The Rainbow Bridge

The toughest decision I had to make in a while...

I got my first dog when I was 25. 14 years later, he is still with us. He's definitely showing his age these days, growing more slow and tired by the minute. Our second dog, which we've had for 9 years, had to be sent over the rainbow bridge recently. It was a decision that we had to make, and it wasn't easy.

Rocky was 5, and we were in a new home. We both worked during the day and wanted him to have a friend to keep company. So we rescued Mickey, a similar mixed breed, who was roughly between 1-3 years old. After having him for a bit and getting some medical checkups, we found he was more like 6+ years old. Mickey was the first to lose his color. He couldn't hear well, but he still had plenty of spunk!

Humans age much slower than dogs. We see changes in our animals almost over night. Rocky went from jumping from the night stand and scurrying up or down the stairs to needing assistance to get from one floor to another. Mickey started losing weight, then drinking lots of water and losing control of his bladder.

We went for a checkup and found Mickey had kidney failure. We put him on incontinence medicine, which helped, but his kidneys were done. He was getting sick a lot, still couldn't control his bladder, and was miserable. Walks were tough now. His quality of life was gone. I couldn't remember the last time I saw his little nubby wag. He even seemed confused when he would look at me sometimes, as if he didn't know who I was.

After talking to the vet, it was time to make a difficult decision, to end his suffering and send him over the rainbow bridge. How do I explain this to a 4 year old girl who hasn't lost anyone or anything yet? How will she take it? Am I doing the right thing? Am I giving up on him too soon?

I have taken a long pause, and just returned to finish this peace. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I was with Mickey Moo to the very end. Maeve still misses him so much. “I miss Moo… He was so cute…” is a common random outburst. We have a pillow with his picture on it and it's normally at his spot on the sofa, but sometimes he travels with us. His collar is on my rear view mirror so I can still hear the jingle of his tags. I miss him, too. We all do.

We moved Moo's crate out. In its place is Maeve's Bluey dog house tent. We have found this is Rocky's new hangout, for we randomly find him cuddled up inside on his own free will. How is he taking to the changes of his environment?

Rocky lost his buddy. He's also living his best retirement life. Trips to the beach and to the mountains, he's a lucky dog. Maeve likes to wind him up sometimes but must say he's really a good sport. For this past week, at least 4 days I came home to the poor thing wearing his deer antlers holiday headband. I know that even with all the extra attention he is receiving, he misses his friend.

Mickey was only really good for me. In the beginning, he was mean to Maureen. He always gave the poor vet techs a run for their money. He was a scrapper, he'd take on a German Shepherd.. all 15 pounds of him! But I could give him smoosh faces, I could pick him up and carry him… well, for about 10 seconds before he'd flip out and jump from my arms. He was not a cuddle dog, he was on his own terms. He'd come get some rubs, then go back off to his own spot.

He loved walks, car rides, ice cream, barking at anything that annoyed him, dancing, destroying squeaky toys, but most of all, I think he enjoyed cleaning up after Maeve's meals. Mickey Moo, we miss you. There's an emptiness here without you, but I pray you found your way over the Rainbow Bridge.

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