1993 —- January 8 2001
Dog
It was in November of 1999 that I meet my four legged best friend.
Though I did not know how little my time would be with him I would never
have guessed how he would change my life.
A vet tech at the time I took a call about a client that wished to put
their dog to sleep because he had bad hips. After I saw him and he
looked at me I swear that he was telling me it was not his time to go.
His eyes were telling me that he still had time left and sticks to chase and
how funny that was his name “Chase”.
I had never had a dog with hip problems so I took him home and called
him my own. Even if I had known how extensive his hip displaysia
was I still would have made him mine.
If only you could have seen his soft loving eyes.
After taking x-rays of his hips the doctor sat me down and it
was then that I realized the extent of his problems.
The doctor assured me hip surgery was the way to go and the
outlook on him was good. Three months after I first saw him he
went in for surgery. I can fully say that I was there for 100% of his care,
because I even assisted in his surgery and saw first hand the
damage that displaysia can inflict on a dog.
The surgery went off just fine but when he woke up the pain in
his eyes was unbearable. Recovery was hard for Chase he was not good
with pain and two months after his surgery still not walking and still in pain
we re x-rayed his hips and found out that the bone had calcified
and another surgery would have to be done.
I told Chase just one more time and the pain will go away.
It took 9 months of very hard rehabilitation large open sores on the hip
he laid on and alot of pain but Chase walked again for the first time.
I was out in the yard of the clinic as I did everyday and I called
for him to come to me. Again he looked at me with those eyes
only wanted to please me and he got up and walked to me.
I cried and hugged him. I was there every step of the way sleeping
beside him bathing him because of the smell from the soars and
just letting him know I would always be there to help him.
Needless to say we became best friends.
He never put full weight on the hip again and it did bother him when it
got cold but pain medication always seemed to make it all right.
One day when my infant son crawled over to him and tumbled
over on his hip and he growled and snapped at my son I knew something
wasn’t right the pain medicine wasn’t working so I took him back
to work with me. We had to sedate him because of the pain.
The x-rays did not even get developed because he looked at me
with those eyes. I think he heard the doctor say 2 more surgeries.
He looked at me with those eyes and those eyes told me
” I can’t do this anymore please set me free. You tried and I
thank you for that but let me go.”
So I gave him a hug and a kiss and told him good-bye.
I told him that I would always love him for the year and a half
he was with me. I will always remember that last heartbeat
and the last breath he took because he was looking straight at me.
One last lick to the cheek was his way of saying good-bye
and I love you.
He was finally free and without pain.
I love you Chase and you were more loyal to me than anyone
I have ever known. You were truly my best friend.
I will see you again one day but until then you run your heart out and
chase anything you want to. Till I see you again.
I LOVE and MISS YOU VERY DEARLY.
You will forever be my one and only best friend.
Tracey
| Chase |