An obit.
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 3:35 pm
Gidget S., 20(!) year old dachshund from east Tennessee, was laid to rest last week in a non-denominational non-ceremony attended by treat-givers and veterinary assistants.
Her long life was not always easy. Born into a puppy farm, she wasn't pretty enough to sell - but healthy enough to make babies. And make babies she did, mothering 9 large litters. In those days, she was rarely let out of her kennel. By the end of her time there, she was very skittish of people and could barely walk. Her evil owner nearly had her put down, but chose to save money on the vet fee and give her away instead - with the demand that she be spayed first. A humane gesture? No. He didn't want anyone else to profit from a free dog.
She spent the last 8 years of her life with an old man, my uncle, who is developmentally disabled. He had lived with my parents for about a year and had fallen in love with their dachshund. When he was able to live on his own again, mom found Gidget. She was old and slow, too. A perfect match. We all thought she might live another year or two at most - but being in the good care of my uncle, and out of the evil kennel, she had a re-birth. She found some spunk, and was soon running and playing and even jumping on the furniture! My uncle was very attached to her, and she to him.
In the end, she was blind, mostly deaf, and even the best vet care couldn't salvage her teeth. She was put to sleep last week. Mom cried. My uncle, dealing in his own way, simply said, "Well. She wasn't fun anymore anyway."
Her long life was not always easy. Born into a puppy farm, she wasn't pretty enough to sell - but healthy enough to make babies. And make babies she did, mothering 9 large litters. In those days, she was rarely let out of her kennel. By the end of her time there, she was very skittish of people and could barely walk. Her evil owner nearly had her put down, but chose to save money on the vet fee and give her away instead - with the demand that she be spayed first. A humane gesture? No. He didn't want anyone else to profit from a free dog.
She spent the last 8 years of her life with an old man, my uncle, who is developmentally disabled. He had lived with my parents for about a year and had fallen in love with their dachshund. When he was able to live on his own again, mom found Gidget. She was old and slow, too. A perfect match. We all thought she might live another year or two at most - but being in the good care of my uncle, and out of the evil kennel, she had a re-birth. She found some spunk, and was soon running and playing and even jumping on the furniture! My uncle was very attached to her, and she to him.
In the end, she was blind, mostly deaf, and even the best vet care couldn't salvage her teeth. She was put to sleep last week. Mom cried. My uncle, dealing in his own way, simply said, "Well. She wasn't fun anymore anyway."