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Visitor's Name: Greg
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Minneapolis, MN USA
How you found our site: Google
Would you recommend our site to others?: Yes!
Comments: Thanks for the wonderful website. We are losing the battle with DM and will soon lose our dear Zeus. Thanks for the support and information.
Entry 131 made on 2005-02-21 13:16:10
Visitor's Name: Becki Curran
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Sussex, UK
How you found our site: Google search
Would you recommend our site to others?: yes definitely
Comments: Lennon "Dalboy Tiger" Curran 24.11.94 - 19.02.05
ETERNALLY CHASING RABBITS!
When I was a 20 year old (1995) university student I met Lennon. He was 3 months old when I got him and as the breeder pointed out the last one left because he was the "runt of the litter". I didn't care. He was noble, loyal, cute, loving and my best friend.
We lived in London at the time and used to spend the odd weekend with my parents in Sussex where they would spoil him rotten. He became a total family dog and loved all of us! My husband and I only started dating because we used to walk Lennon across Hampstead Heath. He would jump into Camden Lock and swim like mad! He was full of adventure and fun! We moved back to sussex in 1997 and we bought him a life jacket! He used to tear into the sea and just swim for ages! He was the only dog I knew that would try to swim under the water to get a stone or would throw himself off the break waters! He loved the water what ever the temperature! He used to come camping with us, stand with his feet on the bar in our local pub and play with anyone who would show an ineterst in him. He never quite got the hang of cocking his leg! He tried it once when he was 5 months old but lost his balance and grazed his nose! From then on he used to squat like a girl! He even made it into the local paper when he was page boy at our wedding in 2002!
After the birth of our daughter in 2003 my family and I decided he was better of permantely living with my parents. They could give him the time he deserved and as they lived up the road it seemed the obvious solution. All our time was taken up juggling the baby and our jobs and my mum had retired so could devote her time to hoovering him, tending to his finicky eating habits and generally treating him like a big baby! He loved it! My father walked him up on the golf course for an hour every day come rain or shine sat with him every evening for anything from 30 mnins to an hour and a half trying to get him to eat his dinner! (we tried every type of dog food imaginable and had numerous blood tests done but the vet assured us he was just being fussy. We had him weighed every few months to monitor any weight change and he loved going to the vets for this "social" visit!)
Over the past year we noticed himn slow down and put it down to old age. He couldn't leap onto the bed like he used to and had trouble climbing into his special armchair looking out over the garden. We all put it down to old age (afterall he was approaching 70). Three weeks ago Dad took him for his usual walk up the golf course. A log that Lennon had always lept over was something of a problem. He waited to be lifted over it or started taking an alternative route to avoid it all together.
Mum took him to the vet last Thursday and was basically told that it was old age and there was nothing that could be done. It would only get worse with time and at the age of 10 the kindest thing would be to have him put to sleep.We trusted out vet who although a quiet man always had a soft spot for Lennon - this large fierce looking dog that was anorexic and peed like a girl! He was sent home with some anti-inflamatory drugs to block the pain for the week so we could all say goodbye The family was devasted. How could this have happened so quickly? He was still a puppy to all of us and the worst of it all was that HE stil thought of HIMSELF as a puppy. He used to rush out the back door chasing the seagulls and then crach into the wall because his back legs weren't working properly. For the first time ever he started pooing in the car and became quieter and older looking.
That evening my husband and I rushed round to face the reality of what was ahead of us. It was heartbreaking the speed at which he had deteriated. His eyes had lost the puppy sparkle and he looked weary, old and tired. After seeing him that evening Mum, Dad, Patrick and I decided it would be wrong to wait a week. His back foot was bleeding raw from being dragged along the ground and he kept falling over. I always swore from the day I got Lennon in 1995 that when the time came to make the decision to let him go that I would no matter how hard it was. Noble words true enough but nothing prepared me for how hard it would be.
On saturday morning Patrick and I arrived at my parents early and spent his last hours together as a family. We lifted him into the car and leaving my devasted parents took him to the vets. He hobbled in and clamboured onto the scales before I could stop him. He truly though it was just a routine vistit like so many other visits. He was lifted onto the table and nuzzled him otherwise healthy, cold wet nose into my neck. As the vet gave him the injection he let out a sigh and laid his head into my arms. It was so peaceful. I couldn't take much else in because I couldn't see for the grief and tears but my husband told me that his whole back end relaxed for those few seconds before he died. He was obviously finally able to relax and not feel any pain. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
He was a part of my life for so long that I feel like I'll never get over the grief of losing him. Mum and Dad feel the same especially Dad who used to walk Lennon every single day and sit with him every evening encouraging him to eat his dinner for anything up to an hour and a half. He was like part of the furniture to them in his twilight years and has left a gaping great whole in all our lives. Reading your website has made me realise perhaps it was a blessing that he went downhill so fast. It made that inevitable decision so much easier and I will always remember him as the dog he was and not trapped in a failing body.
They say time eases grief but I can't imagine that right now. Everything seems bleak and lonely. People that say to me "yeah but at least he was just a dog though" have my pity. Pity because it is THEY that have suffered a loss and not just me. They have never had the opportunity I've had to know such a noble spirit and to feel that reciprocated love that man's best friend gives us. That dog has seen me through so much in my twenties and had such an impact on so many lives. Lennon will never be "just a dog" to me he was an integral part of my life. I miss him so much it hurts.
Entry 130 made on 2005-02-19 01:48:26
Visitor's Name: Nita Edmondson & Barney
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Englewood, FL., USA
How you found our site: A link on The University of Fl. site
Would you recommend our site to others?: Yes
Comments: Banrey is 7 years old and has been diagnosed in January 2005 with Degenerative Myelopathy. I'm interested in other people's experiences.
Entry 129 made on 2005-02-17 17:20:33
Visitor's Name: Sheila Hefner
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Reaford, NC 28376
How you found our site: On google
Would you recommend our site to others?: Yes!
Comments: Hey! Sry about your loss. I was lookin on google for pictures of hearts and came across Jack's website. I started reading and looing at the picutre. It all made me cry. I'm 16 years old. And reading Jack's website taught me alot. Sry again.
Entry 128 made on 2005-02-10 20:35:21
Visitor's Name: Don & Viv Holker
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
How you found our site: Looking for information on DM
Would you recommend our site to others?: yes
Comments: An excellant site. Over the years we have lost two GSDs to DM. Your site is a great tribute to your shepherd and a lot of help to others who have suffered the same loss. Our latest shepherd is three years old and we have our fingers crossed!Thank you.
Entry 127 made on 2005-02-09 20:35:45
Visitor's Name: Arnie
Homepage URL: www.bottomsupleash.com
You are from: Los Angeles
How you found our site: people keep referring it
Would you recommend our site to others?: yes
Comments: I would like to thank you for referring so many customers to my product, the Bottom's Up Leash. I am very passionate and proud of this. We have won the "Dog Fancy editors choice award" for 2004 as product of the year. People like yourself should be very commended for helping these wonderful creatures.I thank you very much.
Arnie Costell
Entry 126 made on 2005-02-07 13:47:28
Visitor's Name: sharon weeks
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: rochester,nh 03868
How you found our site: looking for DM infomation
Would you recommend our site to others?: yes
Comments: I have been to your site before,I just lost my Mickey to DM after a long battle of 2 years.This whole site could have been written for me(except for the pool)I had gone through the exact same thing the same way.I felt the same as you,he was happy with me with him.I would like to know Jack's bloodline.Mickey was an AKC American bloodlines old ones.He was born in 1991 and just had him put to sleep last week.I have never been so depressed and sick in my life.I have pneumonia,both lungs,collapsed bottom lobes and was still taking care of my baby boy.I too tried everything to keep between his legs dry it was always moist,hair dryer worked for awhile but.....Also Mick did not do well in a cart,the only place he wanted to go or be was with me.I like you was on the computer all the time looking for SOMETHING to make him well again.....I have a cousin in Bethesda,he is the director of epidemiology and genetics,he is one of the top Dr's in the world,so Mick had the top drugs the best of everything.Still it over took him.I am sure you know how I feel,I am sick I am lonely,I have cried about this since he took his first lame step.I will never get over this dog for he lived for me as did him.I long for him,he would look at me and I would melt.......His pictures are all over my house,I see him but can not touch him........Our Favorite song is Always.I have a music box which I would play for him and he would beem......I have been so stressed over this disease and the feeling that I would have after he was gone,I have made myself so sick.I have let myself get run down I also am anemic.Now all I do is cry for him.
Entry 125 made on 2005-02-04 20:14:13
Visitor's Name: Janet
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Washington, USA
How you found our site: Via the support group
Would you recommend our site to others?: Yes
Comments: Thank you for offering so much help and support. It really makes a huge difference in being able to provide DM care and also to just survive the day.
Entry 124 made on 2005-02-04 18:52:28
Visitor's Name: Ellen Melvin
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Methuen, MA USA
How you found our site: google search
Would you recommend our site to others?: yes
Comments: My 8 year old German Shepard showed signs last year and the vet told us DM. We started him on the aminocaproci and he improved. Now 1 year later the symptons are back and we took him to a neurologist. Well, its not DM, he had 3 bad discs in his back! He just under went 3 hour surgery on his back. When I think of the pain and discomford he must have felt. Our vet never gave us any options and said that it was DM. Since there are no tests for DM I think he jumped to the diagnosis
Entry 123 made on 2005-02-03 22:39:06
Visitor's Name: Jeff Swift
Homepage URL: No website supplied
You are from: Clinton Twp., MI
How you found our site: Search engine
Would you recommend our site to others?: For sure
Comments: The best info and support I have ever found on the web.
Thank you Jack Flash.
Jeff