[nagdu] Belle

[Marion & Martin]

Joy,
    In May and December, Merry and I had to make this same decision for her 
guide dog, Sydney, and her pet dog, Joy. Sid had been declining for quite 
some time and had gone from 90 lbs. to about 40. It was so difficult to 
watch! Joy had a stroke, we think. She was very unsteady and would fall a 
lot. She had a vacant look in her eyes, like she didn't know where she was 
or what she was doing. It was very quick, so Merry often second guesses our 
decision! All this is to say that we appreciate your pain at this time of 
loss!

Peace!
Marion



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Belle


> Joy,
>
> Keeping that pact is absolutely heart rending, but it is the right thing 
> to
> do.  It is the final gift you can give a beloved friend and partner.  I
> still get all teared up when I remember the pets I have had to do that 
> for,
> but I can never regret that I did.
>
> Congratulations on your soon-to-be real time 2-year-old.  I always love
> hearing of people's adventures with a new partner as they learn each 
> other's
> ways and build a whole new guide dog team.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joy Relton
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 9:43 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Belle
>
> Annalisa,
>
> Thank you for your consideration of my feelings and for caring. No, it
> doesn't hurt as much, although I still get tears in my eyes when I think 
> of
> her. I miss her very much. But, to be honest, I get tears when I think or
> talk about any of my dogs. They all have a very special place in my heart
> which they earned.
>
> Belle was only eight-and-a-half years old. She had a liver disease which
> came on very quickly causing her to drop weight, stop eating and become 
> very
> listless. We gave her medication to help with the acidity in her stomach 
> but
> nothing else was warranted. I make a pack with each of my dogs that I will
> give them the most respect and the best care that I can for their life. I
> will not prolong their lives or do anything to give them pain for my sake
> and there just wasn't anything to be done. It's funny, I used to joke that
> she was eight going on two. Now, I'm going to be reminded in real time of
> what it's like to be with a two year old. I plan to return within the next
> two months but haven't been given that absolute confirmation. I'm already
> dreaming about meeting my new partner, but the gender and the breed 
> changes.
> This is good because I don't want to get my heart set on a particular 
> breed
> or gender. After all, it's not fare to the dog either. They stuck with me
> too.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of AnnaLisa Anderson
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:11 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Belle
>
>
> Hi Joy,
>
> I just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about Belle.  Did she have medical
> issues come up?  Pardon my asking, but I'm wondering because I thought she
> was still fairly young?  I don't mean to pry, if it's still too painful to
> talk about don't feel like you have to answer.
>
> Take care.
>
> AnnaLisa and Sundance
>
>
>
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