Impending Farewell

First it was my 18 year old Golden Retriever Bismarck that left me and went to heaven, now it is about to be my 7 year old Chow-Mix named Rusty. For the last two weeks or so Rusty has been at the Vet running up enormous bills. All was looking good, she was walking in the halls, making friends with people and other animals, but this morning sometime, she suffered a stroke. Her left side is useless. The vet will give her 48 hours to show signs of improvement. If she looks like she is suffering or uncomfortable, I finally gave the ok to put her down.

Rusty's pictures are in my photo album, take a look if you like. I would ask that you please say a prayer, or give a kind word in your thoughts for her.She is a brave dog.

For seven years she brought me happiness. I found her starving and walking the streets of San Francisco. I brought her home and she weighed 17 pounds. I got her up to 53 pounds over the last seven years before she got sick and wasted down to 40 pounds..

I am hopeful, but if she must be put down, then that is what is best........



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[B]Update 12/19/08[/B]

Yesterday I got a call that Rusty had vastly improved. She was walking though she was shaky, but she was moving and that is all that mattered. I was to bring her home today!!!!

This morning around 10 am, she had another stroke and collapsed. This one was bad, she was semi conscious and her eyes were rolling. They told me it was time to put her down.
6 hours before she was to come home, I had to make the decision that would end her life.

My best friend had just lost her battle. I had to say good bye. Still tonight, 10 hours or so after I last touched my dog, I am heartbroken.

Like my dogs before her, I had her cremated. When I go, I too will be cremated and all our ashes will be put together and made into a brick and dropped into the ocean.

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[COLOR="Red"]Thank you all for the nice comments about Rusty.[/COLOR] She loved people and relished children.

Such warriors dogs are, it was such an honor to be allowed to know Rusty.........
I know that [B]her life force lives on [/B]and will be again!

2008 was a hard year for me. I lost my step dad in August, A good friend that helped me name Rusty died in November and Rusty in December. BTW, Rusty was short for Rustolium, the paint. She was abandoned in this paint warehouse. At first we all thought she was a Guard Dog, but over the next month or so, as I saw her size diminishing, I guessed she was abandonded. By then she was weary of people. It took about a month for her to trust Alan and myself enough to where we could get close and catch her.

Once she came home with me, she was an immediate major part of the family.

Thanks again everyone for your kind wishes and comments. They are much appreciated.