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11 Bealtaine 2009
Me and Osgur went to the vet last Saturday. Neither of us was too upbeat about that. As regular readers of this space will know Osgur is a very old canine. So a visit to the vets is a much more traumatic experience for her than for any other mutt, particularly a young one.
The vets was crowded. A very large wannabe German shepherd, by name of Lucy, sidled up to us in the waiting room. We knew her name was Lucy because that’s what the very nice man she was with called out.
‘Here Lucy’ he commanded ‘Sit’.
And Lucy sat. She really was very docile. The man she was with explained
to me that he was told she was full bred when he bought her as a pup, but that’s not the way she turned out. I told him she was in good order. And she was. He said she was only in to get a booster. I told him Osgur was sick.
‘Aye’ he agreed ‘She luks poorly’.
And she did. I explained to the two wee girls who were with the man who was with Lucy that Osgur was very old and between us we counted up her age in human years and as regular readers will know that amounts to 105 years of age. The two wee girls were very impressed.
Then there was a bit of a commotion and a woman dashed into the waiting room with a small dog in her arms. They were ushered quickly into the surgery. Her dog was knocked down by a black taxi which didn’t stop, we learned later. I advised her owner to report it to the Black Taxi office.
Meantime another younger man arrived in with a black Labrador. The Labrador had a white beard not unlike my own. I felt a sense of kinship with him. His name was Paddy. When Lucy came back from getting her booster she attacked Paddy. For a second or two all was chaos until one of the wee girls pulled Lucy away.
Poor old Osgur sat through all this. Then we were called into see the vet. She looked on very compassionately as I lifted Osgur up on to the table.
‘Its amazing she has lived so long.’ she said. ‘She is very low’.
Osgur looked up at me with her big sad eyes. I stroked the back of her head and between her ears.
‘I’m afraid this is the end of the road for her’. I said slowly.
Osgur looked at me unblinkingly.
‘Its always a hard decision’ the vet said. ‘But once her quality of life goes, it’s the best decision for her. Do you want to stay?’
‘Yes’. I said.
It was all over in a minute or so. Osgur must have known. Her eyes never left me. I never stopped petting her. When she got the injection she sighed and lay back. Then another bigger sigh and that was that. Poor old Osgur was gone. I gave her a final pat on the head, unbuckled her collar and left.
Osgur
Me and Osgur went to the vet last Saturday. Neither of us was too upbeat about that. As regular readers of this space will know Osgur is a very old canine. So a visit to the vets is a much more traumatic experience for her than for any other mutt, particularly a young one.
The vets was crowded. A very large wannabe German shepherd, by name of Lucy, sidled up to us in the waiting room. We knew her name was Lucy because that’s what the very nice man she was with called out.
‘Here Lucy’ he commanded ‘Sit’.
And Lucy sat. She really was very docile. The man she was with explained
to me that he was told she was full bred when he bought her as a pup, but that’s not the way she turned out. I told him she was in good order. And she was. He said she was only in to get a booster. I told him Osgur was sick.
‘Aye’ he agreed ‘She luks poorly’.
And she did. I explained to the two wee girls who were with the man who was with Lucy that Osgur was very old and between us we counted up her age in human years and as regular readers will know that amounts to 105 years of age. The two wee girls were very impressed.
Then there was a bit of a commotion and a woman dashed into the waiting room with a small dog in her arms. They were ushered quickly into the surgery. Her dog was knocked down by a black taxi which didn’t stop, we learned later. I advised her owner to report it to the Black Taxi office.
Meantime another younger man arrived in with a black Labrador. The Labrador had a white beard not unlike my own. I felt a sense of kinship with him. His name was Paddy. When Lucy came back from getting her booster she attacked Paddy. For a second or two all was chaos until one of the wee girls pulled Lucy away.
Poor old Osgur sat through all this. Then we were called into see the vet. She looked on very compassionately as I lifted Osgur up on to the table.
‘Its amazing she has lived so long.’ she said. ‘She is very low’.
Osgur looked up at me with her big sad eyes. I stroked the back of her head and between her ears.
‘I’m afraid this is the end of the road for her’. I said slowly.
Osgur looked at me unblinkingly.
‘Its always a hard decision’ the vet said. ‘But once her quality of life goes, it’s the best decision for her. Do you want to stay?’
‘Yes’. I said.
It was all over in a minute or so. Osgur must have known. Her eyes never left me. I never stopped petting her. When she got the injection she sighed and lay back. Then another bigger sigh and that was that. Poor old Osgur was gone. I gave her a final pat on the head, unbuckled her collar and left.
Osgur
Comments
I hope you're feeling OK - hugs from us in Edmonton, Canada.
There's a website my friends and I go to when we lose a pet, it's called The Rainbow Bridge:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm It's silly sentimental fare, but helps the grieving process.
sad for you Gerry, yet glad you stayed with her till the end.
I too experienced the loss of my 15 year old "Spats"..a Lab Border Colllie mix a few years ago. I miss her still.
Take time to grieve, and to remember Osgur. She knew she was loved. Slan Osgur
A sad time indeed. Thoughts are with you .
Ta ar la anois
Kate
PS
Fadas ommitted ....due to comp refusal to recognise.
In addition to the family members lost during the troubles, both due to murder, another good Irish man was lost to us; he came to this country to make a better life for himself, but sadly the demons that haunt my family, were responsible for his death.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam, Uncle Pat, may the road always rise up to meet you.
My you Gerry, and all continue in your quest for a United Ireland, so these demons can be laid to rest.
Maire
slan
Judewhyte@ireland.com
How sad and hard for you. It is also sad for your other dog who is now alone in the pack. Sometimes it is good to get another dog and sometimes it is not. When you do make your decision...remember your poodle.