good bye, sweet dog

This past Friday we had to make the painful choice to put our sweet black lab, Tyson, to rest. It was so sudden… not at all like Toby’s decline (who passed away last August after 12 years and a heart murmur). He started coughing about  a month ago… not terrible… and not serious enough to really have looked at. But all of a sudden Friday while I was packing us for camping, he was not acting himself AT ALL. He was lethargic, tired, and short of breath. I had to coax him into the car to visit Dr. Rachel… which definitely wasn’t like him. He loved car rides and sticking his head out the window like all dogs.

But this car ride was his last. And (as I sit here to type this and bawl like a baby) I will never forget the look on his face as we made the trip across town. He lay with his head on the window frame. Eyes shut. Feeling the sunshine on his shiny, black face. Struggling to breath. He had an X-ray and it was grim. A mass had consumed his entire chest. Dr. Rachel couldn’t even hear his heart sounds through it. Ryan left work to be with us. He only had days left. So we made the decision and he left peacefully. Breaks my heart. He was the best dog we could have asked for. We had him for 8 years and they were 8 wonderful years. We love you, Tyson! We can’t wait to see you and Toby again at the Rainbow Bridge. xoxoxoxo

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

-Author unknown

tyson

It was hard to say goodbye, and camping over Memorial Day Weekend was a welcome distraction. We were sad that Tyson didn’t get to have 1 more camping trip (he LIVED for camping and swimming) and to teach Arrow the proper dog-way to camp… but it was fun to see how Arrow learned on his own. He loved it… but didn’t like the water too much. He CAN swim, though. He proved that after Ryan ‘nudged’? him in the pond. So cute. He’s still exhausted.

we love to play 10 pt pitch and dummy rummy (below). What a crappy hand that was.

this is also where our PPN balance retreat will be in July!

and now we have running HOT water! #luxurious

it looks like he only has 2 legs in this pic. haha

picked about 1,268 ticks off him. most of them were dead, though.

thank you, frontline.

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