Post by aeiou on Oct 3, 2016 9:46:12 GMT -5
I've been struggling the past few months on whether to make the decision for Uber. My usual techniques for quality of life didn't fit him.
For years, we saw a gradual decline but he never seemed unhappy. He still yelled at us for everything: food, bed, boredom, outside. His anxiety prevented him from leaving our yard, but he still ran like a d**n fool from the back of the yard. Legs flailing in all directions. About a year ago, we noticed that his back end would fall asleep when he'd be laying down for any length of time and gradually, he lost all feeling in one of his legs and we were dealing with chronic bowel incontinence. Did it bother him? Nope. Not one bit.
Then the dementia and laryngeal paralysis set in earlier this year. LP was easily controlled, he wasn't so active that it flared up much and when it did, I could manage it. The dementia was a bit trickier and somewhat amusing. Nothing like watching your old dog run into the back yard, come to a dead stop, and stand there until you remind him that he's outside to go pee. <3
Uber came to us a spook. At least, that's what we thought when we saw him at the kennel the first time. I met him in 2006. A stunning white and brindle boy with the call name Killer. Except this "killer" would wet himself when you looked at him. Over time, he started to trust me a bit more and I was able to sit on the floor and hand him cookies over my shoulder. The day came that he went to his first home. I was devastated.
Almost a year later, he reappeared in late January 2007. I could not believe my eyes when I set foot in the kennel and there he was.. wetting himself again. He had completely regressed and was now called Casey. Bill was thinking he would allow Casey/KC (Killer Cowan) to join his pack since he was one of those special ones that Bill cherished.
However, he was meant to be ours so on February 8, 2007, Uber joined the pack. He spent 3 weeks, when not outside or in his crate, hiding in our bedroom. Then one day, a switch went off. He became loud, noisy, in-your-face and would demand attention. I remember thinking at that time that we had been swindled. My spook was no longer a spook in the house, save for a few odd quirks (I never understood why aluminum foil terrified him).
Uber was a funny dog. Funny as in both odd, but also hilarious. He did things to make us laugh. Like trying to squeeze into spaces not meant for an 80lb dog or laying on top of me (or anyone, dogs included, he deemed worthy of snuggling).
He was also an energizer bunny! He'd run and run and run, then ask to go for an hour or longer walk, then run some more. He had two speeds: asleep and fast. Even in his senior years, he still maintained that. I never "walked" into the house, he bounded.
Last weekend, we noticed a more significant decline. He looked more tired than usual. He was a bit more listless than normal. I tried to ignore it but I knew it was time. I couldn't have him hold on because I wanted him here.
We spent as much time together in his last week as I could. He enjoyed one last dehydrated chicken foot before he took his final car ride. I feel such an absence in our house. He was our spooky boy with a huge personality. I miss him terribly.
Uber Killer Cormier
Race Name: De Akiller
DOB: March 7, 2002
DOD: September 30, 2016 (age 14 years 6 months 3 weeks)
For years, we saw a gradual decline but he never seemed unhappy. He still yelled at us for everything: food, bed, boredom, outside. His anxiety prevented him from leaving our yard, but he still ran like a d**n fool from the back of the yard. Legs flailing in all directions. About a year ago, we noticed that his back end would fall asleep when he'd be laying down for any length of time and gradually, he lost all feeling in one of his legs and we were dealing with chronic bowel incontinence. Did it bother him? Nope. Not one bit.
Then the dementia and laryngeal paralysis set in earlier this year. LP was easily controlled, he wasn't so active that it flared up much and when it did, I could manage it. The dementia was a bit trickier and somewhat amusing. Nothing like watching your old dog run into the back yard, come to a dead stop, and stand there until you remind him that he's outside to go pee. <3
Uber came to us a spook. At least, that's what we thought when we saw him at the kennel the first time. I met him in 2006. A stunning white and brindle boy with the call name Killer. Except this "killer" would wet himself when you looked at him. Over time, he started to trust me a bit more and I was able to sit on the floor and hand him cookies over my shoulder. The day came that he went to his first home. I was devastated.
Almost a year later, he reappeared in late January 2007. I could not believe my eyes when I set foot in the kennel and there he was.. wetting himself again. He had completely regressed and was now called Casey. Bill was thinking he would allow Casey/KC (Killer Cowan) to join his pack since he was one of those special ones that Bill cherished.
However, he was meant to be ours so on February 8, 2007, Uber joined the pack. He spent 3 weeks, when not outside or in his crate, hiding in our bedroom. Then one day, a switch went off. He became loud, noisy, in-your-face and would demand attention. I remember thinking at that time that we had been swindled. My spook was no longer a spook in the house, save for a few odd quirks (I never understood why aluminum foil terrified him).
Uber was a funny dog. Funny as in both odd, but also hilarious. He did things to make us laugh. Like trying to squeeze into spaces not meant for an 80lb dog or laying on top of me (or anyone, dogs included, he deemed worthy of snuggling).
He was also an energizer bunny! He'd run and run and run, then ask to go for an hour or longer walk, then run some more. He had two speeds: asleep and fast. Even in his senior years, he still maintained that. I never "walked" into the house, he bounded.
Last weekend, we noticed a more significant decline. He looked more tired than usual. He was a bit more listless than normal. I tried to ignore it but I knew it was time. I couldn't have him hold on because I wanted him here.
We spent as much time together in his last week as I could. He enjoyed one last dehydrated chicken foot before he took his final car ride. I feel such an absence in our house. He was our spooky boy with a huge personality. I miss him terribly.
Uber Killer Cormier
Race Name: De Akiller
DOB: March 7, 2002
DOD: September 30, 2016 (age 14 years 6 months 3 weeks)