Mystique went to sleep...

[Tambrey]

Mystique and Taz are brother and sister...if you remember, Taz became blind last year, and they both adapted well to it, with Mystique becoming his protector and sleeping either in the doorway in winter, or on the porch in summer...

She was her fine usual self lastnight...happy to see us and good apetitie etc...

Tonight when we got home and hubby took food and water out to them, Mysti did not get up off the porch...he called to her and gently nudged her with his foot to wake her up...then realized she was not going to wake up...

Mysti died in her sleep some time today...she looked at peace, no signs of struggle, her eyes were closed, her mouth was closed, not even her tongue was hanging out...she did not empty her bladder or bowels when she died...it looks like she was just sleeping on the porch...

We will keep a close eye on Taz....while he has learned his way around the yard, and up and down the stairs and porch...he is looking for her...he did eat some food, but not all of it...and usually he wolfs it down....

We cannot bring him inside...he has never liked to be in for more than 10-15 minutes, even as a puppy...they wanted to be outside...
We cannot move him to the bigger yard with Squirt and Kayleigh...#1 they have never really "met" each other...and #2 those two run all day long and are too rambunctious for Taz...and they have holes dug here and there that they lay in on hot days...and they have a fallen tree in their yard that they play hide and seek around...too many dangers for a blind dog...

We will give him extra attention...and make sure he eats well and is not declining....but we talked already and if he seems to be suffering too greatly from losing Mysti, we may just go ahead and let him go...it will be up to him...and how he reacts the next few weeks

And as I am typing...he is serenating us as the train goes by....he and Mysti always have howled at trains, but never sirens...now he is singing solo

Safe journey Mysti and be sure to watch over your brother...keep him safe and let him know you are still with him



Mysti and Taz

[Tina B and crew]

Oh Tambrey...I am sorry to hear about Mystique. Safe journey to sweet Mystique and gentle hugs to Taz.

[Traci]

Safe journey, Misti...

Tambrey, although some pets can and do grieve the loss of a companion, it is in no way any reason for euthanasia. Also, if he is older now, and since he is blind in at least one eye, it might surprise you to find out he just may enjoy being inside more, have you attempted that? Is he good with cats?

[Tambrey]

Thanks Traci...we have not attempted to bring him inside lately...just as far as the kitchen...he is okay with cats as long as they are not in his yard...

I am just not sure how Ghost and Sammie would be with him...Ghost would probably be okay since they visited each other at the back door all the time...it is a nightly thing...when we go out back to feed Taz and Mysti, Ghost has to come to the door and say hi...but we never did let him out into the yard for fear of what 3 big stocky dogs might do and what we might not be able to stop...so door visits are as far as we ever got...

As long as he seems to get along okay, we will of course leave him be...even if he stops eating for a few days, I will not worry...but I am just going to keep a close watch on him and see how he does respond...they were never ever apart...even when they went to get spayed and neutered, they got it done together and recovered together...never a day apart from each other...

The guy that lets his horses out in our pasture in summer is going to bring his backhoe tomorrow morning and bury Mysti for us....tonight she is in the red wagon that pulls behind the lawn tractor...there is no way we can dig a hole big enough and deep enough for her with just a shovel..

[Tambrey]

I was searching for a different post....using the word journey...and came across this post ...

I just thought that I would update to let you know that Taz is STILL with us! He is still doing great and gets around his yard with no trouble. He does still feel and nose his way up the stairs to the back porch, where he now sleeps with a pile of cats curled up with him in winter, and laying on the deck in summer...

he will come into the house but only for a few minutes before he gets anxious and wants back outside...but ghost enjoys going out there with him and he likes having Ghost come play with him....

He is showing a lot of gray around the muzzle, and is slow to wake and get moving when we call to him...so we will just keep loving him and see how he fares this summer...this June will mark 3 years since his sister died.

[Traci]

Good to hear. That said, I would advise getting him a checkup - if he has arthritis, for example, you can help him be more comfortable by addressing it via the vet. When they don't arise easily, or tend to sleep more often than activity, it's a sign something might be hurting, please have him seen.

[Tina B and crew]

Glad to hear Taz is doing well Tambrey!