Pink Poogle Toy Forum

Hello dear SAM fans. I cannot THANK you enough for all the love and support and kind words you have all sent my way in the last week. It will be a week tomorrow since SAM went to doggie heaven and we all still miss him but are feeling a bit better. SAM's death was so sweet..we should all die in such a peaceful and loving way..I was literally holding him and repeatedly and gently saying "I love you, SAMMIE, I love you SAMMIE" as he floated away.

He began to seem very weak last week so on Wednesday I took him to his wonderful doctor,Dr. Cassaus at White's Pet Hospital. He immediately put him on an IV drip and tested his kidneys. (SAM had been on heart medication since May, and his doctor told me that eventually it would wear out his kidneys. There was no other choice though, as SAM would have drowned in his own fluid filled lungs within 24 hours without the heart medication.) The kidney test revealed that SAM's kidneys were indeed failing...BUT the doctor said that it was possibly due to an infection in the bladder that we could treat with antibiotics. SAM had no tumors and was weak but not in pain. He came home the first night but was to return to the IV drip for several more days. That first night back at home he was so much better! He ate a big dinner and pooped and peed and was cranky if you touched his feet. SAM was back! Off he went the next morning after a little breakfast..still had a good appetite. That second night however was not as promising...He ate dinner but he never pooped and to my horror, his pee had a pink caste to it...a sign of blood in the urine. I was convinced that he was getting better and thought it was the bladder infection poisons coming out...an optimistic doggie Mom. (SAM was like Lazarus and always seemed to bounce right back.) I remember waking up in the night and SAM was pressed up next to me..closer than he usually slept. I had a cute little lullaby I made up for him a long time ago about how handsome he was so I sang it for him in the night. I did not think it was my last night with my little bed partner.... Off he went the next morn to continue the IV drip and antibiotics...I didn't even have him say goodbye to Tator and the girls because I was so sure he would be back again that night.

About 11:30, the dreaded call came that SAM's heart had stopped pumping (it was just sort of barely vibrating or fibrillating) and that he was slipping away....horrified, I phoned Mark to meet me at the dog hospital and my neighbor, Tony drove me quickly there..I was afraid SAM might already be gone. When I went into the room and called his name, he NOT only lifted his head up on that precious, srawny old neck of his but STOOD UP! I was amazed and optrimistic once again.. I thought, "I can't put this guy down yet!" Moments later he felt like a weak sack of flour in my lap...he had just had a moment of strength from knowing I was there with him . The Dr. said his heart was failing and that any medication to stregthen it would cause his kidneys to fail. Up to this point, SAM had never been in pain and he was a BIG baby about pain so I asked if he was in pain. The doc said, well..he must feel just awful..like the worst achy flu you could ever imagine..the blood is heavy and pooling and it can only get worse.. That was it...I immediately steeled myself and in a daze, I signed the papers for euthanasia. Then I held my little, frail BEST pal and the shot was administed..WELL..that SAMMIE! He just didn't want to leave his Mommie.. They had to do a second shot! That SAM had such a will! Thank God Mark had arrived by this time to be there for me. He was very shook up and although he always joked that SAM was above him on the totem pole, he really loved him too...I was left alone in that little room with SAM's body and although I believe that doggie souls are with us and that SAM's memory would live on, I just couldn't get myself to leave that warty, freckled, blackhead infested, bald, hernia laden, warm little body... He had truly been my main focus and constant companion for so many years. When I took him in as a rescue I thought "Oh, I'll just have to take care of this old guy for a year or so." Little did I know I would fall in love and that he would give me so many wonderful years!

I've been following Sam's story for a few years now. He may have been an ugly dog, but he was loved by a lot of people. I'll miss hearing about him. His owner has been so incredibly devoted to him over the years, too.

I'll miss you, Sam.

Oh no Was my post not in a "family board" context?

Sorry, *puts on halo*

k seal dude.

k seal dude.