Poor Bookie. He just had his 14th birthday and isn't doing so well. See how he lists to the side? That is permanent. I wonder if he's had a stroke? We've bought him a space heater and the guy rarely leaves his pillow by the warm air now. He is only sitting on the couch to please me, and desperately wants to get back to his pillow.
Its so sad to see our pets age. To me, he'll always be a baby, but actually, he's a little old man. And smells pretty bad too. Sometimes I have to poke him two or three times to see if he is still alive, and I am dreading the day when the pokes don't get him to move. On the other hand, I will be relieved to think of him falling asleep on his favorite pillow by the space heater and drifting off to comfort. I can tell he is just not been himself for yeas, but lately, it seems much worse.
I've gotten used to Bookie hiding away, apart from the family and have let him go his own way. But opening up the boxes of hand painted ornaments from years past and seeing his happy little face, in a younger, happier time made me realize just how much he had changed.
You know, this isn't the post I started to write, it was going to be photos of my holidayed up living room. But I think I'll save that one for another day, and go hold my little stinky guy for a bit and tell him I'll always love him while I still can.
Its so hard when they get old. Our lab is 11 and this past week she fell going up the stairs twice. She now won’t even try and it just breaks my heart to see her age. I try to soak up every moment I can………my thought are w/ you
Hold your stinky little guy all you can, while you can. Just this afternoon we had to put our Kitty to sleep. It is a very sad house tonight.
Oh so sory Pam — and Karla — I can so relate — my little guy a Poo -tzu –is 13 — still somewhat frisky -when we come home –even if gone an hour — but losing his hearing — and mostly sleeps — It will be so hard — we lost his companion two years ago — I sometimes just watch to see if he is breathing –kathy – ga ♥
I do get it, Karla. We put our stinky Chryssie down at age 22 a year ago. Poor thing. We probably should have done that before then but she just kept on eating! She had fudge sauce as she was going and was so happy. I help her the whole time.
Now I am getting pretty morbid! It is so hard…She was here when Katie was in kindergarten and Katie had her senior picture taken with her. A really smart dog who loved to eat and was always trying to get into the chocolate.
She had only a few teeth left but could still chew really well. I sure miss her. Now we have Harvey the Rescue Dog and Sweet Little Sophie and I love them but one doesn’t replace another for me.
oh Karla, what a sad post but what a lucky little guy to have you as his Mummy! They are just like our babies….. Rachaelxo
Awwwww Bookie…. I had a little cry reading your post. It’s so hard becoming so attached and knowing they are going go leave us one day. Bookie was quiet when I was there last year too. I just want to pick him up and cuddle him! xo
poor little Bookie! I know what you mean about our little stinky pets……I got a sweet little poodle Gypsy when I was in the 2nd grade….I STILL had her when I met my husband 12 years later….she was quite smelly and crippled but I loved her just the same. I had a little song I made up in my head about her “Queen of the Gypsies” and I still hum it from time to time! OK enough WEIRDNESS from me for one day!
Enjoy your time left with Bookie…….kiss him, hug him and tell him how special he is!
(sniff!)
Karla,
Hug and love on him while you can. Several years ago, about the same thing happened to our beloved 14 year old Pomeranian, Sherman. We all hugged and loved on him making him as comfortable as possible. Several weeks later he drifted away in his sleep. We still miss him…
Tears streaming down….
Oh, we love our pets so. We just lost our sweet Holly in September and we do so miss her. I can remember when we used to call her Hurricane Holly as she was such a busy little girl. She was cripplled up from a back injury and for several months we had to help balance her to do her big job. But, she was still interested in eating up till the very end.
Hug and love your precious Bookie while you can and add some extra kisses from me.
Sandy
Oh, Karla, making me cry too. I remember Bookie sitting beside me letting me pet him when I was there last August visiting. Keep him comfortable and happy. Deb.
Hi Karla
Been so busy with life and school!Finishing a degree at 50 isn’t terribly easy! LOL One of the hardest things I can imagine is when our loving pets ages, I completely understand. How precious to give your fairy baby her pink tree, only such a sweetie like you would do so! Have a wonderful holiday season with great times and memories! Lori
Karla….poor Bookie…poor you ..Its so hard when anything is getting ready to leave the earth…we all.. animal people.. can relate…I sure do hate the smelly part though….take care…Lorraine
I am crying right now 🙁 I just adore Bookie!! He has a place in my heart since your last post and I have often thought of him, wondering how he is. Poor baby 🙁 Such a beautiful ornament you painted of him Karla! That will be so special in the years to come. I love you Bookie!!
Hugs,
Amy
Oh Karla, this made me cry. Poor little Bookie. Love on him lots! I’m going to go hug my little Gigi girl now!
Hugs,
Dena
It is tough. We lost our 14 year old maltese, Chopin, this summer and believe it or not, I was so thankful when he finally died. It is much easier to let them slip away at home than to take them to the vet for the inevitable. We were closing in on that decision, but he made it himself.
While I was sad to see the guy leave our lives, I was grateful that his pain was over and he was in a much better place. Chopin was getting stinky, too. 🙂 Just like little old men! HA!
Much love to you during this trial. It’s never easy.
Hope you’re snuggling with Bookie. They are such a part of our lives. The only thing I’ve ever heard about losing a pet that made me feel a little better is that even though we don’t get to spend our whole life with one pet, they get to spend their whole life with us. And like everybody else – gotta go hug my pets now.
Poor Bookie. He is sooo sweet. I love Yorkies. My parents have had two Yorkies and my Chloe is a Yorkiepoo. She’s my sweetie.
I had to put my Annabelle down a couple of years ago and it was so hard! I still miss her so much even though I now have Chloe.
Have a great day loving on your Bookie. We sure love our pets!
Blessings,
Christine
Karla, I’m going to cry while I write if that’s okay. I have my two beloved Yorkies and my two cats, and I feel the same way. They are my children after I had children, and like everyone else I have lost pets along the way. And it so HARD! The way that poor baby lists to the side just broke my heart. I love the ornament! Did you make it? Cuddle that baby close.
Brenda
Sweet shy little Bookie- he’s a good boy. I’m glad he’s got a soft pillow, a nice warm fire and the teeth he has left are clean.
Poor little guy! He looks so sweet. Our little pets are so precious. Enjoy him all you can.
Merry Christmas to you & your family!
Hugs, Sherry
Awwwww! I am crying. I had my little puppy for 18 years and she has been gone for almost two years. It never gets any easier! I so miss her!
Poor sweet little guy… he was such a quiet little dog when I met him but all of your dogs are just so sweet. Just imagine that when it is his time… he will be running and playing again.
xo Heather
Poor little guy and poor you too. Years ago we lost our family pet a sweet girly beagle she was my hairy baby I lost her on Boxing Day, not a vet to be found to take her out of her misery,I will always love her I miss her too.In my mind I can feel her silky ears and see her big brown eyes looking at me with love.Karla he trusts you to do whats right for him.It wont be easy.
Take care
Diane
Karla: So sad for you and little guy. We have an 8 yr. old Lhasa Apso and I don’t know what I’m going to do when he gets old. They truly become our babies. Please enjoy him as much as you can in these last days/months. My heart goes out to you.
Joyce
Fur Children Find a spot in our hearts,that spot is full of joyful Memories,sprinkled with loss and pain
My two beloved Westies are “middle-aged” now, and I dread the thought of them declining, losing their spunk and zest for life. I know you will keep your little Bookie comfortable so he can enjoy one more Christmas with your family…..
I know, I miss my Betsie so much these days. I hope he drifts off to heaven just like you said…
Karla, I know how hard it is. I know I love my Cody more every day. Older pets remind us how important it is to love each other more with every passing day.
Hi Karla: Last year we put Elvis to sleep. That was our pet Cocker. It was so hard, I cried for days. So sorry, Martha
Karla, what a sweet post…and sad too…poor little Bookie…it’s hard to see your pet grow old…i wish they aged in people years…you haven’t known stinky til you have had a whiff of mr madison’s breath…P…U…!!!
oh, this breaks my heart Karla. Poor little old man. He’s a cutie pie for sure. I feel your pain since it wasn’t long ago our cat Phoebe started acting strange and we realized it was her way of telling us….
Make sure to snuggle lots and get plenty of pictures and dog breath kisses! LOL
Hugs, my friend,
Andrea
Awwww…bless his heart. We can only hope someone loves us that much when we get old and lean to one side (and maybe smell not so great too).
Susan G
Oh gracious I hope I can see thru the tears to type. Please give Bookie extra hugs from me and a big one for yourself as well. These tiny creatures aren’t pets, they are full fledged family. Hold him near while you can for too quickly all you have is the memories in your heart to cherish.
I know. Hugs.
Its hard seeing a member of the family get old. Cherish the memories and hold them in your heart forever. Hugs
Dear Karla,
We, too are watching our beloved 16 year old poodle Precious change into a senior. She is toothless and blind but she still gets around ok. Precious has been through everything with us, good and bad, so I feel like she is our most loyal companion. Since she lost her sight last year, she has totally changed but we do our best to make her life comfortable. I know how you feel about not wanting your pet to go through all that old age brings but you are right, enjoy the time you have left with them.
May Bookie always be warmed by your love from the inside as much as the heater comforts him from without.