The last day I saw my first dog
Obligatory wavy lines...

When I was a wee lad (say of 7 or 8) we got a Bedlington Terrier and called him Jay Jay (after initials of me and my dad). He was the runt of the litter and was plagued with illness after condition after illness throughout his entire life, however as much as he felt rotten inside he loved fifty times more.

Dad was the master, I was the brother and we got on like a house on fire. Jay was the friendliest, child-safe and faithful pooch anyone could ask for - you'd only need to glance at him and he'd jump on your lap. Our Burmese cat (McCavity) was very much the boss until his sad death some years later but Jay remained ever chirpy and willing to lend his chin to your knee.

He came from pedigree stock which meant he was due to leave us around the age of 10 and with all his problems he would probably only see 6 if lucky - he lasted (we like to think out of pure devotion to us and us to him) until 13. If you're still with me then we're about to reach the main story point now.

Still with me? Lovely!

I moved out a year before Jay was diagnosed with leukaemia, this was surely going to be the swift end to our old friend. Our vet gave him slim odds but offered us an experimental treatment to try and buy some more time, we took it. Maybe we shouldn't have since it led to as many bad days as there were good. He'd often go a day or two at a time a springy young chap with attitude but then would suddenly be utterly unable to move out of his basket for an equal or greater amount of time.

My mum looked after him like a trooper, watering him with a droplet and making sure he stayed clean, I'll always thank her for that. I went round a fair bit in his last couple of months to make sure I saw him often. Then the last day happened. It was a bad day.

I popped round to say hello and before I left I went to his basket and he couldn't even lift his head to look at me he was so weak, I was told he'd been like this for a few days, longer than usual. I gently lifted his head and ruffled his fur whilst saying 'Goodbye mate', placed his withered head down and went to walk away.

I managed about four steps before hearing his clawless paws tapping on the kitchen floor, he was standing there with his head held high looking right at me, tail wagging and his body shaking with pain. His puppy spirit won through and we had a little gentle play before making another goodbye and placing him in his basket.

We lost him the next day.

He knew he was on his way out as I was making mine.


Length? Being the runt is a good excuse for not mentioning.

EDIT: Still have his collar hanging on my fridge door, respect Jay!
( blitheringidiot semi-lurker status achieved, many thanks, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 5:56, 15 replies)

Bloody nearly cried at that.
I miss my dog every day. He's been dead for nearly a decade.
( difficultchild, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 7:11, closed)

I nearly blummin' cried writing that, been a while since I thought about it. Three cheers for dogs!
( blitheringidiot semi-lurker status achieved, many thanks, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 8:47, closed)

Awww
Dogs are just naturally brilliant, it just goes to show that regardless of how bad a situation, a dog will always return affection.

Such a sweet story.

*Teary eyed click..*
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 7:54, closed)

Bedlington #2 (Mylo) sadly isn't far from his expiry date now too, he's 16. I moved to Australia in June and right before Burmese #2 (Skimble) had to be put to sleep, he reached 17. Very sad to have to say goodbye to Mylo before shipping out, it's 99% certain I won't be seeing him again.

Have a Mylo pic for you kind click.


( blitheringidiot semi-lurker status achieved, many thanks, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 8:47, closed)

My Rocky's collar hangs on the end of my bed
and his ashes are underneath. Now and then the box gets dislodged and I trip over it in the night, which is sort of like having him back.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 8:39, closed)

Jay's ashes are buried under his favourite tree in the 'rents garden, always stare at that tree when I'm there
( blitheringidiot semi-lurker status achieved, many thanks, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 8:50, closed)

Argh. Eyes. Watery.
Will. Not. Cry. Willnotcry.

Sod it.
( Bats, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 8:47, closed)

I swear if all the stories are in this vein
I am going to need to MTFU
(Bababoon, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 10:22, closed)

I am sobbing
and I am a cat person

clicking I like this seems wrong, but I did any way
(whiskas loved by 8 out of 10 cats, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 19:17, closed)

I have something in my eye.
That's all it is. Really.
(Big D, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 19:34, closed)

Nice but sad story.
(Mitchell Gant, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 19:36, closed)

i have to ask
was your cat named after the old man's cat in logan's run, or am i just putting two and two together and coming up with five?
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 6 Aug 2010, 20:43, closed)

T.S Elliot
All out family cats have their names taken from The Old Possums Guide to Practical Cats, an old favorite of mine
( blitheringidiot semi-lurker status achieved, many thanks, Sat 7 Aug 2010, 0:41, closed)

that's probably where he got it from, too ;)

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sat 7 Aug 2010, 23:48, closed)

This QOTW
Is making my make up run.

Such a touching story.
(Aruu does not put all her trust in root vegetables., Mon 9 Aug 2010, 20:30, closed)