Taz > animalattraction.com | the place for pet lovers! > Article Archive

Current Articles | Browse by Category | Search Articles | RSS Feeds

This is Taz. My partner and I got a phone call at about 2 am back in 1987 from a friend who works for a local animal shelter. She said "I know you guys haven't been looking for a dog but you have to come down and see this dog".

So at 3 am we're in the shelter and out comes this 5 month old pug. She came running up to us with her whole body wagging! Her head was so small it fit into the palm of your hand! I don't think it took me longer than a minute to decide. She came home with us 5 days later, after the allotted time to allow someone to claim her and to go through the vet check etc. It was a very long 5 days.

She got her name because she would spin around just like the Tasmanian devil! She brought so much joy and happiness to our family. I went through so much with her.

When she was just a young pup she had heart worms and spent a couple of days at the vets with an IV having arsenic pumped into her. I had her on heart worm medicine during the spring and summer but her old vet said that I didn't have to keep her on medicine during the winter or fall. That's why he became her old vet.

At about ten or eleven years of age I had to rush her to my vet, she was in respiratory distress. They sent me to a hospital about 70 miles away. When I arrived they took her right in. My vet had called ahead.

They put her in an incubator for three days and gave her medicine through an IV. They called me at work on that third day and told me I could come and pick her up but that she had a brain tumor and didn't have very long to live.

They based their diagnosis on, among other things her walk. They said she had paddle feet. I picked her up the next day with very mixed emotions. I was so happy to see her and heartbroken at the same time. I am very happy to say she did not have a brain tumor and lived to just short of her 18th birthday!

There were so many trips to the vet after that. She had a partially collapsed trachea, and then it was an enlarged heart. She went deaf but learned sign language. There were so many problems but she had so much fight in her. In between all the problems there were many great years.

The final day came when she went into respiratory distress, again. I rushed her to the vet, they rushed her and me to the back and my vet came in and asked me if I was ready to let her go. Deep down I knew that was the question she was going to ask.

I looked into Taz's eyes and she said "yes, I'm tired, it’s going to be OK, and you can let me go". I let her go with a very heavy heart but I knew it was what she wanted and I had to do it for her. She died in my arms.

Those 18 years. I'll never forget. We miss her every day.

Comments

By Chris @ Friday, April 04, 2008 3:51 PM

I lost my Taz of 16 years Dec. 4th, 2007. He had his share of problems as well. I can relate to your story and my heart goes out to you. I am still waiting for it to get easier without him and Spike who passed a couple of years ago after 17 1/2 years. The memories will be in my heart forever.

By Georgann @ Sunday, April 06, 2008 3:19 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss. My little Keesha who was 14 had a stroke this past Nov. 5. She was my beloved companion and velcro puppy. Four yrs. ago her former vet suggested she be put down as she had both her cruciate ligaments torn in both back legs. I found a wonderful homeopathic vet and he gave her four more quality years. She will be in my heart forever as will your Taz.

By vikki cahill @ Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:56 PM

Thank you for sharing your story. I have been losing my animals slowly for the past 3 years, dog, iguana and cats. But it hurts kike yesterday, sometimes I do not know what to do. Sorry

By Joanne Meccia @ Saturday, April 19, 2008 10:12 AM

Your comment and letter touched me so much. I went through the same thing with my "Spike". I think handing him over to the Vet was the hardest thing I had to do. It's been three years since Spike passed. I now have another dog Champ. It's not the same.

By Cheyenne4 @ Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:21 AM

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'm a Pug Momma, too. I have 2 puggies. My little girl is 6 and just shy of a year ago, I rescued my little boy who we think is about 2. Your story about Taz was so inspiring. I think Pugs are little people in doggy bodies. I can only hope that I am blessed to have mine for as long as Taz was with you. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story.

By suzannep @ Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:18 PM

I just wanted to say to all those who posted a comment about my Taz. Thank you very much. My heart goes out to all those who have lost their special friend.

By Guidosmommy @ Monday, April 28, 2008 12:00 PM

I have a pug and reading your story touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I'm sure you had so much love for Taz as pugs truly are a unique and wonderful breed. I had to go through the loss of an animal last year and know what a painful experience this can be. They become so much a part of your family.

By heidicoco @ Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:14 PM

Your pug must have been the most precious baby ever, your loss brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throut. I have two pugs and I just cant imagine what it would be like without them. I hopw they both live as long as your baby did

ByJoyce @ Friday, May 02, 2008 9:46 AM

My heart goes out to you, I have 5 doggies, and I think about it everyday, how will I handle the grief when I lose one of them. My little llasa has started having seizures a few weeks ago, and it hurts me so bad when I see him like that. My heart and prayers go out to you.

By kat54 @ Sunday, May 11, 2008 2:39 PM

ii am so sorry for your loss. we have just lost our GRACIE soooo purrrrrrfect in everyway.she came to us a stray two &half years ago.we lost her to fatty liver disase& one vet said maybe fip.she has been gone two monthes friday.i miss her so.i still cry for her& will always have her in my heart.part persain grey with allttle creame.very shy & sweet. she was such asweet little soul. i have two more cats LITTLEBIT & kitten FAITH whom i also love dearly. they help me through this . thanks for letting me share this. kat

By SylV @ Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:48 PM

Dear Kat54--I read about your loss and I can relate. I lost 2 cats in 2007, it still hurts. I made them a little "cemetary" which I have statues and flowers on--I visit and talk to them, sometimes cry. I feel like their little spirits visit at times, to share their love! Am I crazy? I don't care! I love them! SylV

Click here to post a comment