Eulogy

This week-end Hillary and I were headed to Branson and Silver Dollar City, while Brooks was hunting in Northeast Missouri. She picked me up about 9:30 on Saturday morning. I had Maggie packed and ready to go and had even taken a little walk up the block with her while waiting on Hillary. We had just been in the car about 15 minutes when I heard Maggie gagging. Hillary said, "Is she throwing up in my car?" I turned around and tried to see what she was doing. She was in her bed in the backseat next to Mira. She was retching, but not vomiting, only clear saliva stuff was visible on the edge of her bed. I though she would settle down, but she just kept gagging. By this time we were in the Grandview Triangle and the traffic was backed up because of a one lane issue. I told Hillary that as soon as we got through the traffic to find an exit so I could see what was wrong. We pulled off at Belton and as soon as I set her down in the parking lot I knew we were it big trouble. Her stomach was huge and lopsided. She pottied, then just walked around randomly, but didn't seem to be in pain, and never did thrown up.

What to do? Do we go on and see if she gets better? I considered that, but ultimately told Hillary we had better head back to the vet. It was 11 AM on a Saturday morning and the vet closes at noon. I called the one where she usually boarded. Their vet was leaving and we were still 30 minutes away. I called a different one where she also had boarded on occasion and they agreed to wait until we could get there.....and she continued to gag in her bed. The outcome was that her stomach had 'turned'. That is not uncommon in older dogs, but it usually happens in larger breeds. An x-ray confirmed it and the only solution is surgery. Maggie was nearly 16, didn't' see well and hearing was going. Over the past six months her weight had dropped from 12 pounds to 9. It was time to tell her good-bye. Then, Hillary and I took her to King City to my sisters animal cemetary and buried her in her bed.

We didn't make it to Branson, (but drove over 200 miles anyway). I'm just so thankful that it worked out the way it did. She was with me instead of at the kennel or with the wonderful lady who had been dog sitting for her. Having Hillary with me was a blessing and we had plenty of time to take care of her the right way. She was a wonderful little dog. I think about the years we lived on Gene Field and she spent all day chasing squirrels in the back yard. She ran from tree to tree to the point that she wore little trails in the grass. I remember her walking Randy on Ashland. She was the poster child for the good effects of exercise. She never got fat, as many dachshunds do, and until the last few months, still liked to go for walks, even in only a couple of blocks.

So farewell, Maggie. You were one of a kind.