Lyza, Goodbye
As is obvious by the name of this site, my wife and I are fools for our dogs. Today, we had to let one of them go. Lyza, our black Tibetan Spaniel (called “tibbies” in the world of fanciers of the breed) was 15. We had to make the tough decision when she began to have worse and worse health problems; it just didn’t make sense to try to keep her around to satisfy our selfish need to keep her with us. Today, we let Lyza go.
Lyza was a special dog. She was a show champion we adopted when she was 8. Black tibbies are a fairly rare version of the breed, and her former owner, a lovely lady who is a breeder/owner/handler, tried and tried to get pups from her, but it was not to be. When I first met Lyza the breeder was seeing if we’d take another dog from her, but it turned out we didn’t do that. We BEGGED for her to let us have Lyza, though. After a few months more, the owner consented and we picked Lyza up and brought her home, at that time in Alaska.
Lyza certainly had one aspect of the breed down pat – she was quite the escape artist, something tibbies are known for. After we’d had her for a year or two she escaped out of our backyard in Anchorage in the dead of winter. Disappeared. We put up signs, I went to the pound to search (which I just can’t stand to do, I’m way to tender hearted to look at those poor doggie souls in their concrete cells) – nothing. After about 6 weeks it was near Valentine’s Day, and Jeri, knowing I was depressed, went with me to a pet store. The resulting Valentine’s Day present is Panda, who we still have.
A week later we got a call from Lyza’s former owner. Lyza had been found, and she had a microchip that put her on the trail back to us. If you have pet, GET THEM CHIPPED. Someone had found her and kept her, and she’d escaped again from them. We finally picked Lyza up from the nice second family who’d found her unharmed. I can’t recall many times, if any others, when I’ve cried with happiness. When Lyza jumped in my lap when we got her back, I cried.
As she got older, like all of us, Lyza got slower and sleepier. She still had an impish streak, coupled with a regal demeanor; she was definitely a princess. Always first to get a treat, and you’d get a hoarse little old lady dog bark scolding if that didn’t happen when required.
Today’s a tough day that I had felt coming for a couple of weeks – months, really, if I was honest with myself. Jeri knew from the last time we went through this that I don’t handle it well, so she took Lyza in to the vet. There was some hope we could try to medicate the problem but in the end, that wasn’t to be. Lyza went peacefully in my sweet wife’s arms. I can’t tell you the love and gratitude I feel to Jeri for doing that for us.
So if you have a pet, pat them on the head today for me and think a little happy thought about Lyza. We’ll miss her so.
June 17th, 2008
Jeri and Bryan, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you both.
June 17th, 2008
Bryan,
GF did the same last month when it came time to let Ollie go. We put up the good fight for almost six months, but when we knew there wasn’t anything we could do for him, we agreed on what to do. Oddly, even though I couldn’t go through being in the room again when putting a pet down, I found it comforting to bury him. (As has been noted before, I may be weird.)
I have very recent experience of knowing how much it hurts to lose a pet who’s shown you nothing but love for years. You have my very real condolences.
If you want to follow our model, you’ll soon have a new puppy (or two), and be blogging about treating disgusting canine infant infirmaries.
June 17th, 2008
Lyza was a good, good dog, full of character and a great friend to us. She was miserable though, and I’m glad she’s not in pain anymore. Our vet was very kind, supportive, caring – it made all the difference in the world.
We actually adopted Murphy-the-mutt over a year ago because we thought Lyza was fading fast then – so I’m pretty sure there won’t be any puppy twins in our immediate future. Although, never say never.
Thanks for the support, it helps. It’s awfully quiet in the house tonight.
June 17th, 2008
Jeri and Bryan and the boys and other doggies, I am so sorry. Critter people understand that relationship you have with an animal is a very special one, and that it would be wrong to not grieve.
Hug to you all.
June 18th, 2008
June 18th, 2008
I’m very sorry.
June 18th, 2008
Jeri, Bryan and crew..I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know the pain that your hearts are feeling.
One large healing hug is being sent through the miles for you all.
June 18th, 2008
Thank you to all. It’s been a tough 24 hours more or less. We appreciate your thoughts.
June 18th, 2008
I went through that with my cat Springer (Elvis’s predecessor), a few years ago. I know how tough it can be, and I feel for you both. My thoughts and best wishes are with you.
June 18th, 2008
I am so sorry, guys. I know that is never an easy decision to make. The boys prayed for you at lunch and dinner. They were so sad to hear about it. Thank you, Jeri, for so compassionately loving Bryan and Lyza.
June 18th, 2008
My condolences to all of you. Having had to put pets down before, I know it’s always a hard decision, and there’s always a hole in your heart for awhile.
Good thoughts and prayers your way.
June 18th, 2008
My thoughts are with all of you. I can’t imagine having to go through that – although we have been talking about it lately. Our Pooh Bear is beginning to deteriorate (he’ll be 11 in less than a month). Everytime I think about it I begin to cry.
Jeri – I’m sending you a great big hug!!
June 29th, 2008
I’m so sorry to read about your dog. The way you wrote this was very moving. Your dog was obviously loved.
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It sounds like you guys had a good trip. I’m just getting caught up on reading. Loved the pics.
Hope you have a good start to the coming week.
-bm