. There’s comfort in knowing that much.
(Source: brownhoundeyes)
