Today (21 March 05) at 12.30pm our much loved and very brave old man Duke left us to go to the Bridge to be with his Dutchess and his Camille again He was aged 6+.
We are heartbroken - he had fought his illness for such a long time and had never complained - we feel so very lost without him here
Duke would have been with us for two years on the 28th of this month. When he arrived he was already ill and had abscesses in his nose - he was treated but they never cleared up - he didn't let that bother him - he got on with his life with his wife Dutchess whom had come with him. Just over a year ago the abscesses became really bad and after an operation to remove some teeth and take a large chunk of the side of his nose away, Duke was declared terminally ill We didn't know how long we would have him but we did all that we could to make his life happy, calm and fun. He was still with his Dutchess and he would snuggle up to her all day and night - they hardly left each others sides. He ate so much hay and that could only have done him the world of good as we knew that he was actually swallowing abscess Not once did he have a bad tummy - he was absolutely amazing. He still loved to lay in the garden and especially loved his compost pit - he would have a dig at it then flatten it all out - it had to be just right - then he would sprawl out in it and lay in the sun - such a wonderful sight to see.
Due to him being terminal we decided that we would concentrate on his immune system more than pumping him full of drugs that would not help him anyway - he had loads of good hay and food, lots of fresh air and sunshine, plenty of exercise and best of all, the love of a good woman, his Dutchess.
Just on 10 days or so ago Duke started to have trouble breathing properly - he found it difficult to get around without getting puffed out and his eating slowed down He saw Sally the vet last week and she said that the abscesses had now gone into his lungs There was nothing we could do but wait until Duke had decided that he couldn't go on any longer - he did that this morning. He refused food and water, he was making little whining noises - that was not like Duke at all, he had never made us aware of him being in pain that way. We tried and tried to get him to have something to eat but it was not to be. He could not get comfortable and his mouth breathing became worse We knew instinctively that Duke was ready to leave us John took him to the vet and luckily enough, Sally had popped in for something - she checked him all over along with another vet - they both declared that it was time - Duke was beginning to suffer.
Daddy was with Duke when the time came and Duke just went to sleep ever so peacefully - he was so very tired.
Now Duke is back with his Dutchess, who he lost in October of last year, and also with his Camille, who he lost in December of last year.
We hope that they both came and took a paw each darling boy, we hope that you felt the love and comfort of them and knew that you where going to a better place, one where you would be able to run about without losing breath, one where you would never now pain again. You will be surrounded by love and comfort for all eternity now Duke - and when we come to join you we will kiss your nose and head as we have always done and we will tell you that we have always loved you. You made us so proud darling boy - we where so proud of your bravery, proud of your choosing us to be your mummy and daddy, and so very proud of the love that you gave to everyone that came into contact with you.
Till we meet again baby boy, run free in the eternal sunshine and be happy and well again. Snuggle close to Dutchess and Camille for a while so that you know that you are all together again. Give our love and hugs to the rest of the Hairy Mob who are at the Bridge with you.
We love you darling - we will miss you so much, our dear old plodder.
Night night brave boy - we love you always.
Love from Mummy, Daddy and the Hairy Mob xxxxx
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We are heartbroken - he had fought his illness for such a long time and had never complained - we feel so very lost without him here
Duke would have been with us for two years on the 28th of this month. When he arrived he was already ill and had abscesses in his nose - he was treated but they never cleared up - he didn't let that bother him - he got on with his life with his wife Dutchess whom had come with him. Just over a year ago the abscesses became really bad and after an operation to remove some teeth and take a large chunk of the side of his nose away, Duke was declared terminally ill We didn't know how long we would have him but we did all that we could to make his life happy, calm and fun. He was still with his Dutchess and he would snuggle up to her all day and night - they hardly left each others sides. He ate so much hay and that could only have done him the world of good as we knew that he was actually swallowing abscess Not once did he have a bad tummy - he was absolutely amazing. He still loved to lay in the garden and especially loved his compost pit - he would have a dig at it then flatten it all out - it had to be just right - then he would sprawl out in it and lay in the sun - such a wonderful sight to see.
Due to him being terminal we decided that we would concentrate on his immune system more than pumping him full of drugs that would not help him anyway - he had loads of good hay and food, lots of fresh air and sunshine, plenty of exercise and best of all, the love of a good woman, his Dutchess.
Just on 10 days or so ago Duke started to have trouble breathing properly - he found it difficult to get around without getting puffed out and his eating slowed down He saw Sally the vet last week and she said that the abscesses had now gone into his lungs There was nothing we could do but wait until Duke had decided that he couldn't go on any longer - he did that this morning. He refused food and water, he was making little whining noises - that was not like Duke at all, he had never made us aware of him being in pain that way. We tried and tried to get him to have something to eat but it was not to be. He could not get comfortable and his mouth breathing became worse We knew instinctively that Duke was ready to leave us John took him to the vet and luckily enough, Sally had popped in for something - she checked him all over along with another vet - they both declared that it was time - Duke was beginning to suffer.
Daddy was with Duke when the time came and Duke just went to sleep ever so peacefully - he was so very tired.
Now Duke is back with his Dutchess, who he lost in October of last year, and also with his Camille, who he lost in December of last year.
We hope that they both came and took a paw each darling boy, we hope that you felt the love and comfort of them and knew that you where going to a better place, one where you would be able to run about without losing breath, one where you would never now pain again. You will be surrounded by love and comfort for all eternity now Duke - and when we come to join you we will kiss your nose and head as we have always done and we will tell you that we have always loved you. You made us so proud darling boy - we where so proud of your bravery, proud of your choosing us to be your mummy and daddy, and so very proud of the love that you gave to everyone that came into contact with you.
Till we meet again baby boy, run free in the eternal sunshine and be happy and well again. Snuggle close to Dutchess and Camille for a while so that you know that you are all together again. Give our love and hugs to the rest of the Hairy Mob who are at the Bridge with you.
We love you darling - we will miss you so much, our dear old plodder.
Night night brave boy - we love you always.
Love from Mummy, Daddy and the Hairy Mob xxxxx
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