Our beloved Black Lab, Midnight (aka: Minnite-Minnite, Puppy Butt, Baby Girl, Mama's Girl, Squishy Face) passed away last night. She had been deeply saddened by the death of her brother and friend, Bastian, and had stopped taking care of herself. I thought she would break through her depression, I never questioned her behavior...especially since she had never been separated from Bastian for more than an hour in her entire life. Midnight seemed to mirror my pain, and I couldn't fault her for it.
I had gone to work for 1/2 a day, yesterday, though I was worried about Midnight. I really believed she would just need some time to mourn Bastian. I came home after lunch yesterday to check on her...I wanted to lay down with Midnight and take a long cuddle nap with her to make us both feel better. When I got home she looked like she was feeling much worse, and so I contacted the vet. The vet recommended I bring her in so they could give her fluids..."she should be okay" the vet said. I tried to get Midnight to get up and walk, but she didn't want to. I called Nick and asked him to come help me, and he left work immediately. The moment Nick got home we scooped up Midnight in a blanket and took her to the vet.
Midnight began groaning just before we got to the vet and I kept assuring her we were almost there. Nick carried her (like a baby) inside and she kept groaning. One of the vets took her back immediately while Nick and I filled out the paperwork. They had said it would be expensive to give her the IV fluids and I agreed to pay - then shortly afterward they had come out telling us she had "coded" and wanted to know if we wanted them to perform CPR...I said yes and immediately crumpled to the floor crying.
One of the assistants escorted us to a private room where we waited to find out how Midnight was doing. I called my mom, hysterical...then the vet came in and said she never got a heart-beat and that Midnight wasn't responding to CPR. I asked them to stop CPR (they had been working on her for about 5 minutes at this point). The vet left the room and I called my mom again, hysterical. The vet came back in and asked me how I wanted Midnight's remains taken care of...she then said we could go back and see Midnight's body if we wanted to. We waited a while until I had calmed down a bit, but as soon as I saw Midnight's body laying on that table I lost it again. I said my good byes and asked her to forgive me (if there was anything I could have done to keep this from happening), and I told her I would always love her. Nick and I went back to our private room where I gave the receptionist my credit card to pay for the bill...Nick and I were in shock. As we left the vet everyone in the waiting room expressed their sympathy for our loss...I had almost forgotten Midnight's leash and collar, but I went back in to get it. Nick and I drove home in almost complete silence.
The circumstances of Midnight's death may seem fishy to some people, and even the vet offered to perform an autopsy, but I didn't want them to do anything else to her. I want to think that Midnight just wanted to be with Bastian, and so she gave up. Mom says Midnight waited to see me again (when I got home) before dying...one last tail wag before she left me. I hurt but I'm numb, I'm trying not to wonder if there was anything I could have done or done wrong. I was the best mommy I could have been to both Midnight and Bastian. They were like my kids I will always mourn them...and I will always miss them...and I will always love them.
- Angel
I had gone to work for 1/2 a day, yesterday, though I was worried about Midnight. I really believed she would just need some time to mourn Bastian. I came home after lunch yesterday to check on her...I wanted to lay down with Midnight and take a long cuddle nap with her to make us both feel better. When I got home she looked like she was feeling much worse, and so I contacted the vet. The vet recommended I bring her in so they could give her fluids..."she should be okay" the vet said. I tried to get Midnight to get up and walk, but she didn't want to. I called Nick and asked him to come help me, and he left work immediately. The moment Nick got home we scooped up Midnight in a blanket and took her to the vet.
Midnight began groaning just before we got to the vet and I kept assuring her we were almost there. Nick carried her (like a baby) inside and she kept groaning. One of the vets took her back immediately while Nick and I filled out the paperwork. They had said it would be expensive to give her the IV fluids and I agreed to pay - then shortly afterward they had come out telling us she had "coded" and wanted to know if we wanted them to perform CPR...I said yes and immediately crumpled to the floor crying.
One of the assistants escorted us to a private room where we waited to find out how Midnight was doing. I called my mom, hysterical...then the vet came in and said she never got a heart-beat and that Midnight wasn't responding to CPR. I asked them to stop CPR (they had been working on her for about 5 minutes at this point). The vet left the room and I called my mom again, hysterical. The vet came back in and asked me how I wanted Midnight's remains taken care of...she then said we could go back and see Midnight's body if we wanted to. We waited a while until I had calmed down a bit, but as soon as I saw Midnight's body laying on that table I lost it again. I said my good byes and asked her to forgive me (if there was anything I could have done to keep this from happening), and I told her I would always love her. Nick and I went back to our private room where I gave the receptionist my credit card to pay for the bill...Nick and I were in shock. As we left the vet everyone in the waiting room expressed their sympathy for our loss...I had almost forgotten Midnight's leash and collar, but I went back in to get it. Nick and I drove home in almost complete silence.
The circumstances of Midnight's death may seem fishy to some people, and even the vet offered to perform an autopsy, but I didn't want them to do anything else to her. I want to think that Midnight just wanted to be with Bastian, and so she gave up. Mom says Midnight waited to see me again (when I got home) before dying...one last tail wag before she left me. I hurt but I'm numb, I'm trying not to wonder if there was anything I could have done or done wrong. I was the best mommy I could have been to both Midnight and Bastian. They were like my kids I will always mourn them...and I will always miss them...and I will always love them.
- Angel
