Rozie is an old lady now, about 14,
a big dog with arthritis in her hips;
a good girl, always by my side.
Today Rozie had real trouble getting up,
and needed coaxing to struggle to her feet.
and I am asking myself,
“How long will it be?”
And my heart is already breaking.
No, we have not been bonding
since puppy love.
Rozie arrived five years ago,
and she knew when to wag
and when to snuggle and
how to twist our hearts
to loving.
Now, I keep asking myself,
“How long will it be?”
My heart is already breaking.
It’s hard as the end comes closer. I went through it with the cats and soon it will be the dogs. All three are gray and having health issues.
Nancy
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I’m so sorry. I know that heartbreak all too well. And while it’s no consolation, I’m sure Rozie got lucky finding you guys.
We went through it two years ago when T-Bone got cancer at seven years. Seven years. I said no more puppies. But then Susan came home with a three month old Lab/Malemute mix that she broke out off some suburban pound.
I named him Coda, trying to be clever, as I really think he’s to be my last dog. And having forgotten how tough… going through puppy hood can be, it was, at times, touch and go. But two years later, Coda’s our dog and we be his peeps, and just this morning we all went to Montrose beach, here in Chicago, to run with our dog beach pack.
Again, Really sorry. Pet Rozie for me. And you may get a smile here…http://beltwayfanfiction.com/2013/03/19/old-pack-new-pack-same-pack/
Stay strong for Rozie
Regards,
Doug
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Our hearts are breaking along with yours, imagining saying goodbye to a dear old friend like this… Hugs to you and Rozie.
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Enjoy every moment with Rosie that you can because I too have been in the position of wondering when my aging friends and constant companions would be gone. It was so painful to lose my two little Chihuahuas after 15 years to strokes within three months of each other. It took me months afterwards to make the decision to rescue two more but I’m glad that I did make that decision. My hubby and I planted a tree in memory of the two little ones and made a photo album celebrate the life we had together. Though 4 years have passed now we have the photos and the tree to remind us of how much we loved them.
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so hard — ((hugs)) for you and Rozie
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Our T-Bob is 15 and he just isn’t as playful as he used to be. It’s hard to watch them change.
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We have so many days of joy with them, it’s hard to watch them dwindle away.
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Thanks Doug, for finding my blog, and then for your wonderful words and understanding. T-Bone must have been a winner too. We say this is truly our last dog, but I can’t imagine life without one. I did check out your “old pack, new pack, same pack” link and love it. So I am following you. Thanks you again. ~Dor
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Thanks Kathy. Rozie’s not gone yet, but the curse of being human is to know the eventual end. And knowing is pretty darned sad.
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You are so right and you’ve been through it too. We lost two elderly golden retrievers before we got Rozie. I always say, “this is the last dog.” But it never works out that way and I can’t imagine life without Rozie or another. Your memorial tree is a fantastic idea and the album too. We planted daffodils where the goldens are buried and every spring we think of them and how much we loved them.
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Thanks Georgette. They are gifts of life but only with us for such a very short time. And you are so right. Knowing makes it hard to watch them change.
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Aw…..it is SO sad, isn’t it? Whenever I read things like this, I think of my sweet Beezy kitty. It is such an awful decision to make, but in the end, we have to do what’s best for them. We owe that to them… Sending you a hug….
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I know your pain oh so well 😦 Sorry you did not have her nearly long enough but so much joy was shared I am sure 😦 Hugs to you all there JT Turns 7 in a week where does the time go the cat is now 13 😦
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I so appriciate your heatbreak. My alomost 13 year old has been having issue and as I watched her struggle in pain I wondered if a desision would have to be made soon. In my case, happily, some steroids have put her back into fighting form. Here is hoping your fuzzy friend can get a bit better, too!
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It is a tough road, and we have walked it here before. It does not get easier, and if possible, this dog has stolen ur hearts like no other. I too would dread that day.
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My oldest cat is aging and he was always the young one. Then the two older ones passed on and he was the older cat. Now he is really aging and I don’t like it one bit. I have two others but no two pets are alike. They are each unique and I will miss his quirky ways. Feeling sad for you and sending positive energy your way and Rozie’s too.
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It is hard. I set the date and broke it several times with each cat. Thankfully the vets were understanding in waiting.
Don’t forget to ask for pain killers. That can buy more time and you can sometimes go a long ways in keeping them around and comfortable with using frequent pain killers. Who care if they get addicted at this age?
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Oh no!!!! We only just got to meet her, and she’s such a sweet dog. I know you have only had her for 5 years, but those have probably been the best 5 years of her life because in that short visit I could tell how much you love her. I only hope that when her time comes she doesn’t suffer much :(.
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We still talk about our two dogs who have gone to doggy heaven. They, like family members who have passed on, will always be remembered in our thoughts as we share our memories of them. We never forget those we love and those who loved us. Just keep showing your love to Rozie to the end; she knows that she has to leave you, too. I am sad for you, too, Dor!
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Thank you Dianna. The good thing is, we have the means to help “when the time comes.”
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You, my animal lover friend, know better than anyone, how all this goes.
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We do have Rozie on pain meds but may have to up the dose.
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This beginning of the end is the worst part about loving a pet. Rozie is really a member of the family and you are right, she has stolen our hearts.
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Thanks for the positive energy Kate… 🙂
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Thank you… and yes, I will ask for a larger dose of pain killers. She is on something now but maybe it has become less effective over time. Sorry about your cats.
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Thanks Cindy! You are such a sweet friend.
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Wonderful words and advice and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your sharing.
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I’m sorry Doran, I know the feeling…*sending you huge comforting hugs*
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oh God do I ever 😦
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Oh, God, Dorothy. I am grieving with you! Love ya, Julie
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My oldest cat is now 20. He has been an annoying pest for 20 years, but how I dread living without that annoying pest.
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What a little beauty…. So much love to you all now. Enjoy your time with her, and if there’s anything that can help her (pain killers, etc) in the meantime, definitely ask your vet! Ease her pain as much as possible. We always fed our ailing older guys like royalty too….. 🙂
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I love huge comforting hugs! Thanks!
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Enjoy the moments and let her be proud until the end. I think that is the best gift. I’m not saying it’s easy. This time in a dogs life knocks me to my knees, it just comes on way to quickly, but the time spent together in the senior years is some of the most heart felt in my opinion. It’s when we get to know each other more, on a deeper level, without all of the hoo haw of youth and what others think we should be doing together… So breathe, love, and enjoy these moments…
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Rozie sounds like a really special dog. Over the years I’ve had several dogs that were very old–and it’s always really hard. My thoughts are with you.
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Rozie does think she’s Royalty for sure. And you are so right about the pain killers. I will be asking the vet for larger dose if Rozie seems to need it.
Thanks. 🙂
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Oh, so sad. I don’t want to think about it. This is one of those places the mind just isn’t comfortable going. We’re so lucky to have dogs in our world.
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Thinking about it just makes it harder – I know.
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Rozie really is a great big love and only wants to be near her humans. It will be tough to lose her.
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Such good advice this is Nancy and I so appreciate your thoughts. Rozie is special and you are right that we are getting to know each other on a deeper level now. I will remember your words, “Breathe, Love, and Enjoy” the moments. Thank you.
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My mother used to say, “It’s the ones who cause the most trouble that you miss the most.” 🙂
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Thanks Julie Rozie has her good and bad days. She’s not down yet. Maybe I was mistaken? Maybe she will last more years? Hope comes with the good days.
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So sad that their life is so short. Loyal to the end and with us in our troubles and happy times, yet we can’t save them in the end. God bless you and your dear furry companion
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Your words ring so true, “…yet we can’t save them in the end.” Our furry friends are simply temporary gifts of love.
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The real love comes in accepting and inviting a senior dog to come and live with you, knowing the loss is not too far behind.
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Oh Viv, you make us feel so good about adopting Rozie, but you know she fit right into our lives. She still does. And we are hoping her trouble getting up is just a temporary thing. She has a little limp now, but then so do I! 🙂
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Reading this made me so so sad – All we can do I guess is appreciate the wonderful times we have enjoyed with our pets and be grateful for those years, and that we gave them a loving home.
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Love and loss. Why are they always intertwined my friend? So sorry for your anticipatory grief…..she knows how much you love her and her life has been completed by this~
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Thank you Cindy for your sweet words from so far away. I need to save your thought that Rozie knows how much I love her.
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These are some of the toughest friends to lose, for somehow, they became family.
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our dog is 11 1/2 yr and it seem like we have been to the vet for one little thing after another lately. She is still lively and fun but it saddens me to see her age too.
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The hardest part about loving a dog is knowing how soon we will lose them.
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