For my Little Man, Zac…
Zaccy-Boy, what a clever and beautiful boy you were…
You were the little boy wearing the green ribbon in the pen. I recall sitting on the ground and you and all your brothers and sisters were climbing all over me and licking me. We picked the little man with the green ribbon, not the liveliest, but not the quietest, either.
I remember you walking around the pool are your back left leg got a bit too close to the waters edge and… in you went! What a great swimmer you were, even at 9 weeks old. I quickly rescued you, took you inside and dried you off with a towel because you were shivering from the cold water.
Doggy school started and how everyone thought you were a dear little boy. You were quiet, but very clever. You advanced through doggy school classes at a great rate of knots, you were in Level 3, when others were still in Level 1; everyone was impressed with how aware and
how quickly you picked things up
You appetite was normal, you were eating like a puppy should, ravenous and with great gusto (but not really great table manners!) At about 4.5 months of age, your appetite stared to decline, you were not eating that well; even a hot roast chicken I got you for Sunday night dinner you just sniffed at and went back to bed. That worried me because that’s not what you were like towards food, normally… I bought you many doggy treats, liver bits, doggy biscuits and doggy chocolates, fresh chicken carcases and lamb necks, but your appetite slowly declined and you started losing weight. I began to really worry, especially when your gums became very, very white, no colour in them at all.
Off we went to Harry, our vet. Harry did many tests and spoke to many colleagues and it was diagnosed after a biopsy and blood tests you had a major liver problem – it wasn’t growing like the rest of you. Harry explained your liver was, for example, the size of a golf ball, but because of a genetic fault, it was not getting sufficient nutrients and at your current age, it should have been the size of an orange, and a baseball when fully grown (as comparative examples).
You stayed with Harry overnight and more tests and diagnoses were done, but you continued to lose weight, not eat, nor drink… your diarrhea was like water and Harry advised your condition was irretrievable. How that broke my heart, especially after Max only a few months earlier.
Zaccy, you were a wonderful Little Man who has a special place in my heart and memories. Thank you for being such a great dog and for giving me your love and giving me such happiness. I will remember you always.
Zac, my Little Man
| Zac |
| 23, July 2009 |
| Greg |