August 11 1998 I had my beloved dog – a pitbull – put to sleep.
I am grateful I was able to hold her as our veterinarian gave her the final
injection which put her to sleep forever.
I had first met ‘Babe’ when I discovered her abandoned and wandering my
street. She had literally been dumped by people who quite obviously never
deserved her anyway. I immediately took her in.
‘Babe was very sweet natured. I soon found that anyone who liked dogs
loved Babe. Her worst fault was to run to people and want to jump up and
kiss them. I’d always say to the person “Don’t bend down!!!” as my worst fear was
Babe’s head was so hard she could unintentionally hurt someone.
But she in truth never did.
Babe was strong willed and strong bodied but combined with that was a
gentle soul. She became a good friend and companion to me.
If there was a puddle of water she would run through it and even bark at it.
If I would have allowed it she would have played in the puddle for hours.
It’s strange how such little things come back to me in these sad days.
At this point I don’t really know what else to say.
I am so broken hearted. I never dreamed at 8 1/2 years of age she’d be gone.
So quickly.
The doctor said it had something to do with her backbone and
that there was no hope of repairing the damage.
I am so grateful we were standing near her when the tragic accident
happened. She was playing and had just jumped up in the air to ‘catch’ a
butterfly.. Suddenly she yelped and fell to the ground.
Her legs collapsed under her and went very stiff.
The rest of the story was a blur – a rush to the vets and in an hour we
were back home. It was all over and our beloved Babe was gone.
People were always commenting how terrible we were for owning a “pitbull”.
In reality they’re Staffordshire Terriers a noble and hardy breed of dog
with good intelligence and strong loyalty. They are only vicious if they are
raised by angry hostile people. Show me a vicious ‘pitbull’ and I will
show you a vicious owner. It is nothing less than abuse which would turn
such a fine breed of dog into a angry and potentially dangerous animal.
They are not by nature nasty.
And our Babe raised with love and care was proof of it.
Sometimes I wondered if my love for her – was because she was a
‘picked-on’ breed of dog.
Anyways I’ve lost a loving friend.
Good-bye my sweet Babe.
| Babe |