Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Sam the Dog Final Bark

I brought Sam the Dog home almost 10 years ago.  He looked like this:


Most of the time since then he looked something like this:



And this June he managed to fool everyone and look like this for a few seconds:


Mid-July he went off his food a bit.  By the end of July he simply wasn't eating anything but smidgens of scraps of chicken and steak, and was losing weight.   In the second week in August I had him in for an ultrasound which was inconclusive, and then a CAT scan which spelled out "Lymphoma".  My vet pushed the plunger for me on 8/16.

I sure didn't expect to have to deal with all that again so soon.  I know every dog is the best dog ever, but Sam was the best dog ever.

Once again, as with Joe the Cat, thanks to everyone who's helped me with Sam over the years.

5 comments:

Borepatch said...

I'm sorry to hear this, Atom Smasher.

Beaner49 said...

this is a sad poem, but truly captures man's love of a dog....Hope the hurt goes away soon....

The Power of the Dog

Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve.
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Beaner49 said...

this is a sad poem, but truly captures man's love of a dog....Hope the hurt goes away soon....

The Power of the Dog

Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve.
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Atom Smasher said...

Thanks guys. It's a rough one this time for sure.

doubletrouble said...

Sorry man, we too had to do that over 10 years ago- we still miss him. Keep the faith.

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