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Deputy Dog, My Friend

Category: Getting my garden started | Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:58 pm

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Deputy Dog is nearing 16 years old. He is a yellow lab, and we are his second family. He has been a loving, loyal and faithful companion to us for the last 8 plus years. Over the last year or so, or maybe longer, he has started to show his age. He has arthritis in his rear hips, and his front left leg, and only he knows where else. He has gotten progressively less stable on his feet. He has stopped going up stairs, although he will go down the four steps that connect 2 levels of our home. when it's time to go up, he wants to go out doors where he can walk around to the front door where he comes into the upper level.
He has lost most of his hearing, although he will sometimes respond to a whistle or loud noise. I can walk right up to him from behind, and he doesn't know I'm coming until he sees me. He used to love to roam around the woods, and sometimes he would be gone for hours. Now, he goes out for his needs, and comes right back in. Although, I can't blame him, lately, the weather has been very cold, and there is 2 feet of snow in the woods. He wants to be where we are, and will find a comfy place close by, and snooze. If he is aware of our going to another part of the house, he will follow. Sometimes he will snatch up an old toy, and bring it to me to play, but he walks to retrieve it when I toss it across the room. If we play tug of war, which was one of his favorite games, he would hang onto that rope toy like a vice. I never used to win, but now I can, he still likes to play, and now I let him win. Although I don't think it matters to him who wins, he just wants to play. I have been rubbing his arthritic hip and legs, and he loves it. He will lay down and assume the position whenever he thinks I might do it for him.
He still eats well, and controls his bodily functions. He seems to be happy, and always greets us with a happy face when we return from being gone. His internal clock is working fine, he doesn't let me forget a meal.
All that having been said, I come to the concern that I have. How to decide when it's time to help him end his time here properly. I know, there is likely no sure way to decide, I just want him to enjoy life as long as he can, with out suffering. I suspect that that is the key, when suffering out weighs the happiness. It would be nice if he could just say it's time, and I suspect in his own way, he will, I just need to be able to hear him. I can't let my own feelings and emotions block what I am hearing. See, the thing is, I too have arthritis, and it hurts, it hurts to stand up, and to walk, and to do a lot of the things that I enjoy doing, and I wince, and groan, and make ugly faces some times, and I'm sure not ready to cash it in, not even close. I guess that it's the same old question most pet owners face at some point. I just don't want to make a wrong choice and take him too soon. He sure deserves to get the most at this point in life that I can give to him, he has given me so much.





















Last edited: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:59 pm

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Some further thoughts about "Snow Days"

Category: Getting my garden started | Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:53 pm

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The posts about snow days got me thinking, which led to this, which is too long to post in a forum. When I went to school, back in the 40s and 50s, I don't remember "snow days". I remember snowy days, and going to school and dealing with the snow. If we complained, I my Mom would tell us how good we had it, having busses to ride to school, she had to walk to school, 2 miles, up hill, in all kinds of weather, and then walk home again, another 2 miles up the same hill, well you've heard the story. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying we shouldn't do the best that we can for our kids, but is all this protection doing them good? It seems that we are becoming overprotective. At this rate, we will be having "rain days" soon, and then "cloud days", who knows where it might end. I think by treating the kids this way, they learn bad habits. As adults, these kids will expect "Snow days" at work, and be afraid to venture out if there are clouds in the sky. We are creating a weaker society. Kids learn by doing, we can tell them how to be strong all we want, but if we treat them like kids that is how they will turn out. I can see the differences in the younger adults today, on a snowy day when I am out on the roads, many say it's too snowy to drive. Unless the snow is so deep that a vehicle simply can't get through, go and do it,do what needs to be done. If every one is careful, and keeps a good shovel in the car, you will get there just fine. What if the firemen had snow days, or policemen, or doctors, or the snow plow drivers???

By the way, it's snowing right now, and we are going to town for breakfast.

Tom


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