Furby Wranglings

Beldandy passed away in her sleep last night around 10:30 p.m.

She'd pretty much stopped eating except for deli lunch meat, but we'd found a way to get her to drink some water (needle-less turkey baster squirted through her teeth - I actually cheered when she swallowed). Sunday night was the last time we were able to get her on her feet and outside; I had to use the sling to carry her up back up the ramp. She cried and fussed most of the night, and I got up and sat with her (didn't get much sleep, obviously) because she seemed to be in pain; she settled down Monday morning and was finally sleeping, so I called our vet as soon as I knew they were open and asked Dr. Jennifer if we could get some kind of pain relief. I picked it up at lunch time and managed to sneak half a pill into her deli meat. She slept most of the day, at that point she was still drinking out of the water bowl when we brought it to her; she wasn't even trying to stand up, just halfway sitting up or raising her head enough to drink. I was worried about her bowels and bladder, but Dr. Jennifer said that with the small amount she was eating (all protein, minimal if any fiber) and drinking, it most likely would not be a problem until the end -- which she agreed was probably very near.

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, after several tearful texts with Husband and Daughter, I arranged with Dr. Jennifer to make a house call tonight to end Bel's suffering. Bel, being the sweet but contrary Chow she was, had other ideas -- obviously. Last night we took turns sitting with Bel in the living room, loving on her; she'd move her head a bit, lick a hand, eat a bit of lunch meat, reject the bit that had her meds wrapped inside (how could she tell?) .... Husband and I discussed how handle Dr. Jenn's visit; I thought we should keep Bel in the living room by the front door -- easy access, and no moving trauma, but Husband thought we should move her to the kitchen because Bel loved to look out the sliding glass door. Anyway, Husband went to bed at his usual time, and I sat up for a while knitting, and then gave Bel some love and managed to get half a pill down her throat with some water, and went out to the kitchen to make Husband's lunch for today. Took a piece of lunch meat into Bel, she didn't want it, so gave it to Jethro. Refilled the turkey baster to give Bel a last drink of water before going to bed myself. Kissed her muzzle, told her she was a brave girl but that it was all right to let go -- I guess she heard me, because she gave a little jerk and stopped breathing.

Took me a few minutes to realize it. Started crying and even begged Bel to please breathe for Mommy... Woke up Husband, cleaned up Bel's last involuntary bowel movement, fetched Daughter from her room.... Husband got dressed, brought the moving dolly and a large -ish box from the basement, Daughter found an old towel to put in the box, Bel was still limp enough to curl up into the box, and Husband took Bel and box out the garage. Fortunately it got down to freezing last night, and its still pretty frosty so she should keep until after work tonight.

Oh, Bel... Jethro was looking for you this morning; he went out on the front porch and whimpered. I overslept; I only woke up because I thought I heard you bark. I'm really glad it's been such a slow day at the church because I keep crying; it took most of the morning to type this because I couldn't see to type. I had to call the vet's office and cancel your appointments -- the one for next Monday morning when we were supposed to get another blood test, a chiropractic adjustment and an Adequan shot; and the one for tonight. I miss you so much already, my sweet and stubborn girly.