Goodbye to my Mama's Boy

annie1992

10 years ago

My dear sweet Cooper died Sunday evening. We aren't quite sure what happened, I was playing fetch with him Friday morning and Sunday night he was gone.

Saturday he was slow and started vomiting. The general advice is to withhold food and water for 12 hours. After that he stopped vomiting but still didn't feel good and wasn't interested in eating or drinking very much. Sunday night about 8 pm we went for a ride, as it was hot and the car is air conditioned, unlike my house. I told Elery he was going to the vet first thing Monday morning as he didn't really even want to walk back into the house. I gave him unflavored Pedialyte, but he didn't want it, I managed to get about half a cup in him.

About 10 pm he went to bed with Elery as the bedroom has a small air conditioner. When I went in at midnight to check on him, he had died.

The vet had just cleaned his teeth 11 days ago and he was healthy, although overweight. He had a small tumor removed from his mouth which tested nonmalignant. The vet said if he was gone that fast, it was something "big".

I've been beating myself up, of course, because I didn't take him to the vet on Sunday when he was sick. He was such a good dog and never wanted anything except to be with Elery and I. Elery is devastated, he was his "buddy" and went everywhere with him.

I'm sad and the house is empty. You wouldn't think a 40 pound Sheltie would fill up so much space, but he did.

He loved the farm and I kept promising him that we'd move and he could be the farm dog. I took him there yesterday morning and buried him next to the barn, he's the farm dog now.

He was only 4 years old.

Annie

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Comments (35)

cbadcali
10 years ago
Oh Annie Im so sorry. Darn. He was so young. I've lost several dogs and it never gets easier. Makes you almost never want to open your heart up to that pain of losing a buddy again. Almost...but some day, you will find one that just grabs your heartstrings and its true love all over again. Each one is different, but all have so much love to give. I hope you and Elery heal soon. Im sorry. Hugs. Mary
John Liu
10 years ago
I am so very sorry. It is hard with pets, they cannot tell us what is wrong with them, so we live on, feeling guilty about our inability to speak dog talk or read dog minds. But there is really no cause. We try our best and so do they, and sometimes it is simply Time, even if we never know why. You hugged him when he was living, and after he died, now you can hug him in your heart. You won't be alone. He will come to you in your dreams. My dear dog always did. Twenty years later, she still visits.
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arabellamiller
10 years ago
Oh gosh Annie, I'm so sorry.

It is heartbreaking to lose a loyal, loving pet. He was so well loved, and returned that love with his whole heart. It seems so unfair that he was so very young.

xo,
AM
KatieC
10 years ago
Oh, I am so sorry. I haven't been checking in much, but something made me come here first.

We lost our big ol' dumb Puppy that way at about six yrs old. DH did get him to the vet, but there was nothing they could do but put him to sleep. I am happy Cooper died at home where he wanted to be...we wish Puppy could have. Condolences to you all....
trudy_gw
10 years ago
So sorry for your loss Annie. Pets are so a part of the family.
Know there is an empty spot in your hearts, may your hearts heal soon!

As you said, 'He is know a farm dog'!
jenna1
10 years ago
Oh Annie, I'm so very sorry. So many of us know the huge hole in our hearts when we lose one of our 4-legged, furry kids. I had tears in my eyes while reading your post.

I lost my big girl (her name was DOG, pronounced dee-OH-gee) 15 years ago next month. I know that I don't have to explain or describe the love I had for her and she for me. We all know that love. We've had numerous dogs, most of them the large old fashioned German Shepherds, but she was my special girl. I still miss her to this day. She was my best friend, my confidant, my guardian & protector (my husband worked in another state during the week for several years), my gardening buddy, and next to my husband, the love of my life. She's the one that met me at the door when I came home from work, consoled me when I had had some really hard and stressful days at work, and made me laugh when I needed it and even when I didn't. She watched over our other shepherd and any cat that wandered into our yard or house was her immediate best friend. Any body of water that she could fit her butt in was hers and our boat was hers, she just let us drive her around in it and our favorite lake was her own personal lake. If we weren't at the lake she could be found soaking in her personal pool (a big hard plastic Wally World kids pool).....all day long. She also was a chatty cathy and talked to 'our' ghost that we had in that house.

But heaven forbid if a stranger came to the door. I'm not exaggerating when I say that she actually screened workers who came to do something in our house when my husband was out of town. Some she let in and immediately went to sleep (with one eye open), some she wouldn't allow them to step over the threshold and others she would 'allow' in but she always placed herself between wherever I was and that person. I always trusted her instincts. A truly amazing, and as I already said, special dog. We lost her unexpectantly too but she still makes me smile even today and I'm smiling as I type this. Many times I feel like she's still next to me, even after all these years. Like John said, he'll come to 'visit' and you'll know.

I'm truly sorry for your loss of your Cooper, and will be thinking about both you and Elery. I've followed this forum for years and have always enjoyed it when you wrote about him (and leftovers and cooking mistakes that he got to sample).

Many (((hugs))).

Jenna
party_music50
10 years ago
OMG, Annie, I am so sorry about Cooper... he was so young. :(
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
I am just now seeing this. My very most heartfelt soft wishes for peace to you. (((Annie))) don't beat yourself up. If it was big, you probably couldn't have done anything even on Sunday. At least he was able to be at home. I am so so sorry!
magothyrivergirl
10 years ago
I am so sorry..........Cooper was also part of the Cooking Forum Family, and I will miss him! I know how sad you feel losing this guy.

Not to suggest this is the same, but there is a illness killing dogs in Ohio very quickly, similar to your sad experience.
You may want to read about it especially since Cooper had recently been to the Vet's office.

Again, my condolences to your family.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dogs in Ohio
User
10 years ago
So sorry for your loss Annie ((HUG)) Losing a furkid is very hard.
sally2_gw
10 years ago
Oh, Annie, I'm so sorry. I understand that empty feeling. My heart goes out to you and Elery.

Sally
dedtired
10 years ago
Oh Annie! A loss for all of us as we have followed the adventures of the Annie family. Cooper was such a beauty. I enjoyed the picture of him on FB with Madi. Such a handsome dog. That was only a few days ago and he looked wonderful. I wonder what could have gone wrong.

I am so, so sorry. We'll all miss him.
colleenoz
10 years ago
Oh Annie, I'm so sorry to hear this. It is so very hard to lose a beloved pet. Big hugs to all.
beachlily z9a
10 years ago
I'm so sorry to hear this news! Cooper was a lovely dog and very lucky to have such a loving, happy family. It's impossible to understand his passing. Hugs, Annie.
triciae
10 years ago
Ah Annie (hugs). I'm so sorry. Cooper was a member of the CF. I'll miss your pictures and stories. I understand how much you, Elery, and the kids will miss him. He was so young. Like others, we've lost beloved pets also and still miss them. It's even harder when you don't know the answer to "why?".

/tricia
jimster
10 years ago
You can't know what a loss that is until you experience it yourself, and you have. So have I and others who posted above. My condolences.

Jim
mtnester
10 years ago
Awww, so sorry to hear this, Annie. It's especially hard when it happens suddenly, and you don't know why. I remember when you got him (wasn't he Ashley's dog, at first?). You and your family gave him a lot of love and a happy life. I'm glad you buried him at the farm. My sympathies,

Sue
cloudy_christine
10 years ago
I'm so sorry, Annie.
ci_lantro
10 years ago
I'm so sorry to read about this, Annie. I know you have a big hole in your heart right now.
mitchdesj
10 years ago
I am also so sorry to read this, I'll miss Cooper being mentioned in your conversations, he was a big part of your life, I know that. How perplexing and fast, it's even worse when it's so sudden, all my best sympathies to you and Ellery.
doucanoe
10 years ago
Oh Annie. I opened this thread thinking maybe one of the kids had reached another level of independence. Certainly didn't expect this kind of news, especially with Cooper being as young as he was.

I am SO SORRY. Having been there recently I can realte to the pain in your hearts. Take comfort knowing that he was a very much loved part of your family and had the best of lives both in town and at the farm.

Hugs to you all....

Linda
mustangs81
10 years ago
I have been crying all day because I unknowingly cut a patch of skin out of Buster, my big boy cat. I still have him so I need to put things in perspective and stop crying!

I am really saddened to hear about your sweetie pie, Cooper. I know how heartbreaking it is.

(((Cathy)))
foodonastump
10 years ago
I'm so sorry, Annie. When we take in pets we know we're signing up for inevitable heart-break, but four years, unexpected, is just too soon.
riverrat1
10 years ago
No way. I remember exactly when you got him...I'm so sorry for your loss. I can just see Cooper and the WW running around. :-( :-)
annie1992
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you, everyone. I'm just immeasurably sad. Elery says that Cooper is the standard by which he will judge every other dog from now on. He was sweet and smart and loyal and handsome and I didn't have him long enough.

John, it's funny. When my Wonderweiner died, I still "saw" him for awhile, a glimpse out the corner of my eye or a shadow. My huge cat Snowflake, who raised the Wonderweiner, I also "saw" him for some time, under a table or in a corner. I haven't "seen" Cooper, he's just....gone and I miss him.

Annie
tami_ohio
10 years ago
I am so sorry Annie!

Tami
sushipup1
10 years ago
Oh, Annie, I am so sorry to hear about this! What a great life Cooper had!

You know that I have bred, raised, trained and shown dogs for years. When we see a young dog passing quickly in my breed, it's usually one of two things. Cardiomyopathy or a hemangiosarcoma. Both take dogs as quickly as what you saw. It certainly can be something else with Cooper, I'm not trying to diagnose it. Just wanted to say that this great shock happens to others, and it's the hardest thing.

I'm glad that he got to go back to the farm.

I have theories about the ghosts that you see. I see many of them at dog shows, people and dogs both. Sometimes I see a friend out of the corner of my eye, she died in 2002. Or a dog who looks just like his great grandfather 20 years ago. Or I'll hear a voice behind me sounding like another old friend who is gone. I've decided to welcome the phantoms now. I'd be upset if they weren't there with me. ;-)

So may Cooper keep you company for a long time to come.

Hugs

Helene
pkramer60
10 years ago
Oh, Annie, I read this with tears running. I so clearly recall him crawling into my lap for a cuddle just a few years ago. And you telling me that this was Ashley's dog. I think I responded with, "yeah, right, sure it is".

Do not feel guilty this happened. There is a very fast acting cancer that hits dogs and they can pass in just days. I wish I could recall the name, my own Jessie had it. There is very little a vet can do as it is advanced by the time we humans see the signs.

I know in my heart that Cooper is free and chasing the clouds.

Hugs to both of you...

Peppi
pkramer60
10 years ago
I should have read the other posts first but Helene named the cancer.

And you may not see Cooper but keep your ears open, as you may hear him. I have seen my dogs and my Mom, but only heard my Oma's footstep in the house.
chase_gw
10 years ago
Oh Annie, I too recall when Cooper was "Ashley's dog" LOL!

My heart goes out to you . I still miss for my Chasey but I don't think I'll have another pet once Maddie leaves us.. At least that's how I feel now.

Hugs
Solsthumper
10 years ago
May Cooper and Wonderweiner find each other and establish an eternal friendship.

Hopefully theyÃ¢ÂÂll meet up with my 'Louie,' and chase butterflies together.

Sol
sheshebop
10 years ago
OMG, I just saw him three weeks ago. Annie, I am so sorry. He was a sweet personality and a good friend, I know. I am sure you buried him just where He wanted to be.

Sherry
mabeldingeldine_gw
10 years ago
So sorry to hear this, Annie. Four years is too young.
lizbeth-gardener
10 years ago
Annie, I'm so sorry!

Liz
susie_que
10 years ago
I am so sorry Annie.
You all are in my prayers.

Peace,
Susie

Goodbye to my Mama's Boy

Comments (35)

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