Last November I got a call from my mother… Halfway to Hirtshals for my last training as a dog physiotherapist and therefore about 1.5 hours from the dogs. She was at the local animal clinic with Allie, our almost 10-year-old poodle bitch. The first report was “a hoof in the head of a horse, and 3-4 teeth are knocked out”. Spending money to get this fixed wouldn’t do me any good. The next report came: two fractures to the jaw on one side, completely crumbled on the opposite side and then the 4 teeth. What were we going to do? At first, the selfish thing came to mind - of course we had to save her regardless of the 40-60,000 kroner they warned. But the more details that came to light, the more I had to admit that this was not the time to be selfish.
When we got Allie, we promised her that she had come to her final home. We would give her the best life for as long as we could, whether it was 2 months or 9 years. We got 1 1/2 years with her! Far too short a time, but without a doubt the best time, even though it was too short.
My little story leads me to my main topic: When is the right time for our best friends? Most of us would go through fire and water, spend all our savings and think of nothing else but saving the dog. But is that the right choice we are making? When I look back at Allie now, I suddenly see things I didn't see before: her hips had become a little stiff, her connective tissue tight and tender, but regardless, she was happy and healthy... But still, the thought struck me: Was her time perhaps closer even before the accident?
Our thoughts raced, and we blamed ourselves, feeling for a long time that we had failed her… But when I remember to turn off the neocortex and not let my own emotions control me, I know that it was the right time. She didn't have time to become an old, bad dog. Didn't have time to become completely muscle-poor or toothless, as I feared. She had a good life until the accident happened. Do I wish it had happened differently? Absolutely! But how grateful I am to be allowed to give her the right end at the right time. All selfishness pushed aside, I know that it was the right thing for her.
But with my selfishness present, I have never felt so much sorrow over losing a dog. How many tears have been cried and how many hours have been spent remembering and grieving.
Bloggers of the week
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and is now independent.
I am the happy owner of three beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred & Kato.
When you lose your best friend
Last November I got a call from my mother… Halfway to Hirtshals for my last training as a dog physiotherapist and therefore about 1.5 hours from the dogs. She was at the local animal clinic with Allie, our almost 10-year-old poodle bitch. The first report was “a hoof in the head of a horse, and 3-4 teeth are knocked out”. Spending money to get this fixed wouldn’t do me any good. The next report came: two fractures to the jaw on one side, completely crumbled on the opposite side and then the 4 teeth. What were we going to do? At first, the selfish thing came to mind - of course we had to save her regardless of the 40-60,000 kroner they warned. But the more details that came to light, the more I had to admit that this was not the time to be selfish.
When we got Allie, we promised her that she had come to her final home. We would give her the best life for as long as we could, whether it was 2 months or 9 years. We got 1 1/2 years with her! Far too short a time, but without a doubt the best time, even though it was too short.
My little story leads me to my main topic: When is the right time for our best friends? Most of us would go through fire and water, spend all our savings and think of nothing else but saving the dog. But is that the right choice we are making? When I look back at Allie now, I suddenly see things I didn't see before: her hips had become a little stiff, her connective tissue tight and tender, but regardless, she was happy and healthy... But still, the thought struck me: Was her time perhaps closer even before the accident?
Our thoughts raced, and we blamed ourselves, feeling for a long time that we had failed her… But when I remember to turn off the neocortex and not let my own emotions control me, I know that it was the right time. She didn't have time to become an old, bad dog. Didn't have time to become completely muscle-poor or toothless, as I feared. She had a good life until the accident happened. Do I wish it had happened differently? Absolutely! But how grateful I am to be allowed to give her the right end at the right time. All selfishness pushed aside, I know that it was the right thing for her.
But with my selfishness present, I have never felt so much sorrow over losing a dog. How many tears have been cried and how many hours have been spent remembering and grieving.
Bloggers of the week
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and is now independent.
I am the happy owner of three beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred & Kato.