Dog Days

This is not a dog blog

Thank you for all the emails and messages of support that I have received in the last few weeks, to all of you that took the time to contact me, your messages gave me so much comfort at a time when I have been really struggling. I can honestly say that the terrible grief I [...]

All over again

Monday ‘Where’s Brax?’ the cleaner asks brightly when she arrives. ‘Buried this morning,’ I reply glumly, tears pricking at my eyes. Sunday I clear away breakfast, watching Brax carefully. She and I have been up since three, seeking comfort in each other as she struggles to breathe. My parents are on their way home. I [...]

Onwards but not upwards

One month ago today my dog died. Today I got a call from the vet telling me that our surviving dog is showing signs of having the same disease that Brin died from. On Tuesday I will be taking her to the same referral vet in Bristol that called me with the devastating news about [...]

In which the grief is compounded

‘I know what you’re going through. Exactly what you’re going through,’ I say. ‘I can’t cope with losing her,’ he says. ‘Are you sure you have to put her down today? She seems so bright,’ I say through my tears. ‘I don’t know, I just don’t know.’ My father shakes his head. ‘Then let me [...]

Blame, sorrow and grief

I’m playing the blame game. For however much I miss my dog I know that there is an outside possibility that her early death may have been due in part to my negligence in getting her checked. Early last year she had a minor operation in which her blood results came back showing raised liver [...]

Massive dose of anaesthetic

The end, when it came, came quickly. Brin’s appetite waned after the surgery but she ate enough now and then to survive another day. Sometimes she would eat some bread, sometimes a bit of ham, other times I sat with her as she refused everything, clearly feeling too sick. Then a bit later she would [...]

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