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Post by linen on Apr 1, 2021 11:09:49 GMT -8
I woke up to a normal day today. Coffee and laptop. Put my dogs out (they sleep in the garage at night in the winter) once the temperature got up to 40 degrees (4C) with the sun out. Put sunscreen on both of my dog's noses (Tia has lupus) as usual and out they went. That was around 9. At ten I went back out to do my chores. Maya was laying in her usual spot but breathing hard. I offered her a treat and she wouldn't take it. I called her and she couldn't get up.
So we loaded her in my hubby's suburban (imagine loading a limp 100 lb dog) and rushed her to our vet only to find out she wasn't in today. They suggested another vet so we drove over there only to find that office didn't have a vet in either. So we tried our old vet. Jackpot! They took a xray and ultrasound. She had a tumor in her heart. He said the prognosis was not good. Even if we took her to a specialist for surgery, her chance of surviving was very small. So we made the choice to have her put to sleep. Maya was 8 years old as of tomorrow.
I am thankful I had time to talk to her and let her know we would be together again on the other side. I said all kinds of stuff that needs to be said when facing death. We stayed with her while the vet injected her.
When we got home I had to tell her sister, whom she has been with since birth, that she wouldn't be coming home. I swear Tia understood what i was saying. She looked so sad and drooped her head the whole time I talked to her.
Maya has been a loyal livestock guardian dog for my ducks and me. I don't know how Tia will take this. I will have to spend more time with her (these are outside dogs). This is going to be hard to adjust to.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 13:41:45 GMT -8
((hugs)). My deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved Maya.
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Post by Yoda on Apr 1, 2021 14:06:45 GMT -8
Dogs know everything about what is going on. They sense it, smell it from your emotions and your words. Be with your remaining dog, she needs to be comforted. You gave Maya the best life you could and even better for ending her suffering. She is at peace now running around in the warm sunshine.
My condolences to you and everyone going through the tough time.
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Post by linen on Apr 2, 2021 8:05:36 GMT -8
Thank you both of you. It's a tough time when death is so close you can feel it and taste it. Now I'm worried about her sister. They have been together since birth. She is so very sad. Staying active is the most important thing right now.
In the summer both sisters used to be out 24/7 chasing predators away. Bobcat, raccoons, skunks, bear and fox. Tia can't do it herself, so we will put netting over the duck yard so nothing can get in. We already have a 8 foot fence up but bobcat can jump up on that, we found out. That way Tia won't be working all by herself all night long by herself. that's why I got two dogs in the first place. They said if you have bear, you need 2 dogs because they work in tandem. And no new dogs. Tia would kill anything I brought in. She would consider it an invasion of her space at her age.
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Post by Yoda on Apr 2, 2021 8:36:11 GMT -8
I just edited my post. Bugger, no new dogs.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2021 12:24:57 GMT -8
Thank you both of you. It's a tough time when death is so close you can feel it and taste it. Now I'm worried about her sister. They have been together since birth. She is so very sad. Staying active is the most important thing right now. In the summer both sisters used to be out 24/7 chasing predators away. Bobcat, raccoons, skunks, bear and fox. Tia can't do it herself, so we will put netting over the duck yard so nothing can get in. We already have a 8 foot fence up but bobcat can jump up on that, we found out. That way Tia won't be working all by herself all night long by herself. that's why I got two dogs in the first place. They said if you have bear, you need 2 dogs because they work in tandem. And no new dogs. Tia would kill anything I brought in. She would consider it an invasion of her space at her age. (HUGS), I don't know what words to say, so (hugs).
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Post by Yoda on Apr 2, 2021 12:49:38 GMT -8
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Post by linen on Apr 3, 2021 7:43:20 GMT -8
Group hugs are always nice. Livestock guardian dogs are different than regular pet breeds. Mine are Maremmas. Not popular here but in Australia they are well known.
They need a job to do They can live by themselves with their animals and problem solve. They are extremely intelligent
When I sat and told Tia about her sister Maya, where she was sitting in front of me, she hung her head almost to the ground. Now these are big dogs. She understood every word I said.
We will get through it. I have my grief, but seeing Tia the way she is is heartbreaking all over again. Tia is eating. It is just going to take time.
It's nice to have friends. Thank you.
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Post by Yoda on Apr 3, 2021 9:35:45 GMT -8
Group hugs are always nice. Livestock guardian dogs are different than regular pet breeds. Mine are Maremmas. Not popular here but in Australia they are well known. They need a job to do They can live by themselves with their animals and problem solve. They are extremely intelligent When I sat and told Tia about her sister Maya, where she was sitting in front of me, she hung her head almost to the ground. Now these are big dogs. She understood every word I said. We will get through it. I have my grief, but seeing Tia the way she is is heartbreaking all over again. Tia is eating. It is just going to take time. It's nice to have friends. Thank you. I know of these guys. They look like fluffy versions of a Labrador, but have the intelligence and personality of a German Shepard/Rottweiler.
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Post by linen on Apr 3, 2021 9:52:54 GMT -8
I knew you would know what a Maremma is. I'm sure you watched the film of the Maremma that protects the penguins in Australia. They are awesome dogs. Dedicated to their job.
Mine came to me in two white fur balls at 7 weeks of age. After I had them a few weeks, I said, "What have I done?" These dogs are way beyond headstrong and stubborn. It was my job to train them to become livestock guardian dogs. Best advice I got was, "Just keep them from killing the livestock until their natural instincts kicks in." Other than a few minor tweaks, it was true. At 17 months of age they were becoming aware of what their life mission was.
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