June 2, 1998 - May 24, 2011

Photo by Sabrina Thurlow Photography - May 1, 2011

I sit here with tears in my eyes to announce Oscar's death last night at approximately 6:50 pm Atlantic time.

This past weekend was the Victoria Day long weekend - unlike last year when it was hot and sunny, this one was cold and wet.

Saturday night, as was the pattern this past month, Oscar stopped eating.  Unfortunately, there was no enticing him to try something else no matter what I prepared or opened for him.  He'd take a little sniff, maybe a little lick/nibble, and walk away.  About the only thing he WAS enjoying were his Marrow Bone and Milk Bone cookies, so I let him have them.

But Monday night, I sensed things were changed for the worse.

When Tuesday morning dawned, he was not on the bed next to me, giving me his usual good morning kisses when I wake.  This time, he was on the floor, about to have a bowel movement.  I was able to get him outside on time - his bowels were a strong indicator that he was failing. 

This time, I knew.  His body language told me that he was done and ready.  I made the decision and appointment to say good bye to him that evening.

The air warmed up, and the sun came out.  Oscar spent a good portion of the morning outside with his face in the sun and the breeze blowing his fur.  We went for a final walk up our street and said goodbye to our friend Monica and her Bichon-Shih, Casey, who we have known for years.

I tried to entice Oscar with some more of his favourite foods, which he rejected, but he did eat some ice cream, but only after Delta and Brosa showed so much interest in it.  :)

The afternoon turned cooler and it started to rain.  We cuddled on the couch while he napped.  My mum stopped in for a visit and to say goodbye to him, offering to come with me, but I needed to do this alone.

About 1.5 hours before the appointment, we left home and went for a drive, which he had always loved.  He was too tired to stand up on the door's arm rest to look out the window as he'd always done.  I pulled into the McDonald's drive through to get a hamburger for him and he ate a couple of pieces of that.

Upon arriving at the appointment (early), we were put into the room and I sat on the floor, with Oscar in my arms on his back, while I told him over and over I loved him while giving him kisses and rubbing his belly for a good 10 or 15 minutes.  Then it was time.  With his final breath, I held his head, gave him kisses, and he gave me kisses right back.  There was a little flinch when the needle poked his arm.  Then he was gone.  I stayed another 15 minutes with him; I picked up his body and held and kissed him.

He would have been 13 next week, on June 2nd.

Oscar had been a little bit of a challenge the past (almost) 7 years since I adopted him on August 14, 2004.  He was adopted to be a best friend to Delta at the time (I'm convinced he saved her, or brought her back *into* life in our new home).  He was dangerous around cats and was cranky at times around other dogs.  He was a supreme diva about getting groomed and having his nails cut.  All that aside, he was always entertaining and well loved.  I miss him tremendously and always will.  I hope that if there is life on the other side, he and Duncan will be there ready to be reunited with me.

Click here for the Dogkisser tribute for Oscar