Sudden departure of a very old friend - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #1 03-21-2014, 04:44 PM

When my 22 year old son was 4, his puppy/playmate was born.

She was a small all black, shiny Labrador retriever. Named Jasmine.

She grew up with my son and lived at my ex-wife's house, but knew me and minded me, especially since I dog sat every vacation.

18 months ago, my ex-wife died and the house was to revert to the bank.

What to do with the dog?

The lawyers: kill her

The bankers: kill her

So I kept the bank and the lawyers from taking the house for an extra year and slowly got the dog used to spending time with me, since her misstress was gone somewhere and my son the playmate was out in an apartment finishing college.

Along the way, the dog met my son's new pet: a straggling but VERY scrappy street cat.

I had to keep them apart because the good-natured Jasmine would come up to the cat and the cat-who-trusted-nobody-but my-son-his-rescuer was ready to head butt the dog and claw her up.

I kept the peace by dividing off the house, like East and West Germany.

Finally the cat went back with my son and the dog went...where?

My house.

I cleared out a room with a (no longer) beautiful oak polished floor, covered with several layers of poly tarps.

Despite my best efforts, and as the dog aged, she ended up using them 50% of the time, the other times, outside.

She grew progressively weaker and could not run, but could walk.

When my son came through the front door, she knew him and with some help from me, moved forward and met him. He was shocked at how weak she seemed, needing help to move around unless I guided her toward a 4 x 2 thick plastic sponge-filled cushion the size of a love seat!
I had it made for her a couple years ago, anticipating this.

Yesterday i got up at 0600 as usual, made some coffee and breakfast, waiting for the barking that I was expecting. I had heard a couple of barks during the night, but Jasmine had dreams and barked during them.

I opened the room door with a small plate of warm cut-up hot dogs.

She lay next to the cushion, but on the floor, almost in her habitual place.

But she was not moving. No breathing.

I touched her.. Still warm, but no longer alive.

I called and got more time off work, then called a pet crematorium which I had discussed months earlier with my son. They would come tonight about 7:00 pm.

I texted my son to be ready for the airport ride 15 minutes extra early.

strelnik · #2 03-21-2014, 04:52 PM

I waited until my son was at the table after eating breakfast, with his cat sitting on his shoulder.

I looked at him and said," Son, Jasmine didn't wake up this morning."

He was stunned and of course, upset.

I told him the extra 15 minutes was for a little visit.

We went back to my place, where I had placed her on the pillow with a small tarp acting like a blanket.

I gave my son 15 minutes alone to say his good byes.

We then left for the airport and talked about what to do. I explained I had anticipated what he wanted, and he agreed.

Then I got a flat tire 1.5 miles from the terminals.

That's when I found out I had the wrong jack for the W126.

I called my friend Tom to bring a floor jack, we called a taxi to the airport, my son made his flight, I got the tire changed and I went to work for 5 hours.

At 7:00 pm a very nice man named Travis brought out a pressure-treated paper coffin and we carefully placed Jasmine inside.

Before he left, I cut a snippet of her jet black fur and placed it in an envelope next to her collection of dog tags and her leash.

If all goes according to plan, Jasmine will be back home tonight. About 8:00 pm.

Upon his return from LA, my son will find a more suitable urn of the type he likes, to accommodate his childhood playmate.

suginami · #3 03-21-2014, 05:41 PM

Very moving story.

Thanks for sharing.

BodhiBenz1987 · #4 03-21-2014, 08:50 PM

Sorry for your loss, Strelnik.

cmbdiesel · #5 03-21-2014, 09:16 PM

Sorry to hear it...

Think I'll play with our dog Bridget for a little longer than usual tonight.

Can't Know · #6 03-21-2014, 09:30 PM

My heart felt a little heavier as I read your story...thank you for sharing it.

I'm glad you rejected the suggestion of the bankers and lawyers. We'd all hate to be their "pets."

RIP to a faithful, loving friend and family member, Jasmine.

Dubyagee · #7 03-21-2014, 09:40 PM

Really touching experience

I will hate when my cat of 13 years passes.

KarTek · #8 03-21-2014, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

We went back to my place, where I had placed her on the pillow with a small tarp acting like a blanket.

This touched me and reminded me of when I had to have my dog put down due to illness. After it was done, the vet was going to take her back to the office and from there to have her cremated. I couldn't bear to see her laying on the hard metal bed of the pickup so I placed her on her bed for her last ride to the office.

Logic aside, it just didn't seem right. Very sorry about the loss of your friend.

t walgamuth · #9 03-21-2014, 11:25 PM

Although you did not say it it is clear you were very devoted to Jasmine. She was lucky to have you as a friend.

My condolences.

barry12345 · #10 03-21-2014, 11:30 PM

Our oldest dog of the two is on the downhill slide. I can only hope he survives to spend at least the early summer at the beach. I am not sure he is going to last that long though. It has always been his favorite place.

He has been a good dog and I will have him put down when he shows signs of any real suffering. He is deaf and is starting to occasionally urinate in the house. I also think his eyes are failing. I do hope his heart quietly quits in his sleep though. It really hurts emotionally to put down a pet. You cannot let them suffer too much though.

He has had a bad heart but has responded well to the medication for better than a year now. He will be buried out back with the other dogs that have lived out their full life in our family. The other current dog will probably outlive me. He too is a very good dog. I have no other choice than to visualize him as our last dog as well.

pj67coll · #11 03-22-2014, 12:44 AM

Very sorry to hear that. Any pet is a good friend and losing them is hard. Lab's especially to me. We had three at one stage as I grew up. Mother and two daughters. Two blacks and a golden. Nice to hear of how you cared for her.

- Peter.

barry12345 · #12 03-22-2014, 02:49 AM

It is truly amazing the bonds that are forged between dogs and their owners. They really do become part of a family. I just told our two to go to bed.

They went but will not totally settle down until I retire as well in a few minutes.Their hereditary functions are almost always present. I am not sure how they can sleep and be alert for any noise or movement at the same time but usually they can.

If they really detect anything out of the ordinary it is also their instinct to investigate it. Especially at night.

Mistress · #13 03-22-2014, 08:36 AM

Strel, sorry for your loss but keep in mind, that dog had a great life because of you. I rescue cats and had one named Anastasia Kristina who was feral, she was born under a building where I worked. Some girls trapped the whole family and called me because they had one, Anastasia, who was hissing,spitting and biting and needed to be separated from the other kittens so they wouldn't learn her behavior. I had her for 18 years and worked with her so that by the time she went to the "Rainbow Bridge" she would come up to you and let you pet pet.

TnBob · #14 03-23-2014, 04:07 PM

Dogs are beyond special

strelnik · #15 03-24-2014, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

I waited until my son was at the table after eating breakfast, with his cat sitting on his shoulder.

I looked at him and said," Son, Jasmine didn't wake up this morning."

He was stunned and of course, upset.

I told him the extra 15 minutes was for a little visit.

We went back to my place, where I had placed her on the pillow with a small tarp acting like a blanket.

I gave my son 15 minutes alone to say his good byes.

We then left for the airport and talked about what to do. I explained I had anticipated what he wanted, and he agreed.

Then I got a flat tire 1.5 miles from the terminals.

That's when I found out I had the wrong jack for the W126.

I called my friend Tom to bring a floor jack, we called a taxi to the airport, my son made his flight, I got the tire changed and I went to work for 5 hours.

At 7:00 pm a very nice man named Travis brought out a pressure-treated paper coffin and we carefully placed Jasmine inside.

Before he left, I cut a snippet of her jet black fur and placed it in an envelope next to her collection of dog tags and her leash.

If all goes according to plan, Jasmine will be back home tonight. About 8:00 pm.

Upon his return from LA, my son will find a more suitable urn of the type he likes, to accommodate his childhood playmate.

Jasmine came back home on Friday night.

A smaller version of a hearse-- minivan size with darkened windown-- pulled into my drive as the sun set.

The neatly-dressed young man came up the walk, where I met him.

He verified the address and asked for ID, which impressed me.

He returned to the car, coming back with a decorated box about 1' x 1' x 1' .

" Jasmine is in here," he said.

He showed me the identification tags, once of which is inside the sealed bag inside the urn.

Inside the box was some paperwork.

He thanked me, gave me his condolences, placed the box in my hand and left.

I carefully stowed the box in the same room where Jasmine had lived, then put it in the empty file cabinet I had reserved for her.

My son returns at 9:30 pm from LA.

We'll see what he wants to do.