We think Prissy is dying. ....
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
Oh no, Skeptic and Cheryl, I am so sorry to hear this. Bless you both for loving her so much. Prissy knew that....rest in peace, sweet girl....
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
I am so very sorry for your loss, Cheryl and Skeptic. No matter how calm and painfree death is for the pet, no matter how many other pets we have, the loss hurts we humans terribly.
I came online this morning to post that the very old (I think she's over 15) large Aussie mix Medb ("Mave") is failing - I am standing by to do what I can for my Austin family, especially for Nan, who says her heart is breaking... So for all of us, on this forum and elsewhere, in the hope it will be of some comfort, here is the verse printed on a certificate I received...
"After Death" by Edwin Arnold
I came online this morning to post that the very old (I think she's over 15) large Aussie mix Medb ("Mave") is failing - I am standing by to do what I can for my Austin family, especially for Nan, who says her heart is breaking... So for all of us, on this forum and elsewhere, in the hope it will be of some comfort, here is the verse printed on a certificate I received...
"After Death" by Edwin Arnold
Farewell, Master, yet not farewell,
Where I go, ye, too, shall dwell.
I am gone before your face,
A moment's time, a little space.
When ye come where I have stepped,
Ye will wonder why ye wept.
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
Dot, please tell Nan that we are thinking of her, as well.
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
Skeptic,
I'm so sorry.....
Lisa
I'm so sorry.....
Lisa
Lisa, Angel Smokey and little Caz
-
TheSkeptic
- Posts: 1703
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 8:56 am
- Location: LaPlace LA
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
This has been so hard to write. Poor Prissy sounds so bad in most of what I have written that most people would ask why grieve over such a dog? they would say , "I would have gotten rid of her long ago." Prissy was not the type of dog most are used to. She was never one to jump on a person looking for love. Even as a puppy she would not cuddle in a lap or lay a head in your lap while sitting on the sofa. I cannot remember the last time she gave any of us doggy sugars. Affection to Prissy was having a ball thrown for her to chase and catch. Love was a ride in a car to an open field where she could romp, sniff new smells and chase butterflies. Contentment was sleeping at the foot of the bed under the covers. Happiness was fried chicken, with the skin and bones if she could get them.
She was not totally unsociable. She played with the other dogs until arthritis ate her up. I still remember when we first saw her at the vet. We were at the vet's to pick up Bear's body to bring to the crematorium, Prissy was in a pen in the reception area with her two sisters and three brothers, born on June 30, 1994. Even then her different attitude showed. While the others crowded forward for attention, she sat back and observed quietly, coming up to us only when she decided we were OK. We were telling the vet how Tippy was tearing the house apart since Bear died. She suggested we take the puppies home and see which one Tippy got along with, under the idea that the puppy would provide Tippy with company and distract her from her grief over Bear. We took the three female puppies home with us, with the plan of keeping all of them if they worked out. One, with a white heart on her chest we called Queenie, another solid black one I called Trouble and the third with a white ring around her nose we called Prissy. The three puppies played well together, but Tippy could not tolerate Queenie and Trouble who jumped all over her and tried to get her to play, and she would drive them back, snarling and snapping. It was quite clear that Queenie and Trouble could not stay in the same house as Tippy. Prissy on the other hand would sniff at Tippy and curl up next to her, but did not jump on her or try to get her to play. Tippy was not totally happy with this, but at least she didn't snarl and snap at Prissy and the company had stopped her depredations on the walls and carpet. Sadly, we brought Queenie and Trouble back to the vet's office. We were a two dog family again, we had no idea that this would change again in less than a year.
Prissy settled in well, but it was obvious she missed her siblings and puppy play. During the day, our neighbor would "puppy sit" Prissy, who played with her dog Pepper. A younger dog than Tippy and one more suitable for puppy play. The two dogs would run through her house and got into all sorts of doggy mischief together. The one incident that stands out most in my mind was the time Prissy broke her kitchen table. The table was made by her grandfather and has great sentimental value to her, but it was not a very sturdy table. One day she placed a bowl of fresh homemade biscuits on the table. Prissy took a running jump onto the table, which then cracked and sagged in the middle. Prissy and Pepper made off with the biscuits and had a royal feast. I repaired her table, putting in needed bracing so that it is now stronger and better than before, but without changing the appearance or construction methods. I found the same age and type wood to make the additions and used nails of the same period also. The only new item was the wood glue I used.
One neighbor called Prissy "Psycho Dog." When she came over Prissy was fine, but if she put on her sunglasses the hackles raised and the teeth were bared and Prissy would start walking stiff legged toward her. If she removed the glasses, Prissy immediately subsided.
On her vet visit when she was a year old, Prissy almost bit the vet. She became very protective of Cheryl, and no one she did not know could approach Cheryl if Prissy was there. I alone ended up having to take Prissy to the vet for the first 4 years of her life. Prissy was our supreme watchdog. She did not bark until someone was actually coming up the walk to the house, but when she did, she sounded as if she meant business. I think she did mean business, even though she never bit anyone. Her bark was vicious enough to turn away many pamphlet pushers before they reached the door.
Prissy accepted the addition of other dogs well, but she was the Alpha female from the start and never lost that position until the day she died. Ginger was the first addition. She came to us a sick little ball of fur when Prissy was just 6 months old. After, Ginger recovered and could play, they became strange partners. Ginger was the only serious challenger to Prissy while she lived, but it is Ginger among the dogs who I think grieves the most for Prissy. When riding in the car, Tippy was quiet in the back seat; Prissy would sit on the hump with her front legs on the center console and look out the window to where we were going. Ginger was a 30 lb ball of fur bouncing around the inside of the car like a wild soccer ball, as she tried to see and bark at everything.
Eight months later, Prissy had to adjust to another addition to the pack, Mr. Dawg. Mr. Dawg and Prissy got along very well. We now had four dogs, and that was it we said. No more dogs. It stayed four dogs until after Tippy died. Sheba came into the house a few months after Tippy's death. Sheba was old and gentle and no threat to Prissy's position. Still we were at four dogs and the "No more Dogs" rule was still in effect.
In 1999 Sheba died and a crisis occurred at the local shelter. The parish was kicking out the people running the shelter and was closing it until they found someone else to run it. That meant all the dogs at the shelter would be put down. An appeal went out for people to foster the dogs so that they could be saved. During this time Prissy maintained her position as Alpha female and did the best she could to maintain order and peace in the rapidly changing pack. She finally had a super friend, in Freckles. In my opinion, Freckles was the one dog that Prissy really liked. Shortly after Freckles arrived, they had their dominance determination and it was the strangest I have ever seen. They sat nose to nose, each put her right paw on the other dog's shoulder than they snarled and growled in each other's face for a few minutes. They stopped, the paws went down and they walked side by side into the living room and lay down together. At the end of 2001 there were 15 dogs in the house. At this time we had Prissy, Ginger, Apache, Freckles, Kaiser, Coco, Dottie, Inky, Prince, Mr. Dawg, Bernie, Sweet Pea, Ivory, Ebony and Pea Pod. Prissy's companion did not last long. Freckles died in 2003 and Kaiser died six months later in 2004. Now Prissy is gone.
I cannot convey the loss. Prissy seems so distant and cold in these descriptions. She does not seem to be a friendly and loving dog, but she was loving in her own way. How can I show you how she gave happiness back when chasing balls and riding in a car or running in a field? It has been a while since I saw her looking at me attentively as I prepared to throw the ball, but it seems like yesterday and I only wish I had thrown it for her more often. Her joy when she caught the ball was supreme. It has been a while since I drove with her alone in the car sitting on the hump with her front legs on the console. The last few times in the car, she lay on the back seat quietly. It has been even longer since she ran in a field looking back occasionally to see where I was, but happy and free. I can see her in my minds eye. She stands looking at me, young and healthy in a vast field of tall grass. Then she turns and bounds away out of sight chasing some elusive object I cannot see. I let her go, knowing that there is nothing there that will harm her. If there is an afterlife, then she joins the others who have gone before, I know she is running with Bear, Tippy, Sheba, Freckles, Kaiser, Venus, Snowball, Cherie and many more. Young again, strong again, healthy again and happy to be free.
She was not totally unsociable. She played with the other dogs until arthritis ate her up. I still remember when we first saw her at the vet. We were at the vet's to pick up Bear's body to bring to the crematorium, Prissy was in a pen in the reception area with her two sisters and three brothers, born on June 30, 1994. Even then her different attitude showed. While the others crowded forward for attention, she sat back and observed quietly, coming up to us only when she decided we were OK. We were telling the vet how Tippy was tearing the house apart since Bear died. She suggested we take the puppies home and see which one Tippy got along with, under the idea that the puppy would provide Tippy with company and distract her from her grief over Bear. We took the three female puppies home with us, with the plan of keeping all of them if they worked out. One, with a white heart on her chest we called Queenie, another solid black one I called Trouble and the third with a white ring around her nose we called Prissy. The three puppies played well together, but Tippy could not tolerate Queenie and Trouble who jumped all over her and tried to get her to play, and she would drive them back, snarling and snapping. It was quite clear that Queenie and Trouble could not stay in the same house as Tippy. Prissy on the other hand would sniff at Tippy and curl up next to her, but did not jump on her or try to get her to play. Tippy was not totally happy with this, but at least she didn't snarl and snap at Prissy and the company had stopped her depredations on the walls and carpet. Sadly, we brought Queenie and Trouble back to the vet's office. We were a two dog family again, we had no idea that this would change again in less than a year.
Prissy settled in well, but it was obvious she missed her siblings and puppy play. During the day, our neighbor would "puppy sit" Prissy, who played with her dog Pepper. A younger dog than Tippy and one more suitable for puppy play. The two dogs would run through her house and got into all sorts of doggy mischief together. The one incident that stands out most in my mind was the time Prissy broke her kitchen table. The table was made by her grandfather and has great sentimental value to her, but it was not a very sturdy table. One day she placed a bowl of fresh homemade biscuits on the table. Prissy took a running jump onto the table, which then cracked and sagged in the middle. Prissy and Pepper made off with the biscuits and had a royal feast. I repaired her table, putting in needed bracing so that it is now stronger and better than before, but without changing the appearance or construction methods. I found the same age and type wood to make the additions and used nails of the same period also. The only new item was the wood glue I used.
One neighbor called Prissy "Psycho Dog." When she came over Prissy was fine, but if she put on her sunglasses the hackles raised and the teeth were bared and Prissy would start walking stiff legged toward her. If she removed the glasses, Prissy immediately subsided.
On her vet visit when she was a year old, Prissy almost bit the vet. She became very protective of Cheryl, and no one she did not know could approach Cheryl if Prissy was there. I alone ended up having to take Prissy to the vet for the first 4 years of her life. Prissy was our supreme watchdog. She did not bark until someone was actually coming up the walk to the house, but when she did, she sounded as if she meant business. I think she did mean business, even though she never bit anyone. Her bark was vicious enough to turn away many pamphlet pushers before they reached the door.
Prissy accepted the addition of other dogs well, but she was the Alpha female from the start and never lost that position until the day she died. Ginger was the first addition. She came to us a sick little ball of fur when Prissy was just 6 months old. After, Ginger recovered and could play, they became strange partners. Ginger was the only serious challenger to Prissy while she lived, but it is Ginger among the dogs who I think grieves the most for Prissy. When riding in the car, Tippy was quiet in the back seat; Prissy would sit on the hump with her front legs on the center console and look out the window to where we were going. Ginger was a 30 lb ball of fur bouncing around the inside of the car like a wild soccer ball, as she tried to see and bark at everything.
Eight months later, Prissy had to adjust to another addition to the pack, Mr. Dawg. Mr. Dawg and Prissy got along very well. We now had four dogs, and that was it we said. No more dogs. It stayed four dogs until after Tippy died. Sheba came into the house a few months after Tippy's death. Sheba was old and gentle and no threat to Prissy's position. Still we were at four dogs and the "No more Dogs" rule was still in effect.
In 1999 Sheba died and a crisis occurred at the local shelter. The parish was kicking out the people running the shelter and was closing it until they found someone else to run it. That meant all the dogs at the shelter would be put down. An appeal went out for people to foster the dogs so that they could be saved. During this time Prissy maintained her position as Alpha female and did the best she could to maintain order and peace in the rapidly changing pack. She finally had a super friend, in Freckles. In my opinion, Freckles was the one dog that Prissy really liked. Shortly after Freckles arrived, they had their dominance determination and it was the strangest I have ever seen. They sat nose to nose, each put her right paw on the other dog's shoulder than they snarled and growled in each other's face for a few minutes. They stopped, the paws went down and they walked side by side into the living room and lay down together. At the end of 2001 there were 15 dogs in the house. At this time we had Prissy, Ginger, Apache, Freckles, Kaiser, Coco, Dottie, Inky, Prince, Mr. Dawg, Bernie, Sweet Pea, Ivory, Ebony and Pea Pod. Prissy's companion did not last long. Freckles died in 2003 and Kaiser died six months later in 2004. Now Prissy is gone.
I cannot convey the loss. Prissy seems so distant and cold in these descriptions. She does not seem to be a friendly and loving dog, but she was loving in her own way. How can I show you how she gave happiness back when chasing balls and riding in a car or running in a field? It has been a while since I saw her looking at me attentively as I prepared to throw the ball, but it seems like yesterday and I only wish I had thrown it for her more often. Her joy when she caught the ball was supreme. It has been a while since I drove with her alone in the car sitting on the hump with her front legs on the console. The last few times in the car, she lay on the back seat quietly. It has been even longer since she ran in a field looking back occasionally to see where I was, but happy and free. I can see her in my minds eye. She stands looking at me, young and healthy in a vast field of tall grass. Then she turns and bounds away out of sight chasing some elusive object I cannot see. I let her go, knowing that there is nothing there that will harm her. If there is an afterlife, then she joins the others who have gone before, I know she is running with Bear, Tippy, Sheba, Freckles, Kaiser, Venus, Snowball, Cherie and many more. Young again, strong again, healthy again and happy to be free.
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
What a beautiful and touching memorial story for Prissy...I think she was a wonderful dog and you portrayed her as such...
I know this was not wasy for you to write...but I want to thank you for doing so...
I know this was not wasy for you to write...but I want to thank you for doing so...
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
A touching tribute to Prissy. It's easy to see she had a special place in your heart, and forever will. My thoughts go out to you and Cheryl during this difficult time.....(((HUGS)))
..........Traci
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
This is the first time I've been in this forum for a while, and I'm sorry I'm so late seeing this post. I know how hard it is to lose a good friend, and I think it's even harder when you have watched them grow and mature from puppyhood.
I'm so sorry to hear this has happened. I know you will always remember that look of thanks she gave you along with all the other good times. My deepest sympathies to you and Cheryl.
I'm so sorry to hear this has happened. I know you will always remember that look of thanks she gave you along with all the other good times. My deepest sympathies to you and Cheryl.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
Sceptic, I'm sorry I'm so late, I haven't been on much for some time. Now I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.
You did not portray her as cold and distant, not at all. She was one of a kind. My Lassie isn't a very affectionate dog either, and hardly ever plays or cuddles. He's a serious dog, if you will. But his eyes speak to me in silent ways ... full, dark eyes ... sometimes love comes in a quiet and subtle way, but it finds your heart nevertheless.
I hope you have come to terms with your loss. It's always hard and words can not really express what we feel at those times nor the compassion I feel for you and Cheryl.
Hugs and love from Ash
You did not portray her as cold and distant, not at all. She was one of a kind. My Lassie isn't a very affectionate dog either, and hardly ever plays or cuddles. He's a serious dog, if you will. But his eyes speak to me in silent ways ... full, dark eyes ... sometimes love comes in a quiet and subtle way, but it finds your heart nevertheless.
I hope you have come to terms with your loss. It's always hard and words can not really express what we feel at those times nor the compassion I feel for you and Cheryl.
Hugs and love from Ash
Re: We think Prissy is dying. ....
Im so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. Its never easy, but you can rest in the knowledge that she is waiting for you on the rainbow bridge and is extremely happy,and pain free.
love
pol
)o(
love
pol
)o(