The Golden Named George

I had to say goodbye to another good friend yesterday. George was a Golden Retriever I rescued from the pound just under 4 years ago. He had been slowing down lately and I thought something was wrong. I had taken him to the vet about a month ago but they couldn't find anything wrong. The last week or so he had been particularly tired.

Usually when I greeted him at the top of the stairs he would usually run excitedly up the stairs. The last several days he would look up the stairs like he didn't know if he could handle it. It then got worse because he would look at the car seat and looked like he didn't know if he could jump in.

Yesterday I knew something was terrible because partway through one of our short walks he just stopped and stood still. I checked him all over thinking he picked up a sticker but I didn't see anything. He had been really restless and groaning a lot the night before. I knew we had to go to the vet.

This time I took him in they decided to do a full check. I got a call saying they could stop at the X-Ray because it showed the problem. His heart was double the size it should be. The vet explained that he had a tumor on his heart and that the sack around the heart was filled with blood. This was making it harder and harder for the heart to pump the blood around his body.

I knew it was time for him to go but it was so hard. I decided to take him to his favorite places. We went to Miller Creek where he walked around and lay down in the creek several times. We then went to Sugarhouse park where he sniffed around the creek bed. Then we went to Liberty Park. I hoped and hoped we would find a squirrel for him to tree. He loved that! He would stand at the bottom of the tree, standing on his hind legs and bark and bark. He hardly ever barks but when he does it's deep and hound like.

After we walked around the park we headed back to the Vet's office. My friend Ann met me there and helped me through it. George became frightened so I put his head in my lap, held his face and reassured him. I looked in his eyes and told him I loved him. He lay his head down and drifted away as I pet his head and ears. It was very peaceful.

I first saw George on Petfinder. I had just lost my beloved Rosy the Saint Bernard. I was lonely. Here is the picture that caught my eye.

 He was so forlorn. The man that cared for the dogs in the pound begged me to take him. When we were headed home George nearly climbed in my lap. He was so glad to be leaving the pound. It took us a bit of time to get used to each other. George marked all around my living room. But finally after a couple of months he realized that I was not going to abandon him. The last year has been really wonderful with him. We spend many happy hours at local dog parks.

George loved to sniff, run, eat and most of all get pets. He adored attention from humans but didn't really know how to act around dogs. I believe he was never abused but was rather neglected in someone's back yard. We grew to love and appreciate each other.

As I became older I sometimes need something to balance on when I get up. He would always stand still and allow me to balance on him. he hated baths but would tolerate them. Most of all he loved me! How am I going to go back to my very empty house?

I had immediate guilt about the times I was too tired to give him much attention. But my friends and family assured me he was happy and that I gave him a good life. When I look at the before and after pictures of George's life I believe I can convince myself that they are right.