It has been yet another whirlwind week for our family. It hasn't been easy at all.
On Easter Day, six days ago, we noticed a slight limp on our dog. She is an older dog, and so I thought to myself, "She is showing her age. We should probably start looking at arthritis meds." I took her to the vet Monday afternoon and left her there so they could anesthetize her and take comprehensive xrays of her hips. My husband picked her up later and got the diagnosis that truly none of us expected. She has bone cancer in her hips and it's a progressive kind. I had him bring her home so the kids could have some time with her.
And it's been a hard week of saying goodbyes. Enjoying her. Crying. The kids have definitely grieved in their own way, and always at what seems like strange times to me. But I understand that deep down inside grieving is incredibly personal and intimate.
So last night, as a family we took our final heart-wrenching trip to the vet. Incredibly, she has responded to pain meds all week and of course was bubbly and jumpy when we got there. I hate it when pets don't seem sick but you know they are--and you have to sign that piece of paper.
So I am working on a photo album of our most wonderful dog. She has been a faithful companion, couch potato, cat toy, protector, and slobberer for five of her eleven years in our home. We are honored to have been able to walk with her in her golden years.
As I took the picture I just posted with her leash and collar I had the most strange thought process. It's all factual, and trust me, I know someone will get offended, but at this point in my process I don't care.
For some odd reason it reminded me of slavery. We have all seen pictures of the leashes, collars and shackles that slaves endured. We have all heard the stories of how slaves were documented and considered property just like pets and livestock. We all know there were good and bad slave owners just like there are good and bad dog owners. Did slave owners grieve when their "livestock" died? Did they grieve like their slaves were people or their slaves were livestock? I try to put myself into the shoes of slave proponents and I can't do it. Maybe it's because of my kids but I don't think so. I can't make myself think of someone as a pet when they can talk, follow orders, work, think, reason, etc. I can't do it.
I still miss my dog tremendously and we will move on. I would be suicidal if one of my kids were to perish.
No comments:
Post a Comment