If you are even a casual reader of this blog, you know my
mom has had a rough time of it lately.
Today, she said goodbye to her sweet little Ava.
My mom adopted Ava in January 2018. We initially thought she
was about 10 (it is almost impossible to know for sure with rescue dogs), but
after doing a dental, our beloved vet suspected she was about 12.
I think Ava came into our lives because she knew we would
need her. She was a wonderful companion for my mom for the first six months, so
well behaved and grateful to have a human of her own. She was always thrilled
to have a warm and fuzzy blanket to burrow in and was equally content to stay
home or be taken on many a car adventure.
When my mom got sick last summer and moved in with us, Ava
became an honorary member of my herd. We brought her to our house on June 28
(the first night my mom spent at the hospital) and it has been her home since. During
our long and difficult summer, she seamlessly bonded with Maddy and Ginny, and
when Maddy tragically passed away, she became quite close with Ginny (although
Ginny did not reciprocate that fondness for the first few months).
Thinking about it today, I believe Ava saved Ginny from
dying of a broken heart. Ginny had previously lost five of her sisters, but
Maddy was Ginny's whole world. Without Ava trying to get Ginny to play,
sleeping next to her on the couch, and barking at goings-on in the
neighborhood, I honestly don't know what would have become of Ginny. Ava even
forced Ginny to eat because while Ginny would just sit and stare at her food,
Ava would gobble hers down and then slowly creep over toward Ginny's bowl –
which caused Ginny to eat because she didn't want Ava getting her food. Comical
in one sense, but in another, this act alone helped Ginny keep going.
Over the past couple of months, Ginny had really warmed up
to Ava as she learned to live without Maddy by her side. For that, I will be
forever indebted to Ava. She always struck me as a proper little old British
lady, and over the last few months, I'd taken to calling her "Mavis"
because that nickname suited her perfectly. Even though she wasn't technically
mine, I loved that little dog so very much.
C and I were away this past weekend, and on Sunday night, my
mom sent me a text asking me to call her. Ava was crying out in pain and my mom
told me she was taking her to the emergency vet to see what was going on. Upon
examination, they thought maybe it was her back or neck (the Achilles heel of
Dachshunds), and they sent Ava home with meds and directions for restricted
activity. We have a playpen in our family room that Ginny sometimes spends time
in when she has overdone it and her back is bothering her, so my mom got Ava
settled in for the night after giving her the medication. Yesterday was not too
bad, and when C and I got home last night, Ava was excited to see us and seemed
pretty ok to me. Ginny went to bed with C, and I insisted my mom go to bed
while I slept on the couch to keep Ava company. I checked on her several times
during the night, and she was sleeping soundly. She ate breakfast this morning
and was looking so adorable as she snoozed on the couch that I posted a #tongueouttuesday
pic of her on IG.
About an hour later, she suddenly cried out in pain. It was
the first time I'd heard her do it, and my mom said that's what she'd done on
Sunday night.
Well, my heart sank, because I knew that sound. All too
well. And I knew it wasn't because of her neck or her back. My Molly, Gunni,
and Duchess all experienced that same suffering before I had to let them go and
it was just as horrifying. Seizures.
Ginny knew, too. She was acting crazy, running around and
trying to get to Ava. Absolutely frantic.
After a panicked call to Dr. T., my mom held Ava in her arms
and I drove the three of us to the vet as my mom and I cried. Ava had another
seizure in the car and another right before we said goodbye.
Thank goodness for Dr. T. That's all I can say. She sat with
us and cried with us and said all of the right things. My brother met us at the
vet to say his goodbyes as well, and having him there with us was so good for
my mom. Because no matter how much you know in your head that you are doing the
right thing, your heart still breaks.
When my mom and I got home, Ginny searched for Ava. She
searched the blanket we'd taken her in, she searched my mom's coat, she
searched the car. It was so sad. She has been quiet all day long and only
perked up when C got home from work. She has lost another friend. The cheese certainly does stand alone now.
We will miss you terribly, little Mavis. I have no doubt Maddy enthusiastically welcomed you at the Rainbow Bridge and introduced you to the rest of the herd
who will unequivocally love you as much as we do. Thanks for all you did to see this family through a very trying year. You really rescued us.
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| such a sweetheart |
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| Maddy, Ginny, & Ava |
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she didn't have many teeth,
so her tongue often hung out of her mouth
and it was beyond adorable |
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| keeping me company while I write |
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| doesn't she look like a "Mavis" :) |
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this was taken last week...
oh my word, that little face |
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she stayed by Ginny's side
while Ginny was
grieving Maddy's death |
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| it took some time, but... |
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| they became very good friends |
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| two days ago |
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| my mom saying goodbye to her girl |
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| I will never grow accustomed to this |
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| Ginny searched the car when we got home |
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she dug through this blanket
for several minutes :( |
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| don't tell me animals don't grieve |
Happy Tails to you…
