Day 89
On our way out of town today with the van filled to the gills with my personal belongings and 6 animals our journey took a very unexpected twist …
I had to put Yoshi to sleep.
She was my nearly 14 year old pug and was having some difficulties yesterday. At the morning appointment I had for her today I was expecting them to give me some pain meds and antibiotics for her … not a recommendation for euthanasia.
Euthanasia … sounds like a camp for children in Thailand.
And without getting into the ethical, moral, religious, and personal stances on the subject … as much as I am a proponent of it … it still is not an easy thing to do.
However, I am so grateful I had the gift of making that choice for my dear sweet pet and helping her along her way. Her spirit was strong but her little body was failing and I was fortunate enough to be able to not let her linger and suffer. Wrapped in a cuddly blanket I rocked her the whole time and her passing was warm and peaceful and easy (and almost immediate).
I wish I could have done the same thing for Tim. Unless you have been in a similar situation – you do not know how painful it is to sit idly by when your loved one begs you to put them out of their misery. I wish I could have (legally) helped him along as well.
Yosh was one of the foster pugs that I rescued some 3 years ago. She was supposed to be at my house for an afternoon! After a month or so of both she and Dori at my home I realized I couldn’t give them up and started the adoption process. I flunked “fostermomhood” and adopted them both. I never thought she’d live this long … my little oldie moldie!
Friends and my mom could never get her name quite right … so, she was called a variety of closely related names … Sushi, Yucky, Mushy or whatever came flowing off one’s tongue. Sweet Yosh. Through all her old lady problems and inconveniences (for me) she remained gentle and loving and a football-shaped armful of puggy sweetness.
Oscar was her boyfriend … or at least body guard and baby sitter. When I’d set her in the yard to sit and enjoy the sun or nice weather, Oscar would join her and sit or lie next to her. On the loveseat he would cuddle up with her on a regular basis. They were buds. The odd couple of the house … the cat and the pug.
When I came out of the vet’s office this morning without her I thought maybe he’d bite me … from me being such a slobbering mess (he despises displays of emotion) or because I didn’t bring her back out with me. Instead, he put his paw on my shoulder and mewed at me. I kind of think he was telling me he knew what happened and it was okay.
Animals … and now there are five.