Wednesday, April 17, 2013

We Lost Our Billy :(


It seems like just about every other week one of the blogs that I follow is doing a post similar to this. I guess now it's my turn. Yesterday we had to let our Billy go. We are heartbroken.

We always told him he was soooo photogenic
Billy was one of my parent's cocker spaniels. And on Saturday morning my sister and I went out to their house to take care of him and his sister, Roxie, for the week. My parent's had flown out that morning for a long over-due vacation to GA. When I got to the house Billy didn't come racing to the door like usual. And I finally found him in a downstairs bedroom. He was shaking so bad that his teeth were chattering.

He always had to have a squeaky with him, and had such great eyelashes
All day Saturday he wouldn't move. We tried to keep him as comfy as possible, and gave him pain meds that the vet gave my mom before they left because they suspected he had pulled a muscle in his back.
But by Saturday night Angie and I decided to drive him into Minneapolis to the ER vet. By then he was dragging his hind legs!
It still never entered my mind that things were that serious. I thought he didn't want to put weight on his legs...not that he COULDN'T put weight on them.

Baby Bill was the cutest thing ever!
But the vet took one look and said that our options were to take him to the
 U of MN for a $5000.00 surgery or to put him to sleep, because he had slipped a disc in his back and was now paralyzed. Even with the surgery it would be a 50/50 chance of recovery.

Puppy Billy had green eyes and was always tilting his head to try and understand you.
Angie and I had to call our parents from the vet's room with Billy on the table and tell them what was going on. With them a million miles away, on day one of their vacation. Absolutely heartbreaking.

When Billy was a puppy he was in the backyard when a large crack of thunder struck. It changed him for good. He was always scared of everything after that. You could drop a fork on the kitchen floor and he would bolt. So because of this, he was a chicken every year for Halloween.

Angie's cocker Ernie as a pumpkin, Roxie the witch, and Billy...our chicken!

It was too sudden for all of us. So we had the vet give him a shot to help with his pain, stronger pills for the weekend, and we took him home.
For the next 48 hours Angie and I cared for him around the clock. We bought him a big therapeutic dog bed, and had to surround him with puppy pads because he had no bladder control.

Billy and Me. His paws were absolutely beautiful!  And we used to tease him because he had the teeniest little "pee-pee" for being such a large cocker spaniel. LOL

The vet said that once in a blue moon the anti-inflammatory can take enough pressure off of the spine and dogs like this can get better. So we had a tiny bit of hope. And we really wanted my parents to be able to say goodbye to him if that's what it came down to.

But by Monday night it was clear that he was miserable. :(
And we couldn't stand to see him suffer any longer. So yesterday morning we were at the vet right when they opened.
Billy was only 7, and this was just so sudden for us. My parent's last cocker spaniel (the one I grew up with) lived to be 15.5 years old.
I can't stop crying today. It's just gut-wrenching. I want to go back in time. Have a do-over. Never let him jump off the bed or couch!

My niece and nephew came over yesterday, and seeing them immediately puts things into perspective though. This was a loss, but it's the kind of loss that we can recover from.

We love you Bill-Boy!
xo Wellie, Ernie, Roxie, and Your Family



37 comments:

  1. They become part of our families don't they, we just love our pets and its heartbreaking when they have to leave us. It looks like he was well loved and in return brought you all lots of pleasure and fun! Take care x x

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  2. Thinking of you. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending you extra hugs.

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  3. oh geesh.. Im sitting here crying with you...what a sweet little dog and of course you didnt want him to suffer. but losing our pets and especially making that final decision is sooo hard. Ive been there a few too many times..
    sooo sorry for your families loss... and your poor parents.. to be gone while this was happening must make it even harder...
    (((hugs)))
    vivian

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  4. What a horrendous for you and your family, Erica! So, so sad!! Take care...

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  5. I am so sorry for your families loss...our puppies are so dear to our hearts aren't they? Praying for comfort for you from the One who created all that sweetness & love bundled up in fur & who blessed your family with that sweet doggy.
    Hugs....Patti M :(

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  6. Oh I am so sorry for you loss of your Billy...I am sending hugs and prayers for comfort for your family.

    Blessings

    Linda

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  7. Oh, Erica. I am crying right along with you, friend.

    What a sweet tribute to that little angel. I am so sorry that you had to go through that but it sounds to me that although his last few days were rough, they were just a little more bearable because of all of the love and compassion you and your sister showed him. I loved all of the photos and you are right, he did have beautiful feet:-)

    Hang in there. I will be thinking about you.

    Erica

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  8. oh that is one of the hardest things to live through. but you are so right, you have all those fabulous memories, and aren't you glad you have so many pictures? and yes, it is something you can recover from. sending you good thoughts and prayers.

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  9. Erica, I'm so sorry, it's very difficult. We just lost one of our chow mixes, I think I told you, but her sister still cries out for her at night. Our Princess was our "chicken" dog, but she had good reason. Ocean and Princess were our two "rescue" dogs and they were sisters. When we got them they were totally tick infested and we spent the next three weeks de-ticking them. That was over 12 years ago. Princess died of old age and breast cancer that was inoperable due to her advanced age. Princess and her sister were our outside dogs due to the hair factor and since no one wanted to brush them, they had to stay outside. We recently shaved Ocean and now she's inside with us as she's lost without her sister.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    God Bless,
    Meri

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  10. I'm so, so very sorry for the lose of your beloved Billy...I sure knows how it feels..take care!
    XO
    deb

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  11. Oh Erica,

    I am SO sorry....I could be facing this myself shortly....Maya has injured the surgery again....her injury also was from jumping up and down on things.....please know that I am sitting here with tears in my eyes...and your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Billy has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, and you will see him again! Healthy and happy to see you! What a loving tribute in such a terrible time....

    Love ya, Sandy

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  12. Oh Erica,
    I'm so sorry you lost your Billy. Our pets are like our children and it is so heartbreaking to lose one. I've been there too, and I know how it hurts. God bless you,
    hugs, Dorothy

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  13. So sorry for your loss Erica!! It's always so hard losing a pet, because they are like a family member. Thinking of you, so heartbreaking. Hugs, xo Holly

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  14. So sorry for the loss of your sweet Billy! Take care! xo Heather

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  15. I suppose I was emailing you last night while you were writing this.. I was hoping to get a positive email back about billy. I am so so so sorry and sad to read this this morning. My heart is heavy for you all. We love our animals so much and its so hard to say goodbye. Wishing you brighter days ahead.
    xx harriette

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  16. I am so sorry about your Sweet Billy. He was beautiful. He actually looks alot like my cousin's dog. It is so hard to loose a beloved pet. It really hurts.
    I have a Yorkie that has been having problems with one leg. The doctor said it is he knee cap slipping in and out of place. Then a few weeks ago both back legs kept collapsing. The vet thinks that it was from her favoring the one leg. She has been on steriods and today I scheduled her surgery. I have so many doubts that the surgery will fix the problem. She is only 8. She only weighs 10 pounds. So reading your story scares me even more. You have some beautiful pictures. He sure was a beautiful dog. So sorry.

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  17. I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet pup Billy. Our pets hold a special place in our hearts.

    Danielle

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  18. Always so hard to lose a beloved pet. You did the right thing for Billy.

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  19. Adorbs. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Billy before. I'm really sorry to hear about him. I will be thinking of you. Take care, Erica!

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  20. It sounds like he was a wonderful little doggie and it sounds like he had a really great life. I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope your heart heals quickly.

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  21. Erica,
    Please tell your parents how sorry I am for their lost and of course you and your sister too! It just hurts so bad when we have to let them go! Sending lots and lots of cyber hugs and prayers for all of you!
    Hugs,
    Lynn from life on the wienee ranch

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  22. I know how hard it is to put down a loved pet. My Sympathies to You and Your Parents.
    Chris

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  23. So sorry. What a beautiful dog he was!

    Laurie S.

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  24. Sending along a big hug to you & yours. It is so heartbreaking, I know. Much love to all as you take comfort in your memories of your little man. . . xox

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  25. Hugs to you Sweet Pea. Our pups really are an important part of our lives and families. See how much our Heavenly Father loves us when we see how much we love each other? Our pets, our families and the places they have in our hearts are full because we see how our capacity to love others is like the way God loves us. That's pretty amazing stuff. I'm glad the 'little people' came over to visit, they are just the right medicine to fill the gap for a little while.

    Love you,
    Tammy

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  26. Oh Erica, crying buckets over here! I'm so very sorry and heartbroken to hear about your beloved Billy. Our furry family members are our very dearest of companions and friends, they love us unconditionally and ask for so very little in return. Such a sweet tribute to your darling Billy.
    Sending you and your family lots and lots of hugs,
    Sally xo

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  27. Oh what a heartbreak, so sad for all of you.

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  28. Oh my gosh Erica, I am so sorry about Billy. We had to put down our little Yorkie, Dinky, a couple years ago. Losing a pet is such a sad, sad thing. I often worry about my other dog, my little Sophie. She is a shitzhu who is getting up there in years, and many times I have been tempted to put a mirror under her nose thinking she wasn't breathing. Silly, I know.
    I want to thank you so very much for your wonderful comment you left me. I'm so happy your mom was there to help you, and I KNOW you will take wonderful care of her when the time comes. I'm not surprised you or your mom are wonderful caring people, not one bit! Just from the little bit we get to know each other in blogland, I have met so many wonderful people like you! Thanks for the understanding and good wishes.
    Hugs,
    Julie

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  29. So sorry, it is heartbreaking I know...
    Hugs from Vermont
    Michele

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  30. I am just so sorry to hear this sad news. Billy was such a sweet little guy. Losing a pet is just so sad. I hope you find comfort in your memories. Bless you.

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  31. Billy was a beautiful boy and was so loved by you and your family. My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry.
    Leslie

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  32. Oh Erica, I'm so sorry about your sweet Billy. I've been there and no how much it hurts. Take care my friend.

    Sending (hugs), xo, Pam

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  33. Oh Erica, I am so sorry about your sweet dog...He really was cute :) I love that you put him in a chicken costume for halloween:) My heart goes out for you and your family.
    ((HUGS))

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  34. Heh my friend, I am so sorry to hear this news about your Billy. It's so hard to say good bye to those very dear pets. Hugs and more hugs.
    Have you moved yet?
    Love,
    Linda Lou

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  35. Aaaww, what a cutie he was! I'm so sorry about your loss- we've had our fair share of pets passing in the last couple years as well, so I know how much it hurts!

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  36. Hello Erica,

    Nice to meet you! I found you from Kim K's! I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved pet. I know how you feel, because we had to put a pet down also, because of a foot problem. So nice to have found you. Blessings to you and your family.

    Debbie

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  37. Hi Erica, I am also a new follower and my heart is so sad for you. We love our pets like children, don't we? They add so much to our lives with their own little personalities. Billie was a sweetie pie. I've been down this road too many times to count (big time animal lover) and I know the pain you feel. So sorry. xx

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