08/01/2025
Posted by Heather: Tonight I Connor and I had the privilege of walking one of the most regal dogs I have ever known to this side of the rainbow bridge. Eric left Tuesday morning to go to Montana to judge. The puppies and the old man dog stayed home with me. Unbeknownst to us he had just had his 12th birthday.
He’s been slower the last few weeks. He’s gotten thinner. He didn’t seem quite as eager, as lab usually is, to empty his bowl of kibble. We have a lot of stairs and his old hips were really starting to struggle. I watched him closely, trying not to worry too much cuz dogs slow down as they get older. Surely, we weren’t close to having to say goodbye. Still, something was tapping on my heart. Something felt different. I didn’t want to acknowledge it.
Wednesday, I gave him a bully stick. He was so excited to chomp away on that. It didn’t take long for that old man to finish it off. Those old man eyes drew me in and I got suckered into more than just the bully stick. He came up into our room and got to sleep on the extra bougie dog bed. He slept solid that night. I’m not sure he moved even a quarter of an inch. This morning he woke up, greeted me with a wagging tail in appreciation of that amazing bed. He still wasn’t interested in food. So I escorted him back to the bougie bed and decided he could spend as much time as he wanted there. I came home at lunch and the only thing that had changed is his head had moved from the right to the left.
When I got home from work my heart was really trying to tell me something was different. That sweet old man was still sound asleep. Connor and I woke him up and encouraged him down the stairs to go out to potty. This time the stairs were just too much. I brought him into the family room on the main level and tried to lay him down to rest. He would not let me leave his side. If words could be conveyed thru those big brown eyes I knew he was saying “It’s time. I’m ready. Please let me go.”
Never has a decision weighed so heavily on my heart. Saying goodbye to a dog is never easy. When that dog is the beloved companion of a friend who has already passed it is much more difficult to decide when enough is enough. I cried. I called Eric. I cried some more. Connor and I talked thru it and we knew. So we loaded him into the truck and headed to the vet. That dog, whose hips were so worn out and tired, walked himself into the vet with his head held high. As we entered the private room set up for these goodbyes he looked around and greeted each tech. They took him back for the IV. When he came back his eyes were brighter and more alert than I have ever seen them. He was telling me he was ready. I’m pretty sure his dad was close by. He knew it. We went thru the paper work and the vet came in.
Connor and I sat on the floor with him. We pet him. We told him what a good boy he was. We told him to go find Dennis. We told him he was going to go get some birds. We said good bye and off he went. I have no doubt that there was one happy man waiting on the other side of the rainbow bridge. By now, they are set up in the marsh, with perfect lighting, just a slight breeze, and a whole lot of water for Thor to find those birds. He was such a good boy I bet he already found one with a pretty band around it’s leg.
Thor it was an honor to love and care for you in your dad’s place. I didn’t know you long but I will never forget you. Your grey face and the way you tilted your head waiting for me to give you your bedtime marshmallows was my very favorite. Thank you for being the best old man a girl could ever know.
Thank you to Dr Guzman and staff at Mountain West Veterinary Specialists. Your professionalism and grace were much appreciated.
Shelly Johnson asked that Thor be cremated. We made arrangements for Thor to be placed in a beautiful urn and a couple of other things for Shelly and Madison to have. If anyone would like to help cover that cost please message Eric.
