Saturday, April 12, 2008

Farewell, Sweetest Copper

I was wrong...today is the day that we had to say goodbye to our much beloved, sweet and gentle Copper. While he had rallied this morning to the point that I thought he was going to make it, he began to fail just an hour or two later. I rushed him in for an emergency visit. Copper was determined to have a large, bleeding tumor on his heart. It had been there for some time. Nothing could be done. I guess doggie cancer is one of the more common things that take Golden Retrievers from their adoring owners.We decided that it wasn't about us and our desire to hold on to him at this point. It was about his comfort. He needed help to pass peacefully so we saw to that. We took a dog paw print, some locks of his hair and petted and loved on him until he was gone.

I thought that knowing he had had a long and happy life would help. I thought that knowing there was nothing we could have done or could do, might help make it easier to let him go. I thought that knowing we were easing his suffering would lessen our pain.

It doesn't.

19 comments:

Paula Gardner said...

Charity, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Praying for your comfort. I weep with you dear one!

Pamela

Lissa Jane said...

Charity

I am so sorry to hear about your furbaby... Quilty Huggers from Australia...

Lissa

AllisonC said...

Oh Charity i am so sorry to see your news, in fact I have tears in my eyes. The photo you posted of Copper in your last post was beautiful and that is the way to remember him, he had 12 happy loving years with you. I work for an animal charity and see things every day I wish I didn't and it never gets any easier, but Copper was loved and had a long and blessed life, please remember that. Thinking of you xxx

Sharon Sews said...

I'm so sorry about Copper.

Shannon said...

My heart breaks for you and your family. Try and take comfort in knowing that you provided a wonderful life for that sweet creature.

Janet said...

i am so very sorry....

Anonymous said...

I am very sorry about Copper. He had a great life with a loving family and you will surely miss him.

Kris

Unknown said...

Thank you for your sweet remarks, ladies. It helps and is appreciated. Allison, you are right. The photo is precious to me because it was taken last summer and captures Copper's personality quite well. Copper loved the summer's because he always went with us on our adventures in beautiful Alaska. Last summer he even went on a canoe trip with us - which was quite an exercise in trust for all of us! LOL! He did love life, was full of joy and life. That is how we'll remember him for sure. I'm not going to let a few hours of seeing him so sick rob me of remembering him as the vibrant, enthusiastic, life-loving creature he was! Thank you for the encouragement to think of it that way.

Kat said...

So sorry. I know how heart breaking it can be.

Liana said...

I'm so sorry about Copper. It's never easy, but you gave him a wonderful life, and that's a great gift. He was a very loved dog, and he knew it.

Marita said...

Charity,

it takes a long time to heal, I'm so sorry that you had to part,he loved you very much as you loved him and there are too little good people who do so.
It always makes me tearsome when I read peoples stories about their pets.

My dogfriend had to be put to sleep four years ago and I still miss him so much.

...once more, I'm so sorry....

Marita

Karen said...

Charity, nothing will ease the pain right away, but after a bit, knowing that you gave Copper a wonderful live and a dignified end without suffering will make you feel a little better.

I love the picture you posted of him, it really gives a sense of his personality and the size of the loss you must feel.

Karen

Donna said...

I am so sorry. I lost my beloved Belgian Malinois, Buddy, last May. He was just one week shy of his 12th birthday. It is amazing how sweet they are to us even when they are suffering. God bless our furbabies.

Dawn said...

Oh Charity, I'm so sorry about Copper.

Anonymous said...

Charity, I am so sad! And Pete will be lonesome. They never got their play date. Let me know if I can do anything for you. Nancy

Anonymous said...

Dear Charity,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Copper. I know that your home and heart must feel so empty right now.

I hope that you will be comforted in knowing that you gave Copper a very loving home.

Hugs,
Sue

Emily said...

Oh Charity, I am so sorry, I kow you spoke very fondly of Copper and you must miss him terribly. =(

Emily

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

I'm so sorry! I'm in tears here.

Our pastor assures us that we'll see our pets again in heaven. I hope so!