My story begins with the day I brought my precious Scooter home with me. My boyfriend & I already had a silky terrier at home – Roscoe – whom I also dearly loved. We decided that Roscoe needed a buddy. That was a big mistake!! Roscoe & Scooter never did get along real well. They played okay together sometimes – but Scooter, who was 6 months younger than Roscoe, kept trying to be the alpha dog over Roscoe – and sometimes Roscoe didn’t like that very well. We should have been better equipped to deal with that so that we could have had more of a peaceful home. But instead I’m afraid Roscoe got bullied for quite a few years.
Anyway, after thirteen years, my boyfriend & I parted ways – he taking Roscoe & me keeping Scooter. It killed me to leave Roscoe – but I knew he would be well taken care of. And I was glad he was living the last few years of his life without being bullied by Scooter.
So I started my new life with Scooter by my side. He was content being with me – even though now I had to leave him by himself for longer periods of time while I was at work. But he’d be happily there waiting for me every night, wagging his tail in excitement. We’d go on long walks every evening – he loved his walks so much. His legs were beginning to show signs of arthritis, but he still kept on going. He wasn’t the most affectionate dog – didn’t give kisses & licks very freely – but I knew he loved me – and I hope he knew how much I loved him. I would do anything for my Scootie-bug!! Lay down beside him on the floor if he needed me to – stay awake half the night if he wasn’t feeling good – he was my #1 priority!! I knew he was getting up there in age – almost 16 – but I prayed to God that he would stay healthy enough that I could have him for a couple of more years. People were always telling me they couldn’t believe he was as old as he was – he didn’t look or act it.
The week after Thanksgiving of this year, I came home from work one night & he wasn’t acting quite right. I took him to the vet the next day – he thought he might have a pinched nerve in his neck. He had been acting like it was painful to move his head & neck and eating his food seemed to be a little painful. The vet put him on some medication – but he didn’t improve much. A few days later it was a series of x-rays – nothing showed up on them. Then we went to a specialist on Wednesday, Dec. 5th – who could find nothing wrong – maybe an abscessed tooth was causing the pain. More medications. Scooter seemed to be getting better on Thursday. But on Friday, I came home from work & he was having what I thought was a stroke or a seizure. I rushed him to our 24-hr. emergency vet. After what seemed like an eternity – the doctor called me into the office. Scooter had “vestibular” disease. He might rally with some medication, but she wanted him to see a neurologist on staff the following week. I was able to say good-bye to him – he was up walking, although a little wobbly. I left, hoping I would be able to bring him home for awhile the next day. But on Saturday, he still wasn’t quite well enough to come home – they said to check again Sunday. But I called back Sunday morning, and the doctor didn’t have much better news. They wanted to keep him until the other doctor could see him on Tuesday. Something sank in my heart as I heard myself asking her – was he going to be the same dog he had been before I brought him there a few days earlier. She said probably not. So I asked the hardest question I’ve ever asked – should I put an end to his suffering? She said yes.
So a few hours later – it was all over. I was able to be with Scooter when his life ended – cradling him in my arms until he took his last breath & slumped in my arms. I’ll never get that image out of my mind. It was the best thing I ever did for him – but the hardest thing for me. It’s only been a little over 2 weeks – and it just seems like yesterday he was following me around my little apartment, right at mt heels!!
I miss him so much!! There is a void in my life & a hole in my heart!! The only thing that gets me through is looking up to the skies, closing my eyes and seeing him frolicking in the grass along with his many, many new friends. He deserves this new life – to be free of any aches or pains. He’s been given much more than anything I could have given on earth. I just hope he still feels the love I have for him and always will. I sent it up to him every night in my prayers. I can’t wait until I can see him again and have in my arms – this time full of life & kisses!!
With Love Until We Are Reunited,
| SCOOTER |
| Jenny Miller |