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born November 2002
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On this day five years ago, at around ten past seven in the evening, the life force that had bounced little Rover - Mr Onederful! - through life for almost fifteen years, left him.
We were both with him, talked to him, stroked him, and comforted him, and his big beautiful eyes were still looking up at us, as he took his last laboured breath.
Pets, it turns out, also have last wishes before they die, but they are only known by veterinarians who put old and sick animals to sleep. One veterinarian said without hesitation that it was the hardest for him to see how old or sick animals look for their owners before going to sleep.
Veterinarians ask owners to be with the animals until the end, but most owners don't want to be in a room with a dying animal without realising that it's in these last moments of life that their pet needs them most.
"It's inevitable that they die before you. Don't forget that you were the centre of their life. Maybe they were just a part of you. But they are also your family. No matter how hard it is, don't leave them. Don't let them die in a room with a person who's a complete stranger to them. It is very painful for veterinarians to see how pets cannot find their owner during the last minutes of their life. They don't understand why the owner left them. After all, they needed their owner's consolation."
Don't be a coward because it's too painful for you. Think about the pet. Endure your pain for their sake. Be with them until the very end.
We were with litte Rover until the very end. We placed him in his little sleeping box, covered him in his favourite jumper, and gave him a tearful burial minutes before midnight.
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Good-bye, my friend, and rest in peace. We will never ever forget you.
