The Tears Continue

And the tears continue in our lives.  The Labor Day weekend in September 2009 we went to our friends cabin to pick up our new family member, Clayton Harris.  He was sitting in their front window watching us.  He belonged to a friend but she was in a place in her life that wasn't good for little Clayton and she knew we just loved the little guy.  

So that Sunday afternoon we expanded our little family.  It had been about 3 years since we had lost our beloved Ebby to cancer and we had vowed to not get another dog, but, we so loved this little guy.

We had prepared the week before putting in a new automatic doggy door so he could go out on his own and then, that weekend, we were ready to bring him home.

Once home I quickly thought we might have made a mistake.  He zipped and zagged all over the house, constantly and these were the best pictures I could get.  I was worried.

Then that face settled down and we got the love from the little guy.

He quickly settled and became a very important part of our lives.  He absolutely LOVED the grands.  When Snicklefritz would be on her pallet as an infant he would lay right next to her like he was protecting.  He was very tolerant and loving and still sat next to her and Min too.

Oh how he loved, LOVED this guy.  

Absolute adoration.

And such a happy boy.

Then came his trials and tribulations with his health.

First came the connective tissue tumors on his hip.  We had them removed and seemed to be successful, until...

they started in on his front leg.  Three surgeries to the final one where he lost his leg.  Then a massive infection in the surgery area and more surgery to clean that out and weeks of daily visits to fight the infection.  This guy just kept on ticking, not letting it take him down.  He mastered walking, running and getting through his doggy door.  Still he was happy to see us, to get treats and eat.  

Then a few months ago we noticed a growth coming out of his mouth, his tongue sticking out on the other side, and a stink.  I took him to the vet where Dr. P said it was melanoma and had to come out immediately.  He was whisked to surgery that moment and the recovery was guarded.  Dr. P was very concerned that he would not be able to use his tongue anymore.  Those fears were never realized because by the next day he was lapping water and eating like nothing happened.  

About 5 weeks later we noticed another lump and he was making a mess with his food bowl, that was a sign of the tumor returning.  Back to the vet and he said he would snip it out that day.  That time wasn't quite as bad a recovery and he was ready to eat that evening a little.  Then just less than a month later and it was back again, and with a vengeance.  It was huge and infected and I think possibly gangrenous.  Dr. P said the only thing he could do was amputate his tongue!  We said NO and took the other option, to put an end to his suffering.

Just three days after we laid The Hubby's mother to rest he had to take Clayton in and say goodbye.  Our hearts are just broken.  I miss this face.  I miss petting and kissing him.  I miss him laying and sleeping next to me.  I miss our sweet Clayton.

I'm so over the loss of our loved ones, human and furry.  My heart can't take much more of this, I'm done.