Thursday 19 July 2012

Urchin


I have very, very sad news.

Remember that we were saying that both hind legs were very weak?  He could stand and take one or two steps, no more, and had to be carried outside for his toilet.

We took him tuesday again to the vet and had finally more x-rays taken. His other leg is totally out of the joint, the ligament torn. The vet said that it is no use to put it again in place, it would go out right again.

Worse news was that the steel plate that they put in the broken leg, with screws and wire, had bent in a L shape and was no good. He wanted to operate on him again and put a heavier plate in. The injured leg would be shortened.

We spent a terrible tuesday evening, deliberating what to do. We read all what we could find on the web about hip dislocation by dogs. The usual treatment is to fixate the leg in a sling for several weeks till the torn ligaments have healed. If that doesn't help, than the head of the femur is removed surgically to relieve the pain.

Of course, that all supposing that the dog has an other healthy hind leg to walk on, but Urchin's other leg was badly shattered. The vet could of course not say if he would be ever pain free.

Ah, the way that animals warm a place in your heart!
We have had to put down other dogs, of course, with illnesses that couldn't be cured. But to have to do it with a young, otherwise healthy dog, it was really, really hard.

But in the end, that was what we decided, because a life with pain is no life.

This dog has brought about so much goodness in so many people, I hate that this love story has no happy ending, I hate it.

I am still glad, though, that he didn't die in terror on that road. I'm glad he was loved and pampered in his last days, I'm glad that he was clean and well fed. I'm glad that Estella was holding him and stroking him and talking to him till he peacefully went to sleep on his bed, in our house.

He is buried in a hill overlooking the sea. He will always be one of ours.

31 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for him! Hugs fo you!!! (((())))) He is in Dog's Heaven now!

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  2. So sad to hear this news. And I know how hard it is to make that decision, but it was the right one.

    He reminds me so much of my dog who I had to have put to sleep earlier this year. I'm still heart broken.

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  3. Hugs, girls...
    Kisses to Urchin!

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  4. It is so, so very sad. Wish you both strength, lovely stars...

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  5. I was keep following your blog just to hear that he is doing OK..So sad to hear he is gone but I bet he knew that he loved and cared a lot by two angels and that's makes him luckier than most dogs..

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  6. I am truly sorry for these news. It is just a relief to know that he experienced so much love and care from you in his short life... Big hugs!

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  7. farewell gorgeous soul,
    bisous to both of you :)

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  8. I'm crying... Farewell sweet Urchin, you will live forever in our hearts!

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  9. I am so choked up right now. He left knowing he was cared for by you sweet people. We rescued a Westie a few months back, and then I found out that a month or so after, the facility had shut down. I can't imagine what would have been of our dog. Urchin, you will be missed by us all.

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  10. I'm sad he is gone. I'm glad he spent his last days with you xox

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  11. My heart is filled with sadness. Thank you for loving him, Estella and Esther, you did well and everything that you could do. I´m not sure where his soul is at the moment but I´m sure he will be born again in a new body.

    I don´t want to be cruel, but I´m sure that the driver of that car will be quite something different in it´s next life... What goes around, comes around.

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  12. Oh my God, Esther and Estella, I'm crying as I read this... I'm so terribly sorry and it makes me so sad to hear these terribly sad news...
    Otherwise I'm glad at least this sweet, wonderful angel got to know human LOVE thank to two wonderful, loving souls. His "trip home" (that's how my Mom calls it...) was in love and peace, cuddled and loved. His thankful, happy eyes tell how much he finally felt loved. Poor sweet angel, I wish he had known love for all his short life...

    Run free on the Bridge, sweet Urchin!!!!

    God bless you, Esther and Estella. Thank you for all you did, for the love you gave Urchin and for going through this. Bless your hearts.

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  13. Bless your hearts - they must be so sad, you did all you could and when you could do no more, you did the kindest thing and gave poor urchin peace.

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  14. I am so sorry to hear this news, poor Urchin.You did the right and only thing.We all got to know Urchin and his life has touched us all.

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  15. He will always be remembered! I had a weakness for him. Kisses from me Urchin! Hope you are a little freckled angel!

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  16. You both did a great job - on rescuing him, on giving him the love he needed and now on letting him go. The best way is not always the easiest. Big hugs to you both.

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  17. This is so sad... I'm so sorry to read this but you are right - a life full of pain is terrible... *hugs*

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  18. this is a real love story.
    true love, from yoa and from him.
    and you did everything for this beautiful, happy and very lucky dog
    big hug!

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  19. I finally got myself to read your post. I hope he is running through the forever fields now, happy with his memories of his family. xxxxxx

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  20. How lucky he has been to be with you! He was a blessed dog, because of you!
    xoxoxo

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  21. So very, very sorry - such a sad end to your story. You were wonderful to him but in the end you made the a very decision, and Urchin will always be with you both {{{{{hugs}}}}} xxx

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  22. I'm so terribly sorry *hugs* to both of you

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  23. I just read the sad news :( Sorry that you had to go through this. But as you said, at least he spent his last days in a good way.

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  24. I am crying here; this is so sad. But you took the right decision. Can't say anything else as that you two are marvelous !! And that Urchin had some love in his life at the end.

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  25. oh poor baby! You did all you could for him, and you made him a happy loved Urchin for a little while.
    I wish the people who did this to him could be found and severely punished.

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  26. I am really shocked since I have read what happened to Urchin. It is terrible however I think you gave so much to this dog - few real happy weeks and lots of love. I sending you strength to recover fast.

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  27. Stars, I feel so sorry for poor Urchin... But you gave him so much love at the end of his life and he passed away feeling loved. Hugs to both of you and hopefully Urchin is now in the better place...

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  28. I decided to look up your dogs and this is what I found. So sad... I grew up in belief that everything is possible when you do your best; unfortunately, this is not quite right. Sometimes you go out of your ways and still do not succeed. But it does not mean you should not try.

    What you did for the dog is the true kindness. I mean - everything. Taking him home, washing, feeding, loving. And letting him go... I once had to put down a puppy (not mine); it was hard to do, but he suffered too much.

    I have read that you are from the Netherlands originally. My Mechelaar is from the Netherlands - from Hegelsom. His name is Arrack's Home Jager.

    And I am collecting info about dog loving handmade blogs here - http://mulberrywhisper.blogspot.de/2012/08/blog-dogs-dog-blogs-whatever.html - I would be delighted if you joined, and I would put all your dogs into the collage, with due references.

    Kind regards,
    Eugenie

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