An Excellent Day

A great day so far. When Bubby work up this morning and Shellie let him out he actually explored around the yard for a bit while doing his business, came back in and willingly took his meds wrapped in canned dog food, then ate almost a half-can of the stuff!!! This is more than he's eaten in the last week!!!

I emailed Dr. Strathe to let him know of Bubby's status and thanked him again for all he'd done. My boy's breathing is almost normal and I can tell he's feeling better now than he has ever since last Monday when he first started displaying symptoms!

Bear in mind that I have no unreasonable expectations. I fully realize that time is short, but while researching this malady I've read post after post from other dog owners who had their friend put down on learning the news (and what would be necessary to keep them comfortable and alive). The decision is, of course, up to each individual, and I'm certainly no one to second guess someone else's decision, but I am so glad (and so is Dr. Strathe, Bubby and Shellie) that I didn't go down that path.

I suppose that my decision could be in part based on my firsthand knowledge of the condition. Being a heart patient myself, I've been hospitalized with CHF. I know the misery, but also that with the proper medication the symptoms can be alleviated and quality of life restored, if only for awhile, and even then it's a roll of the dice. Looks like I chose correctly.

This blog is dedicated to my best friend of the past nine years: Bubby. Such a simple name for such a beautiful spirit....

Bubby at around age 5

I had originally intended for this to be just a private journal, a kind of personal therapy if you will, for the upcoming loss of my baby. I decided though to share this journey (Bubby's as well as mine) online in the hope that it might help someone else, however little, who is going through the same experience.

As I write this blog I'm sure there will be some sad entries. Please do not feel sad for me or Bubby. We've had had a wonderful 9, almost 10, years together. We fell in love with each other the first time we met, and through the years, the up's as well as the down's, our love for each other has only grown in strength and increased in depth. Our time together has been filled with nothing but love, fun and mutual adoration. At the end of the day there are few who can say that they have had that kind of relationship with any being. Both Bubby and I are infinitely blessed with what we share.

I sit here writing this now because after my girlfriend and I left this morning to get my vehicle tag renewed we returned home. Our intention was to put my new tag on, go eat and then hit some garage sales. That was not to be. I came inside to check on Bubby. He is stable right now with congestive heart failure, but knows he is sick. When I sat down to check my email, sick as he is, Bubby got up from his place on the bed, came to me and demanded "pets". Afterwards, when I got up to leave, he got in front of and looked up at me, telling me "Please don't leave me". So, here I sit with my baby lying at my side even though he'd be more comfortable in our bed. I told my girlfriend, Bubby's "mama", to go get herself something to eat. I said "I'm staying here with Bubby."

We're going to lie down now and take a nap.