People always say, “You’ll know when it is time.” Sometimes that is true. But sometimes it’s hard to tell. This has been one of those times. Having lived through the horrendous experience of our old deerhound Magic fracturing his leg due to a previously undiagnosed osteosarcoma, I want very badly to spare Queen that awful demise. But when is it time, actually?
With a horse, I think it’s easier. Those that are spared the usual disasters which befall horses—the broken leg due to a fall, the perforated intestine due to colic—they simply get old. When their arthritis can no longer be managed, when the tendons finally give way and the hooves can no longer bear the weight of their bodies, they lie down and cannot rise. Or they stop eating and stand quietly in a corner of a green pasture. And then you know its time.
Dogs are different. They want to be with you. They are willing to put up with pain and suffering beyond what a human thinks is possible, as long as you will lie down with them, pat their heads, give them a special treat while looking into their eyes on a sunny day. Leaving must seem to them, after a life of protecting you, a betrayal. They want to stay for as long as they can.
The vigil started this morning. The dogs are smarter than I am. I let the puppies in the house while the lawn was being mowed—the mower frightens them. When Pibb was ten weeks old, he made the mistake of stepping on Queen who was asleep at the time. She made sure that never again will he forget the maxim to “let sleeping dogs lie”. When the kerfuffle ended, I was shocked to see that not a hair on his head had been harmed.
When Pibb came in today, he immediately lay down with Queen, head to head. An hour later, I noticed her position had shifted. Her front leg was touching his, paw to paw. I think she was reassuring him. This afternoon, she felt well enough to go out and bask in the sunshine. Yoda, my little mixed breed rescue, has always been an empathetic little dog. He cries when the girls have their nails trimmed. Today he plopped down right beside her face. And there he stayed, his little body shielding her eyes from the sun.
Saying goodbye has never been easy for me. But I know that it’s time. And if there is a heaven for dogs, Magic and Izzy and little Jack will be waiting for her. We will be okay down here, knowing she is no longer in pain.
Rest in peace, GCh. Jaraluv Queen. Forever our Queen of Hearts.