Saturday, July 7, 2012

And then there was one...

It hardly seems possible, and I'm still in shock, but it's true. Cooper is gone. Emma is all alone now. She has been grieving for Tara, and now she has lost her brother, too. Cooper has--had been having asthma-like problems for months now. He had xrays and bloodwork in December, and had been on a couple of different meds until we found the combination that worked for him. He has--had been stable, only having episodes when he was excited or scared, like during a thunderstorm. This morning he was fine, ate his breakfast, got into his usual mischief, then all of a sudden he couldn't get enough air. We tried to calm him down, but nothing helped. We rushed him to the WonderVet. He gave him a couple of shots, put him on oxygen, then took xrays. His lungs were worse. Much worse. End-stage-disease worse. Despite everything the vet could do, every breath was a struggle. For the second time in two weeks, we made the hardest decision in the world. But also for the second time in two weeks, there was no decision to be made. We could not allow him to suffer. I can still hear his gasping struggles to breathe. I will hear them until I die.

Cooper on the day we found him, June 19, 2008. He was 9 years old at the time.


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Cooper helping with the dishes, and breaking the dishwasher door in the process.


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Cooper helping mommy knit.


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Cooper at mommy's work.

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Cooper enjoying being an inside dog after a lifetime of being outside



Loopie Coopie

Cooper, my boy, my little man.

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 Four years with Cooper was not long enough. No matter how long they are with us, we never have these beautiful souls long enough.

13 comments:

SissySees said...

Oh Dianne. *I* can't breathe, and I haven't had an asthma attack in over 20 years.

I am so, so very, VERY sorry. You know that those four years made ALL the difference for Cooper. Heck, four days, even four hours with you and your pack changed his life.

Kiss darling Emma for me, and have someone hug you for me!!!!!!

Bridget said...

Oh Dianne, I am so incredibly sorry for you and Tara. I know a little bit about how you must feel, since I lost two of my cats within three days a couple of years ago. It is beyond awful, even when it is the loving and right thing.

Please take care of yourself and Tara, and know that Emma and Cooper would want you to be as happy as they were when they were with you, always.

We'll all say a special prayer here for all of you.

Bridget said...

Oh dear, is my upset-ness, I got confused, I'm so sorry. Please please please please know it was an honest mistake, and I will learn to collect myself before commenting.

Sigh.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Cooper looks like he was a very sweet boy. We are so sorry you have to go through another tragic loss so soon after losing Tara. Hugs to you from all of us.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning and Mom

Crazy Knitting Fool said...

Oh I am so so sorry. Sending prayers your way.

gMarie said...

Your life is better for having known him. And he was much, much better for having known you. It is never enough. I'm sorry. g

Molly the Airedale said...

We can't even imagine losing two pups in such a short period of time. Our hearts are absolutely breaking for you. Godspeed Cooper.

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

Bubblesknits said...

My heart is breaking for you. Know that I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Sue said...

Dianne, I'm so very sorry. I know the pain of losing two pups close together and it's almost unbearable. I wish there was something I could do or say to make this time less painfull for you. Please remember that you're in our thoughts and we're all grieving with you.

Are you familiar with "Our Rainbow Friends", a site that pays tribute to our pets across the bridge?
Sue

Lapdog Creations said...

Oh my gosh Dianne.... I am crying like a baby right now and having a hard time breathing thru all the Lapdog licks on my face. :(

I am so, so, so very sorry. These are the worst possible times... and if there's ANY comfort at all in all of this, it's that Cooper has crossed the Bridge to keep his sister company.

Much love & hugs to you and Emma....

Donna Lee said...

I remember when you made the trip to bring Cooper home. Poor Emma and poor you. How very quiet the house must be.

Hugs to you and hugs to Emma. My heart is sore for you today.

Our Rainbow Friends said...

We are so very sorry to learn, through Sissy & Gg's blog, about your terrible double loss of Tara and Cooper. We would be honored to be allowed to include memorials to both of them on Our Rainbow Friends, with your consent. Please take a look at our blog and contact us at ourrainbowfriendsATgmailDOTcom so we can get a little additional information [like Tara's age] for the memorial posts.

Once again, our sincere condolences. We can tell they were much loved and will be greatly missed.

Our Rainbow Friends

TimberLove said...

We came to paw our respects, softest husky woooos,

RA, Isis & NanĂ¼k