Friday, February 4, 2011

We lost a valued, furry member of our family today.


Meet Twiggy. He was born February 14, 1998 when I was nine years old. He was my Uncle C's dog. He had big black eyes, a warm black nose, and he was extremely possessive of anybody who sat with him on the couch. He liked to rip the squeakers out of toys, liked to chase Choo Choo around my grandmother's house. He liked to play fetch with anything you could throw.

Two days ago, Twiggy was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and heart disease. Unfortunately, there is no treating Pancreatic Cancer in dogs. No surgery could save him, and there is no chemotherapy or radiation treatment available for dogs. It had spread into his head somehow and was giving him chronic nosebleeds. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't breath. Though it pained him, my Uncle C had to make the hardest decision of his life. He doesn't have children. His wife left him. Twiggy has been his best friend for almost thirteen years. Because he loves Twiggy so much, he decided to spare him further pain. He scheduled his final vet visit for one o'clock this afternoon. 

This morning it snowed. Twiggy has always loved snow. And today Uncle C and Twiggy played in the snow together for the last time, and then they took the long drive and Twiggy left us. His thirteenth birthday is in ten days. He's been a part of our family for so long that it's just as hard as losing someone. We all cried. We're all upset. 

And because he was such a good dog, a loyal dog, a protective dog to my sisters and myself as well as to everyone else, I thought that it would only be appropriate to give him a memorial with pictures borrowed from Uncle C. 

He has a hamburger on his head to the left. And the right . . . well, Twiggy liked to grin.

We were always putting clothes on him.


Twiggy liked to beg. And to get into places he didn't belong.

He hurt his paw. I can't remember how.
I always said he looked like a lion with that haircut. Look at his tail.


This stuffed monkey did not last long.
He was not very good at hide and seek.


Twiggy always was a swimmer. And he always liked to walk a lot.

Such a handsome little puppy with the heart of a lion.

Best friends forever.

Rest in peace, Twiggy Alan
February 14, 1998-February 4, 2011
Dear companion, trusted friend.
Really awesome foot warmer.

PS. While we've lost a valued member of our family today, my little sister Lydia (formerly known as Wheat) called to tell me she has added a new member. She rescued a puppy from the freezing snow three days ago, and decided to adopt her this morning because the Humane Society was going to put her down. Not enough space for her, apparently. Not that it eases Twiggy's passing, but it's certainly a happier note to end on. My niece dog's name is Nibbler. 

14 comments:

  1. i'm really sorry to hear that. when i lost my first dog i was just devastated. i remember i went outside and lay in the snow staring at the night sky and bawled my eyes out.

    on a happier note, i find you and your blog really interesting and i am now following you. (no stalker)

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  2. I know we don't know each other; I haven't been following you very long, but I cried when I read this. I'm so sorry to hear about your family's loss. Pets are such special creatures and I can tell just how much he was loved.

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  3. Arcita, thank you for sharing your loss. I don't understand how some people can lose a pet and NOT cry. And thanks for the follow.

    Hannah, I don't actually know anybody who I follow or who follows me. I think the blogging world is a different kind of community. I'm sorry I made you cry, but thank you for understanding.

    To both, I'm very glad my family isn't the only one in the world that considers our pets our family, and their deaths tragic losses.

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  4. I'm so sorry for your loss. Pets can really make themselves a part of the family, and seeing them suffer is always so heartbreaking. I admire your uncle's courage and humanity in putting that poor little creature out of his misery. Thanks for sharing.

    RIP Twiggy. :(

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  5. Oh honey. I can't tell you how much my heart breaks for you. I'm a dog person to the core. My parents had the most amazing dog prior to my birth and that dog was a nanny to me. We have had dogs since them...3 giant oafs now...and they become an invaluable part of your family bringing joy, laughter, shakes of the head, and love that knows no end. What a lovely way to say goodbye though. I'll send lots of hugs and warms thoughts towards you and your family.

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  6. Candice, thank you. Uncle C is having a hard time, but he'll appreciate your condolences. I e-mailed him the pictures I had of Twiggy from Christmas. I think I'm going to frame some of the best pictures over the years and give it to him.

    Jewels, it's always nice to find other animal lovers out there. Thanks for the hugs and thoughts, and give lots of love to your giant dogs from me and Choo Choo (who loves big dogs because she thinks she is one).

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  7. Undeniably, an adorable dog. I know how much it sucks when a pet dies. I'm lost more than my share.

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  8. Yes, he was adorable. It always takes you by surprise when you lose one, and we've lost pets before. My cat, a few dogs...a hedgehog and a chinchilla. (We love all animals. We believe in having a wide selection of furry family members.)

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  9. Oh no! Twiggy was one of the most adorable dogs I've ever seen and I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. Keep your chin up, darlin, and give Choo Choo an extra big squeeze tonight.

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  10. That really sucks, Chanel. My condolences. And that was a very nice memorial.

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  11. Nicki, he was cute, wasn't he? He always hammed it up for the camera. :) I've been carrying Choo Choo in my arms whenever I'm home since we lost Twiggy. And if she didn't bark to get people's attention, I'd take her to work with me, too, just to have that much more time with her.

    Doug, thank you on both counts.

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  12. This really hits home to me...we found out two months ago that our sweet dog Nellie (she is a 10 year old Beagle and is our daughter and baby in every way) has nasal cancer, which again, isn't treatable and very rare in dogs...she was given 2-3 months to live...2 months in, she is still as happy and playful as ever...she has nosebleeds too, but she doesn't seem to be in pain...we are just cherishing every day left with her... all i know is that these have been the 2 saddest months of my life...

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  13. That made me cry. I'm sorry that Nellie is sick, but I'm very glad that she's happy. It's always good to know that your pet is leaving you happy and loved. I hope she stays pain free, and maybe she'll hold on for another year. As long as she's not in pain, she'll want to stay with you.

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  14. Thank you so much, Chanel... I know she will fight this and be here to make us happy as long as she possibly can... I appreciate your kind words...

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