One day 15 years ago totally out of the blue I got Newton from a customer while selling him a cell phone at his house in Kalkaska. Sheldon & I were both working at Cellular One in Traverse City and I had taken him to the office to surprise him. As soon as Sheldon saw him running around the office he said, “that’s my dog isn’t it?” He was a huge part of our family ever since.
He was about 3 months old when we got him and we thought he was going to be huge. But he never did grow into his big feet. He was the perfect size at 50 lbs and we were able to take him almost everywhere with us for most of his life. He’s been to visit friends and relatives in Ohio, Illinois and all over Michigan including Beaver Island, the Manitou’s, Fox Island and Bois Blanc Island. He traveled well and spent many days and nights on our boat with our friends and us. He was a real trooper even in rough waters though he preferred calm waters like the rest of us.
Newton loved everyone and liked to go anywhere. He even liked to go to the Acme Vet and the Clipper to get his hair done. He got along with other dogs and loved our cats Taboo and Chad.
Sheldon sometimes joked and called him the $6 Million Dollar Dog because we spent so much at the vet and on prescriptions over the years, but he was worth every penny. Since Newton was a puppy he was always at the vet for one thing or another (skin problems, tumors, injuries) and had several operations which he always came through with flying colors. His tail never stopped wagging.
A few years ago Newton was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in his spine for which there is no treatment other than supplements and pain relievers. This was a problem that we couldn’t fix and we knew that one-day
would be his end.
Lately it was getting worse, but didn’t expect it to get so bad so fast. Recently he had been limping on his right back leg sometimes, but then he would use it again and would seem OK. I thought it was happening after he had been lying for a while and that he was just stiff. Unfortunately something else was going on. Thursday night it was obvious that he was hurting and Sheldon had carried him up to bed that night. Friday morning he could not use his right back leg at all and with all the arthritis in his spine his back left leg was just not strong enough to support himself.
Unluckily, Thursday I had also come down with the flu and was bed ridden on Friday. Thankfully for the relationship we had developed with Newton’s vets, Dr Peck came right away Friday morning and picked up Newton for me since I couldn’t take him myself. He x-rayed Newton’s leg and couldn’t find anything in his leg, which meant that the pain was coming from his spine. He gave him a steroid IV and steroid shot and we increased his paid meds and he came home. We were hopeful that this would ease his pain.
Unfortunately Saturday Newton’s pain continued to get worse and he couldn’t get around by himself anymore at all. He had stopped wagging his tail and we knew we had to make the tough decision to let him go so he wouldn’t suffer anymore. Dr Peck came to our house and Newton passed at home in the living room on his bed while I held him. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I wanted to be there for him because I loved him so much.
It’s going to take a while to get used to him being gone since he was such a big part of our everyday life. I think Chad misses him too.
I wish we could have had more time with Newton but I’m glad he didn’t suffer very long. Since he passed, I can’t seem to stop crying. I know that time will heal our pain for the loss of our beloved Newton. I’m thankful for all the pictures and memories that I have to remind me of all the good times we had. But as sad as I am now for Newton’s loss, I’m happy for the years we had together and
wouldn’t trade them for anything.
With Love,
| Newton |
| 4, Apr 2009 |
| Traci & Sheldon Slicker |