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Rita

This is a sad post but I feel like many of you have followed us on the journey with Rita and I wanted to share this.

A couple of weeks ago, she started walking in circles . . for 15 or 20 minutes, almost spinning in circles. I would hold her and think maybe she had gotten herself dizzy and just didn’t know how to “fix” it. She’s never liked to be held and within a couple of minutes, if that long, of me holding her, she was hyperventilating. She gets so worked up when we hold her. She didn’t seem to mind if she would come and sit next to us on the sofa but it’s been a long time .. probably a year or so before we left Texas, that she would jump on the sofa. So, when she would get so nerved up about being held, I would put her back in her little area, which is about a 10′ x 10′ space and Oscar and Cooper can’t get in there and scare her.

I googled about dogs spinning and most of what I read said it was probably a neurological issue. We just had her at the vet a couple of weeks ago for all her shots and they didn’t seem too worried about her spinning.

Over this past weekend, when we would take her out, she wouldn’t walk. She would do her business right where we sat her down but even with me offering her a treat, she would not take a step. She has been walking a bit in her inside area and she doesn’t always do the spinning routine but she does it several times a day.

Then last night, she couldn’t stand up. When Vince took her out, he said she wouldn’t stand up when he put her down, then when he brought her inside, she kept falling over. This morning, she seemed to be having seizures so we called the vet when they opened and they said to bring her in. We did and together, decided, it was time to do . . the words I can’t even write.

Rita had a hard life. Whatever happened to her before we got her apparently caused her to not trust people and not want to be close to people. I did have a vet tech in Texas tell me that she had a puppy that she knew had never been mistreated and she had that same stand offish personality that Rita had. That always gave me hope that maybe she had not been mistreated and that was just her personality.

I have never had to be a part of this end of life procedure and I hope I never have to do it again. But, with having pets, that’s part of it.

We will always remember Rita and, in her own way, even though she didn’t want to be loved and snuggled, I hope she knew that we loved her and protected her as best we could.

This picture was taken not long after we found her in October, 2014 so we had her close to 10 years. The vet then guessed that she was 3 – 5 years old.

We brought her home and buried her here. We’re going to go buy a plant to put over her grave. I’m probably not going to read comments for a few days because I don’t want to spend the entire day crying but thanks for all your good thoughts.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. My heart goes out to you and Vince. We have had to let go of several dogs and cats and it hurts like he… I do know she is in peace and no pain and she knew you loved her very much. Our pets have been cremated and are in pretty little boxes. We have given our youngest son instructions that their remains are to be buried with us.
    Again my sincere condolences on your loss of Rita.

  3. Judy so sorry for your loss of Rita, but I tell you, that you and Vince gave her the best life she could have asked for. You took such good care of her. I remember when she came in to your life. She has had the best care a dog could ask for. Think of the fun times you had. She isn’t hurting any longer and she can see all the pretties, Take care.

  6. Dear Judy & Vince, bless you both. You gave wee Rita a loving home and the very best of care. I am so sorry that you had to make such a tough decision, sometimes it is part of loving our pets. I am positive that Rita knew she was loved and cared for. My sympathies to you both.

  7. You gave her a much better and longer life than she ever would have had without you saving her. Nuff said.

  9. I’m so sorry for your loss! She definitely had a good life with you and Vince, and I know you will both miss her and all her quirks.

  10. Sorry about your loss… You could plant a rosemary since “rosemary is for remembrance”.

  11. My heart goes out to you…having to do that is one of the hardest thing to do….

  12. Hugs to you both. I remember when Rita showed up and everything she had to go through. You did everything for her. She loved you both in her own way.

  13. I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing a cherished pet is hard and especially hard when you’re there and have to make the decision. You definitely did your best to take care of her for all the time you had her and I think she had to know you were her safe place.

  14. I know how much you and Vince loved Rita. I was afraid it was getting close to the end for her. But just think, she is with Speck now and they are running and playing. She is not in pain and she can just be a puppy now. You know how I am and right now I have this huge knot in my stomach as I am praying for peace for you and Vince. It is very hard but you did so much for her and you really didn’t have to. She was loved and cared for and I think she knew that and appreciated all you did for her. Take care.

  15. I’m so very sorry to hear about Rita, she had the best home. Letting go is always hard, I know from experience. You will see her again some day, and she will be her standoffish self and happy to see you! Love to you and Vince.

  17. I’m so sorry about Rita. Be comforted by the thought that you gave her a good long life. I’ve had to have a couple of end of life decisions for much loved pets. It’s never easy.

    • I am sorry for your and Vince’s loss. You both gave her a wonderful life. This is the hardest thing about pet ownership. I believe that you will see her again when our father calls us home.

  19. I’m so sorry!! My little Lucy passed last week, she was 16. She came to me as a rescue when she was about 2. I did everything to help her have the best life possible.

  20. So very, very sorry…..sending lots of prayers for you and Vince.

  21. …I am so so sad for you and Vince. I am crying like a baby right now. Love to you both

  22. I have been following you now foe a long time and I remembers when Rita came to stay. You were wonderful with her and you both gave her best life. Thank you for taking care of her and making that hard decision. You both are the best.

  23. I’m so sorry Judy and Vince. I know, from reading your posts, that you and Vince gave her a wonderful life and she was loved, very much so.

  24. I remember when Vince caught Rita. You both gave her a good life and she lived much longer than she would have survived on her own. I am so sorry for your loss. It is the hardest part of having pets.

  25. My heart breaks for you. Our shared pain is acute. Hugs and prayers during this time.

  26. So sorry to hear about Rita. I do remember when she came to you and Vince and know that she was given a wonderful life with the two of you. I have my three Labs out in our garden and it is nice knowing they are there. Take care.

  27. I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but I know you will remember Rita well.

  28. So sorry to hear about Rita. Losing a pet is one of the hardest things in life.

  30. So sorry to hear about Rita. You gave her such a wonderful life. I am thinking of you both.

  31. So sorry for your loss. We love them so much, saying goodbye is hard. She knew she was loved.
    Diane K.

  32. Judy, I am so sorry! I am sure Rita knew you loved her. Prayers for you and Vince!
    Much love!

  33. I’m so sorry, you made a wonderful home for Rita and took very good care of her. Bless you and Vince for caring so much for a little creature that wandered into your lives and hearts.

  34. I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is as hard as losing a family member. I’ve been reading your blog for many many years and I’ve been with you for your journey with Rita. Lots of love to you and Vince.

  35. I’m so sorry this happened. It’s difficult being a responsible pet owner. It’s amazing how quickly they become family members. Thank you for loving her and taking care of her!

  36. I llost my little Bailey last month. She quit eating and drinking. Took her to the vet as she had also been on heart meds. Was told she was not responding. They gave her a shot and i was kind of force feeding her liquids 2 oz every 2 hrs. But she didn’t make it and died in my arms about 430 the next morning. I adopted her to be a friend for Ducky but she was so much more than that –she mothered every animal that came through my home-the new babies that didn’t have much of a chance, the little mom who barely made it through a septic situation, the short term fosters..she loved them all. I miss her so much! I love you guys and am praying for you. g

    • I’m so sorry, Georgia. I know how you love your babies too. Don’t they all have the funniest personalities. I felt like Oscar was so independent but if he loses sight of Cooper, he’s in a panic.

  37. So very sorry ma’am! I lost my little bailey recently so know how much it hurts. Love and prayers to you both!

  38. You and Vince gave Rita the best life possible. Her passing is sad but you also have great memories of her too. So sorry for your loss.

  39. I am sorry for your loss of Rita. You gave Rita a wonderful life and I know she knew how much you loved her. It is hard to lose a pet but you have many good and funny memories of her.

  40. So sorry to hear this. It’s terrible to lose a treasured pet. You gave her a wonderful life.

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