Chloe

My sweet Chloe died this morning.

She was 15 1/2 years old. A beautiful mixed breed, precious friend. She really only had one bad day in those nearly 16 years. It was the last 24 hours of her life. She was a happy pup, gentle and loving.

I have been mourning her for about a year, as she was diagnosed with a tumor in her chest...inoperable, within reason. She was unaware of the tumor, but I knew about it, and so I freaked everytime she sneezed! Systemically, she was healthy. The tumor was an incidental finding, and her body was healthy. She had some bad arthritis, for which she was on Rimadyl (a wonder drug). Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that I am grateful for the healthy, happy life she had and the intense love and devotion I got from her.

She always had a smile on her face. She was a mutt, but people would always walk up to her and say. "What a beautiful face!" She was gentle with children and they were always attracted to her.

She collapsed suddenly yesterday morning before I left for work. Thank God I was home. Anyway, she rallied for a short time, but died early this morning. I knew she was ready to check-out.

Aside from all of the grief and sadness I am feeling, I have to say that the people that supported me through out the last 24 hours have been angels in and of themselves. My vet tech, my vet, then the emergency people and specialists at Med/Vet in Columbus, Ohio.

It is really something to feel that these humans are right there with you. Even if they could not help Chloe, they really took care of her and me, kept her comfortable, and empathized with me. It is not the words they spoke, but the heart with which they understood.

I am touched...aside from all of my sobbing (I think I may try cucumbers on my eyes to chill them out!) I am intellectually ok with it.

But emotionally and spiritually I am broken.

I have another dog, Cabo, and a cat, Sam, and they too are sad with me. It helps! My little family is smaller tonight than last night, but we understand. I have wonderful family and friends (we are all nuts with the animals!). So for this, too I am lucky.