Yet Another Reason I Love My Wife ...

[HeijoshinCool]

(If you don’t love dogs, or you maintain Thais don’t love dogs, don’t bother reading this.)

Yet another reason, out of thousands, why I love my wife:

I had to return to the States in November. I wasn’t embarrassed to have tears on my face on the way to the airport, and my wife joined in when she realized why I was silently crying; that I’d probably never see my dog again. She was that empathetic; he was that old.

And my wife was again crying yesterday when she called me—evening my time, morning hers. When I answered the phone and only heard my name buried in choked sobs, I knew. Dooley had died in his sleep. Expected, but still a shock.

During the call I was more concerned with comforting my wife. She really loved that big goof with the dented head. But after the call, my thoughts were about Dooley’s dying without my being present. I felt guilty, still do, maybe always will. But I know he was loved to the end.

The last two weeks, Dooley could no longer get up. He would just lie there on his side. But he’d wag his tail with any eye contact, or upon hearing my wife’s voice.

If we had been in America, family, friends, and vets would have said, Put him to sleep. But my wife would never do that, even if a Thai vet agreed, which none did. I know this because, worried his last days might be filled with pain, I had talked to many before returning to the States. All said no.

I'm glad they did, or I would not have been privileged to have witnessed what took place the last few weeks.

Don’t be fooled; sacrifice is the only true and accurate benchmark of love.

I am grateful Dooley was not in pain. And I’m grateful for my wife’s unselfishly nursing him. Cleaning both poop and pee a number of times every day. When a week ago I heard he’d stopped eating, I came close to getting on a plane. Dooley never met a morsel he didn’t like. It’s possible he had some goat DNA.

Finally my wife mixed some electrolytes from the pharmacy into water, added soup broth, and patiently held the bowl where he could lap. But a day or two later he gave up and dropped his head for good. Too much work. So she dribbled it into his mouth. This took a lot of time out of the day. Without moving, he’d pee, and my wife would give him a bath with a just-laundered wet towel, and massage his hips and scratch his ears, and take videos and pictures and send them to me. She sat long periods with him, talking about our adventures together. Dooley's tail seldom stilled.

My wife did all this while working her business. A very busy business, turning some customers away.

Sacrifice is the only true and accurate benchmark of love.

Through my tears, I told her to get help, but she refused, it was hers to do, she said. So after she called me this morning, my wife, walking with Dooley’s little sister, went far back into the fruit trees where it is eternally quiet, and used a hoe to break rock-hard ground that’s full of roots, and she dug Dooley’s grave all by herself. Then she returned to the house, and my ninety pound wife carried my ninety pound dog a hundred meters, all the neighbors on their porches, silently watching.

That’s where Dooley rests. Wearing one of my old shirts, and wrapped in our very best blanket, with the birds singing overhead and warm sunlight filtering through the trees.

[ThaiPauly]

Sorry to read this story.

Having an old dog myself it makes me face up to what lies ahead for my wife and I...not a pleasant thought at all.

I hope you can get another to replace what you have so tragically lost.

RIP Dooley

[wow64]

RIP Dooley.

Looks like a top dog.

[CharlieH]

Why do you have to be so damn good at writing !! , got me going now.

RIP Dooley

[mrtoad]

Nice post, RIP Dooley, looked like a lovely dog.

[DaddyWarbucks]

Doggone!

Take the sting out of your bereavement by getting a puppy to raise.

[BoonToong]

Thank you for having the heart to post this; it's very touching

[marko kok prong]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[WitawatWatawit]

Understand your grief and the devotion of your wonderful wife. I greatly miss my sweet old dobie, who never met a burglar he didn't like. I shall refrain from commenting on the devotion of my ex, who also never met a "burglar" she didn't like.

[noahvail]

Heartfelt condolences for your loss. Brought back too many memories of my own dogs over the years. You also wrote wonderfully about your wife. With her loving a dog so much, I can imagine how much she loves you. Time will heal the hurt, then one day you'll bring home a new puppy to surprise her...

[pigeonjake]

sorry about your loss mate,

you will never replase him, he,ll allways be special,

but like others have said a puppy would be good for you to start training when you get home,

im with you on this one, dogs are a mans best friend allways there with there wag, and lick, when i get home my 2 will be jumping all over me, and ive got 2 jack russell pups i havnt even seen yet,

be strong mate

[pigeonjake]

sorry forgot to mention about your wife,,

im with you on this too, my wife loves our dogs, to to the extent that i do, but ive seen the love she shows them,

the care your wife showed to your dog was great my freind,

i know when we lost big blacky to a snake bite my wife cried many over the phone to tell me, she said i know he your friend,

so some thias can understand how we feal about our pets,,

[sanuk711]

Better than John Wick......... HeijoshinCool................

[weegee]

@HeijoshinCool...

This Topic you wrote also describes the manner of you, as a person, also....

We all love our mate , the dog, and know just how you feel right now. Your talking about it helps you....go for it.

[His Masters Voice]

Thanks for sharing. Not only the lose of a friend, but also how your wife was taking care of him.

As for the other question gripping this thread, I would presume it's Thailand related because the dog was breed, lived and died in Thailand?

We have a whole Sub-Forum about Thai Pets.

[metisdead]

Some insensitive nonsense posts have been removed as well as some of the justified replies.

In the meantime have moved this over to the Plants, Pets & Vets forum.

[draftvader]

Sad loss, top post. Thank you.

[BookMan]

Thanks for sharing that genuine heartfelt story mate. Wish u well

[krisb]

Lovely placid looking dog.

Sorry about your loss mate

[animalmagic]

I took the liberty of copying your touching story to my wife, who will probably soon be in tears like myself. Totally understand your feelings and thank you for making me look a complete idiot; I am now trying not to show the tears whilst sitting at my desk at work! We too have lost two of our beloved dogs in the past but it never seems to get any easier. However, after reading your post, I know there will always be a dog in my heart and house.

[Pungdo]

I went home to Australia at the end of September, for a very quick 4 day visit and I just never had the time to get up to see my little buddy, wish the hell I had now.

Not long after I got back tp Thailand my ex emailed me and told me that she had taken him to the vet and he had a fairly large inoperable tumor.

A few weeks after that, she emailed me again and said that he had not come when she called him just on dark, (it is a 4 1/2 acre property) and she had had a quick look around but couldn't find him.

The next morning she found him curled up between the water tanks, he had died in his sleep, I have to admit it brought a tear to my eyes and it is again as I type this, I so dearly wish I had been able to find the time to go see him, he always went crazy whenever I did, wouldn't leave my side while I was there and looked to terribly sad when I left.

Dogs are such good pets and it is always so sad to loose a long time "Little Buddy"

[kkup]

RIP Dooley

[ebonykap]

My condolences for your loss. I lost my rottie some years ago now, but I often think of her and your post revives the sad ending, but also all the great times we had together.

Unconditional love, wonderful companion and, not only a best friend, but also a member of the family. It's probably no consolation, but i know exactly what you are feeling.

RIP Dooley

[bluebluewater]

Good story, well told

"Dogs live just long enough to break you heart"

[pgrahmm]

Looks like you couldn't have chosen any better either way...hurry up and get back to your family - they miss you.....

[animalmad]

This has touched my heart and I share your pain ten fold. I returned back to the UK to see my parents and beloved family dog only to find he had passed in November having had cancer which I wasn't told about because they didn't want me to be so upset so far away. He was only 7. He fought his battle since last Feb when diagnosed and went through radio. My mum showed me how final days playing on the beach and you wouldn't have believed he was so ill. The pain we feel at the loss is no different to losing a human life. Take peace in the fact that your wife was so loving to your dog and he knew how much you loved him.

[nithisa78]

We have billions of people, going to bed hungry, homeless and God knows what else. You know People. Cute dog story but slanting towards pathetic. Come to terms with the realities of life. It will heighten the journey. arf arf

the manic dog story.

[thespecialist6]

My condolences for your loss. I lost my rottie some years ago now, but I often think of her and your post revives the sad ending, but also all the great times we had together.

Unconditional love, wonderful companion and, not only a best friend, but also a member of the family. It's probably no consolation, but i know exactly what you are feeling.

RIP Dooley

my brother has had 2 dogs one after the other they both died eventually through illness now he says he wont have another dog as it was too much emotional at the end . a lovely story god bless dooley

[umbanda]

I understand your feeling very well..and I praise your wife for understand yours, and be so kind with your best friend. Your dog looked like many soi dogs in Thailand, and like mine. Wonderful and loyal friends! I hope you will find another one soon, and I hope will be a soi dog deserving a nicer life, with a caring family.

[squatncrunch]

Lovely storey of love.RIP Dooley.