by Helen McQuinn
My Bogey's struggle the past year will be over on Tues. Feb. 11/03 when I take him to the animal hospital to be put to sleep. His time of great suffering started when I decided I would give him a wonderful gift of getting his cataracts removed so he would be able to spend his senior years being able to see again. But it was not to be. Everything went wrong; inflammation set in and we spend months putting drops in his eyes, many drops, many times a day. His eyes were so inflamed that three months later one eye was removed and he was completely blind in the other one. I cried many tears over that, feeling to terribly guilty that I had put him through so much to no avail. However, I was determined I would make his life as happy as I could and my husband and I were devoted to him. But things deteriorated quickly. He lost his hearing for a while and wandered aimlessly through the house and private back yard. He whimpered when he was lost and we were always close to him and steered him in the right direction. I was so pleased when I taught him to climb the stairs again, even though we lived him down. I bought a little Yorkie pup, Willie, but gave Bogey a lot of attention and he became tolerant of Willie and when I put them on a chair together, they would lie side by side. But his strength is dwindling so quickly, has a hard time to stand when he goes outside to relieve himself, his body has started trembling at times for no reason. He looks so lost and forlorn at times just standing with his face towards the wall. He isn't happy any more and I made the decision yesterday to have him euthanized. I will hold him in my arms until his little body is still and then his ashes will be buried in the back yard which is close to the beautiful shores of Shediac Cape. Oh God, how I'll miss him. I am having a really hard time with his loss and he isn't even gone yet. Bogey, a sweeter or more loyal companion ever existed. Love, from your Mommy.