Judy Turner and her Dog Hawk
Dr. Osborne,
Hi. I wanted to keep you updated on my Hawk. Your medications were making a difference for him. I believe that he was more comfortable while he was taking them, but I had a very difficult decision to make.
On Tuesday June 26, with his whole family huddled closely around him, my sweet companion of 17 years quietly slipped away from this life into what I hope is a much better existence. I finally had to admit that my “baby” was a doddering old man.
It became such an effort for him to walk up the ramp to the street where he loved to walk and play with his two female cat friends who live three doors down. He came back more and more winded each time, and he had even stumbled a couple of times on the way back down.
Long gone were the days of him beating his “sister” back down the ramp to the front door. So many of the things that gave him his quality of life had been removed one by one in the past couple of years.
I could not allow him to remain in that deteriorating condition: he deserved so much more than that. He could be quite a handful when he had to ride to the vet’s office. His quarterly haircut required that he be sedated because he was pretty high strung, but not this time.
I know that some people don’t believe me when I tell them that I took him in my arms and explained that he would not be coming back home from this last ride. I explained through my tears the procedure to him and thanked him for all the years of love and loyal service.
When he was placed on his very own soft red blanket, he settled in more quickly than usual and rode the 22 miles on the front seat next to me with his head in my hand. Occasionally he would lick my hand and snuggle even closer to me. Both my son and daughter are in their thirties, so Hawk had been a beloved “brother” for half of their lives. They both broke down completely, hugging and kissing his precious face with all its gray hair.
When he had his sedative, he came back to the room and we all crowded around for final good-byes. He had depended on me to make the best decisions for him always, and he accepted that decision like a little gentleman with resignation and, I believe, thankfulness.
His doctor allowed us all the time we needed to say good-bye before the final shot. She even told me that Hawk had lived three times longer than a dog of his mixed chow and pit bull breed should have. In truth, no one ever believed he was 17 until I showed dated pictures of him as a puppy. I took excellent care of him and he repaid me with 17 wonderful years of love and companionship that I am having much difficulty putting behind me now.
I thank you so much for your products and your interest in my special friend. I just wanted to complete the circle with you as part of my healing, since you had asked to be kept up on his progress.
One day I know I will have another dog, but I cannot even think of that now.
So, you will undoubtedly hear from me again when I order more of your excellent products.
Thank you,
Judy Turner
