Missy

24th March 2012

On Week four of my STEPS Journey I lost my companion of 14 years, my dog Missy....  This is my story...

Yesterday I awoke with a plan to save my dog Missy.  Two days ago she was hospitalized but was getting worse each day, I believe as a result of the medical treatment she was receiving. So, I arranged for alternative medication, a friend to help me lift her into the car and I set up her bed in an air-conditioned room to help with her high temperature.

Leaving the house at 6am I traveled the twenty kilometers to my friend’s house to pick up the medication for her.  The friend who offered to help me lift her phoned me on the way back into town to see if I was ready for his help, I advised that I wasn’t and was travelling to the vet at that moment.  Five minutes later, the vet called and told me that my dog was about to take her last breath.  I was still 20 minutes away so knew I would not make it in time.  I called my daughter to ask her to be there in my stead.  Racing against the clock, slow traffic and stop lights I drove as fast as I could to the veterinary surgery. 

I pulled into the car park and walked through the doors.  One look from the nurse told me I was too late. I went straight through to where she was, and then turned to go back out to the car to phone my daughter.  Before I could even walk around the front counter, I looked up and saw her.  I shook my head.  Her tears fell before she could even reach the doors. Both my daughters and I said our goodbyes to our beloved pet and we left the surgery together.

I took my eldest to her father’s house.  She did not want to be at home where there was no Missy. With red bulging eyes I pulled out of her driveway then started my drive home.  Beside me was the medication I had been so desperate to have only an hour before.  On the way home I passed the local high school and remembered that today was voting day.  I stopped the car and went in to vote.  I told my youngest that I had to do it anyway so I may as well do it now.  If the truth were told I was really putting off going home and gathering up her things.  The air conditioned room with her bed would be waiting for my girl who was never going to come home.

The remainder of the day was a blur of phone calls and fits and starts of tears and sleep.  When the time came for locking the doors and turning the lights out I felt such an empty feeling in my heart, because for the first time in 12 years, I closed the bedroom door, without first waiting for Missy to walk through.

Missy was cremated with loving care by Angels for Pets and now rests peacefully at home with us.