A Perfect Love Story

When I think of Laney these days there are wonderful memories.  It has been a little over a week since her passing and not a day has gone by without remembering how much I loved her.  She has come back to me cremated in a wooden box urn with a beautiful medallion on top.  She is at rest now peacefully and without pain.  I never imagined the pain I would feel without her.  Everyday I am reminded of her and the feelings of an emptiness in my heart.  I guess you can say that my husband and I are really empty nesters now.  We miss Laney's greetings at the door and her warm body in our lap.  She always laid between us on the couch sharing snuggles.

I have learned a lot about dogs recently in regards to how stoic and loyal they are.  I was so shocked at how quickly her health declined and how the doctor said she had cancer and renal failure and we didn't know it until she was in the final stage.  Her happy go lucky personality and loving gestures were with her until the end.  I was told that dogs by nature are stoic.  They do not show their illness or pain.  Before dogs became domesticated they lived in the wild and it was their nature not to show if they were ill for fear of becoming prey.  They still remain that way in our loving homes.  I am amazed at how stoic and protective of us she was until the end.  I could not bring myself to allow her to die at home from her diseases.  I have learned that renal failure is painful and letting her go was an act of kindness to stop the pain.

I was told that Laney also had lymphoma and it just angered me so much.  It has made me wonder what caused it.  Was it the water, pesticides, chemicals, the pollution ?  We have lost two family members from lymphoma and a neighbor.  My husband and another neighbor are survivors.  Everyday I hear about someone with lymphoma.  It scares me to wonder what is causing it.

Any dog or pet lover knows the heartache of loosing them.  My opinion of loving a dog is a perfect love story.  Although dogs can not talk there is an unspoken communication between them and people.  Laney showed me unconditional love and happiness everyday.  She taught me more about love and life than any human.  There were no questions of jealousy or cross words.  There was no sadness in her presence.  She loved the sun as much as I did and she loved resting by the window in the winter to catch the rays of sunshine  She was gentle and loved by everyone and on that same note she was protective of my husband and I.  If anyone would show harm to us she would have let them know that they had crossed the line.  If you love a dog they will be loyal to you until death do you part.  She was a very brave dog and a love I will never forget.  It was a perfect love story.  Dogs can heal a broken heart.

Life is beautiful !!

Elizabeth:)

R.I.P. Laney

Laney went to be with the angels yesterday at 11:15 a.m.  She passed quietly as my husband and I spoke softly to her, letting her know she was definitely loved and someday we will join her in heaven.  I never knew that I could feel so heart broken. It has been hard the last two days as the house is too quiet.  Every where I look I can see reminders of her.  I am missing her so much.  My soul aches for just one more time to hold her.

Life is surely going to be different without her.  My husband and I spoiled her so much.  She followed me everywhere and would always wait at the top of the stairs every night for me to come up.  No more warm greetings at the door or nights on the front porch watching the sunset.   She would have loved the last two days as it was sunny and warm outside.  She is resting in peace and out of pain.

The veterinarian told us Wed that further test had confirmed the cancer and her kidneys were done.  She had stopped eating and she would not drink much all week.  I had to make the decision to euthanize her.  I could not bear to watch her suffer.  I was reassured by the vet and the staff that I was doing a great act of kindness by letting her go.  They gave me a lock of her hair and we decided to cremate her.   We will receive her ashes back in an urn.  Her last few hours she spent resting comfortable between my husband and I.  We massaged and rubbed her body and brushed her hair one last time.  She stared at us with her big brown eyes and I knew she loved me. She had become weak and somewhat disoriented.  She still looked as pretty as ever. 

Losing a pet is very difficult and the pain we feel is just as bad as when a human dies.  My family and friends are heart broken.  Laney was very loved and did not know a stranger.  She was of the greatest comfort for my husband and me since the deaths of our parents.  My dad is still alive and he is heart broken also, as he love Laney too.  I think sometimes she almost thought she was human and I do believe she understood every thing I said.  I sometimes wished she could have talked, so she could have told us when she was sick.  She would have been eleven years old in May.

Life is beautiful !!!!!
Elizabeth:)

Saying Good Bye To Our Four Legged Friend

Another Valentines Day with my husband and one spoiled dog named Laney.  What more could a girl ask for.  We are blessed with celebrating life and love.  Love is the that wonderful feeling we get from knowing that we have brought pleasure to someones life and vice versa.  I just had a wonderful steak, a glass of wine and the company of my two best friends.  If  I could freeze this moment in time what a wonderful keepsake it would be. 

I guess we always assume that are four legged friends will always be with us.  We know that is not true.  It is always hard to acknowledge they are going to heaven sooner than we think.  This is a special Valentines Day for us as Laney's health is failing and we are now in the caregiver mode as we make her last days with us happy and comfortable.  She is as far as I am concerned the best spoiled dog on earth.  So this post is about the love that a dog brought to our family. 

A couple of weeks ago we received the news that Laney's kidneys were failing and she is in the last stage.  We felt as if someone had taken our breathe away as the veterinarian delivered the news.  We were all shocked as Laney had been healthy.  However I had noticed the last six months she did not seem her peppy self.  We had taken her to the veterinarian for some checkups for a cough and swollen glands in her neck.  This time they felt blood work was needed and the results were devastating.  After x-rays we were told she may have a couple of months left.  She still seemed full of life and the vet told us to take her home and love her.  It has been so hard and then the words Lymphoma came rolling out of the vets mouth.  I curse that word and it was not officially diagnosed, but  still just hearing it took the breathe away from us.  Laney my love is resting quietly between us and tomorrow has an appointment to check her blood work.  Please pray for her.

She is as far as I concerned the greatest dog ever.  She has given more love than I could ever repay.  She took a journey across the country to Houston Texas to comfort and protect us during a difficult time.  She was always happy to greet us and love us unconditionally.  She will always have a piece of my heart with her.  She gave me a purpose to live and love.  She has earned her angel wings and heaven will be happy to welcome her.  

I wish that the heartache I feel for Laney did not assist, but the heartache is for the love that she has brought into my life.   So today and whatever days we have left, I love you Laney always and forever.

Happy Valentines Day Laney !!

Life is beautiful !!!!!
Elizabeth:)