R.I.P. Puff!

January 23, 1990 – June 10, 2005

Right now, Puff is sleeping comfortably.
He doesn’t know it, but he’s waiting for the end, which will come shortly.
An hour later….
The vet (who was nice enough to make a house call) arrived, and I took Puff outside for the last time. I put his bed on the front porch, and he lied down comfortably. The vet gave him a tranquilizer by intramuscular injection, and very quickly he went to sleep with a relieved look on his face. (He had a seizure last night and he hasn’t been sleeping well at night, so I can understand his relief.)
Once he was completely out, the torniquet went around his front leg, the needle went in the vein, and almost as soon as the pink solution started flowing in, Puff breathed his last. Very, very peaceful.
I requested the sedative because when I put Puff’s grandmother to sleep she hadn’t been pre-sedated and got the “big one” right away without warning. This gave her time to give me a look of shock and disbelief (I’m probably anthropomorphizing, but that’s how it looked) before she died. That didn’t happen with Puff, and I am so relieved. To anyone who has to go through this, I highly recommend pre-sedation before the final, fatal shot.
Rest in peace, Puff!
Here’s the last picture I took of him:

RIPPuff2.jpg

But I think this one (taken in Berkeley in January) is a better reminder of Puff’s last few months:
PuffRocks3.jpg

He was a great dog, and I really miss him.
(I’m afraid I’m only beginning to miss him, too.)


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26 responses to “
R.I.P. Puff!

January 23, 1990 – June 10, 2005

  1. LYNN Avatar
    LYNN

    My thoughts are with you. Never easy to do, having had to do it several times with my cats.
    Rest in peace Puff.

  2. Alan Kellogg Avatar

    I expect the new kid is going to be looking for Puff most everywhere in the next few days. And there’s nothing you can do to explain what happened.
    15 years is a good run for a large dog. You did right by him all the way, and for that you are thanked.
    Condolences on your loss, and may he be evergreen in your memory.

  3. SayUncle Avatar

    My deepest sympathies. Take comfort in the fact that he had a good run and a good owner.

  4. Greg Avatar

    Sorry for your loss. Pets quickly become family, and their loss is not easy.

  5. Harkonnendog Avatar

    I’m so sorry for your loss. 15 years IS a good run- especially for a dog loved as much as Puff was, and vice versa.

  6. Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist Avatar

    Tragic. All I can say is that there must be a Heaven, a Valhalla, for good, loyal, noble creatures like dear Puff, that he may there await the final return of his good, loyal, noble master. Requiem in Pacis, Puff. Good-bye. We will all miss you. Our prayers are with you.

  7. Ed Minchau Avatar

    I want to say I’m sorry for your loss, but I really can’t; I’ve read about Puff’s deteriorating condition over the last few months, and I’m just glad he isn’t suffering. I’m happy that you guys had a good long time together.

  8. John Avatar

    My prayers are with you, Eric.

  9. Joe Katzman Avatar

    Man losing his dog is a serious thing. But you’ll take what you learned from him into every remaining day of your life. May he rest in peace.

  10. Sgt. Mom Avatar

    Everything we have in this life comes at some sort of price… and grief is what we pay for love. My sympathies as well… it sounds like a good thing to have done it at home, and with the sedative, as well. So very peaceful, without the trauma of having to take them to the vet. And the presence of Coco takes away a little, at least, of the emptiness.

  11. Eric Scheie Avatar

    Thank you all. I am really touched by this.

  12. Mythusmage Opines Avatar

    A Passing

    R.I.P. Puff! January 23, 1990 – June 10, 2005″ href=”http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/002455.html”>Classical Values :: R.I.P. Puff! January 23, 1990 – June 10, 2005 Eric lost Puff the other day. Puff was 15 and suffering from cancer. For a dog P…

  13. wheels Avatar

    Sorry to hear of your loss. I’ve lost pets before, but never been there for the actual moment. That’s been hard enough. It’s amazing how they can get under your skin, even the ones that are mostly annoying.

  14. urthshu Avatar

    So sad when a dog dies. I’m sorry for your loss, Eric. Puff must’ve been a great dog.

  15. Mark Wickens Avatar

    My condolences. I was never much of an “animal person” and didn’t get why some people mourned pets as much as they did. After having my cat (named Coco, btw!) for 13 years now, it’s no longer a mystery and I dread the thought of going through what you just have.

  16. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    All my sympathies. He’s waiting for you, standing on all fours, in good comfort. And, though I’m not a religious person per se, I believe that he understands, that he holds no resentments but much love, and one day, he will speak on your behalf.
    -Jen

  17. Raging Bee Avatar

    That’s no less sad for being inevitable. One of these days I’ll have to do something similar for one of my cats. I know I’ll miss the cat, as I know you miss your dog. May he rest in peace (or have a good reincarnation, as the case may be).

  18. Victor Avatar

    Eric, I’m so sorry your friend has passed on.

  19. Portia Avatar
    Portia

    Sorry I missed the day you posted this. My condolences. I believe there must be some sort of life afterwards — maybe not for all, but surely for gallant spirits like Puff. I hope you’ll get to see him again.
    My thoughts are with you and I’m glad Puff is no longer in pain, but sorry to hear he left us — even if he was just a “second hand” presence on the blog.
    P.

  20. Ace Pryhill Avatar

    I am so sorry to hear this Eric, but glad to hear Puff is free from his pain. I’ve thought a lot about you and Puff this spring as Uno and I also shared the hardest part of the journey: saying goodbye.
    I hope Puff gets along with cats. There’s an orange tabby up there looking for a dog to cuddle with.

  21. Eric Scheie Avatar

    I really, really appreciate the words of support from everyone!
    Ace, not only can I assert that Puff gets along with cats, I can supply proof!
    http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/002433.html

  22. reba travis Avatar
    reba travis

    At 56 and never having children animals have been my babies. I have suffered the pain of losing my “Babies” time and time again but I recover a little and invite another into my heart. I also try to help ones “with no-one”, For They Are Many. Even in your grief try to remember PUFF had a wonderful life because of YOU. My sympathy for you for your loss

  23. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    At 56 and never having children animals have been my babies. I have suffered the pain of losing my “Babies” time and time again but I recover a little and invite another into my heart. I also try to help ones “with no-one”, For They Are Many. Even in your grief try to remember PUFF had a wonderful life because of YOU. My sympathy for you for your loss

  24. […] poor old Puff developed back problems in his old age, the vets couldn’t have been nicer. They (I moved […]