He's not a pup anymore

So I’ve decided to not just make this blog about Boone, but about Drifter as well with maybe a few scene stealer moments from other critters in my life. First off, Boone doesn’t seem to be growing and if he is not very much. But he is getting darker and little to smart for his own good about things I’d prefer he not be smart about. He listens far better when its just me around him, if there are other people he gets a little worried and though you can tell he wants to listen he seems to afraid to do so and starts to spin in circles. He’s getting better off leash, and when he does go to run after a person or another dog/animal a quick stern call of his name sends him running back (though he makes it clear he is reluctant about it).

Drifter got shaved a few days ago, bye-bye hair. He looks even more of a chunky monkey then with his hair and is more grey then black now. Boy his is tail small compared to the rest of him. He’s being great with Boone, has even played with him and for the first time in years he actually ran around and kept up speed with Boone up at the baseball field the other night, he had a small limp the day after but nothing like he would normally have if he wasn’t on the glucosamine pills. Yay, they’re working! But as much as they are working the rest of him seems to be getting worse.

His seizures are getting more frequent. At least one every week or so. They are usually short and early in the morning. He’s pretty messed up for about 2 hours after and then he’s back to his normal self and ready for the day to begin. However the last one was different.

He sleeps in the spare room (what used to be my brother’s room but he’s moved into my old room) alone now. The carpet is nice and thick for him, he has his dog bed and bowl in there as well as a toy or two but he usually just sleeps on the spare bed. Not a smart thing to let him do with him having fits but it makes him happy and who am I to take away his happiness? Usually he just drools a lot during a seizure but the last one he actually lost control of his bladder. Naturally my mother was far from impressed and set to work washing all the bed clothes from the bed (which for some reason is an insane amount.. two comforters and I don’t know how many sheets). Dad went to work to try and clean the mattress while Drifter laid spaced out on the living room floor shaking and looking for sorry for himself. So the talk came up that she wants to put him down. My folks had a fight about it as my dad doesn’t want to yet. So for the rest of the day it would pop up here or there, I was getting annoyed. I didn’t want to hear about it, what animal owner does? She asked me what the going cost was to put a dog down and to dispose of the body; she didn’t want a private cremation. Told her it depended on the vet, and the size of the animal. That got her into talk about what people did in the old days, take the dog out in the woods and either leave it or shoot it. Not happening. I told her when the time comes he’ll get a private cremation and he’ll go by injection.

That sparked another conversation about how silly it was to feel that way, he was a dog yadda yadda. Told her we wouldn’t put a family member in a mass grave why do it to Drifter who IS a family member and has been for the past 9 years. Got a little snotty and then I took the dogs for a walk/drive. I ended up in some place called Garnet before I decided to turn around and got home at 10pm.
There have been a few people suggest that putting him down isn’t a bad thing right now. I know its not, I know he must feel so confused about what’s happening to him but I know it’s not his time. It can’t be, he’s too happy still. He’s always ready to go for a long walk with Boone in the valley. He loves his food still, he’ll play ball, chase Boone in the yard. Roll over for a tummy rub, loves his cookies, and gets around fine now. I can’t justify putting him down when he’s still enjoying life so much. If he weren’t I’d end it before it got worse but right now he’s far too happy. I can’t do that to him. Yes, he’s got unexplained liver issues, a bad heart murmur and unexplained seizures but he’s still enjoying life. I thought about it during the two hour drive/walk last night, maybe I was being selfish about not putting him down but I know I’m not. If anything else I’ll have him sleep in the basement with me, I’ll deal with his messes, I’ve already been looking at doggy diapers and the like though I’m not sure he’d take to wearing them very well. By the end of the drive I knew I couldn’t do it, at least not yet, not until he tells me he’s ready which I know he will. It’s just a matter of understanding his message when he tells me. His time is getting shorter, but I’m going to make the most of it while I can while he can still enjoy it.

A few pictures from over the past few weeks. All pre shave for Drifter.