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Thank you all so much for your lovely messages about my diet. I’m afraid things have lapsed rather, partly because we’ve had a death in the family.
It was a fairly small death, given that it happened to a little red dog who’d ruled our family for eleven years. But as I’m sure many of you know, a small death such as this can have a very big impact.
Lucy developed a liver condition in March and we were told that she had no functioning liver. No one mentioned it to her, however, so although the weight fell off her and she was always ravenously hungry, she carried on being her bright, bossy self until just recently.
I think the hardest part was that we had to decide the moment. We weren’t told by the vet that it was the only thing we could do for her. Eventually we did make the decision and on her last day Desmond took her for her favourite walk in the park. The previous day she had to be carried home as she was too weak to walk. On her last day she ran around and chased a squirrel.
Of course we discussed cancelling the appointment, but we came to the conclusion that we didn’t want her to get worse. Some days she was so weak she had to be carried. She’d stopped being able to eat biscuits. But while Desmond was on the phone to the vet and I was listening she hopped onto the sofa and ate the cheese from my salad.
I heard Monty Don said no relationship with an animal ends well but I hope we don’t dwell on Lucy’s end for too long. She was such a strong character, she’s more than frail little thing we said goodbye to.
Louise says...
Dear Katie,until recently I didn’t know what it was like to have a dog,now I look after my sons french bulldogMac white they at work,he’s become my best friend & companion! As I suffer with MS,apart from reading ‘ & dog sitting I don’t know what I’d do! Take care x
December 14, 2020
Pat says...
So sorry for your loss, losing a much loved pet is very hard, they are a much loved member of our family, not as some people think ‘just a pet’. In time you will forget the end and just remember all the fun, and the mischief.
Nora Neibergall says...
Oh so sorry to hear about this, I know she meant so much to the family. XOXOX Nora
Claire Mcmanus says...
Dear Katie and family, I know how hard this decision was as my King Charles had the same problem, he was 17 years old and at the time I had him longer than my five children I even asked the vet to swap one of my kids for my dog and just make him better…. I was devastated for weeks and still now can’t bring myself to get another dog even though it’s been 10 years I can’t stand the heart ache. Sending lots of love x x x x
Elaine Fearnley says...
Hi Katie. I hope you don’t mind my contacting you, but I just wanted to say how very sorry I am that you’ve had to let Lucy go. I know it doesn’t help. Nothing does. You’ve done absolutely everything you could for her, and in letting her go, you’ve given her the greatest gift of all – freedom. Freedom from pain, anxiety, fear. She gave you everything she had, and you’ve done the same for her. I know this because my beautiful 8 year old GSD died in my arms after suffering a stroke, and I let her go. She’d had enough and to keep her ‘alive’ on machines wasn’t something I wanted to do. It still hurts, and I still cry. I’m sending lots of love and hugs to you, and just wanted to tell you that Lucy will carry your love with her until you meet again. And you will meet again. Oh, and sod the diet – it can wait. Lots of love, Elaine xxx
