Last Wednesday, we had Francie, our family dog of nearly fourteen years, put to sleep.
She’d been going downhill for several years. First, she’d developed tumors, and then she went deaf. She had arthritis, too (or something similar), so for months now, we’ve been giving her a baby aspirin every morning along with her food. She’d always been a sweet and docile dog — and more obedient than my own children — but as she aged, she became even sweeter. (I’ll be lucky if I age even half as well.)
Then Monday, she stopped eating. On Tuesday, we brought her inside where she stretched out on the floor, sometimes barely breathing. We thought she might die at any minute, so my older son sat beside her, studying for his semester finals and keeping a close eye on her.
But then she stood up and walked outside.
That evening, she refused to lay back down. For hours, she sat there, trembling and panting, every now and then shifting her weight uncomfortably from one hip to the other.
Wednesday morning, my husband called the clinic and set the appointment for 3:30 that afternoon. The day dragged. In between grocery shopping and kickboxing, chores and finals, the kids took turns sitting beside her, stroking her head and crying.
We discussed where to bury her, and who wanted to go along to the appointment. The boys all wanted to go — my younger son wanted me to go, too — and the girls decided to stay at home. But last minute, as we loaded Francie into the van, the girls, unable to leave Francie, climbed in, too.
The ride to the clinic was silent but for children’s crying. In the clinic waiting room, we were a hot mess, all tears and snot. The staff didn’t waste much time trundling us back to the examining room. The vet, a quiet-spoken older gentleman I’d never met, gave her a sedation shot, and then left the room.
It took only a couple minutes for Francie’s panting to slow and for her to gradually relaxed onto the floor. When the vet returned, my older son lifted her to the table, and the girls left the room. The vet shaved a small spot on her leg and injected her with the medication. Within seconds, she was gone.
On the drive home, her sheet-wrapped body tucked in the trunk like the grandfather in Little Miss Sunshine, we remembered the first time, thirteen years before, that we’d brought her, whimpering in a crate in the back of the car, to our house — we’d named her Francie on that ride. As we got closer to home, our sadness slowly lifted. The hard, necessary task was finished.
At home, my older son dug the hole. He removed her collar, and lowered her in.
Francie’s death is, by far, the healthiest death I’ve ever experienced with a pet. It left us utterly drained, of course (that evening my older daughter came to watch our invited dress rehearsal, which was, perhaps, an unwise choice: she was so traumatized by seeing the play only a few hours after Francie’s death that she’s refused to come see an actual performance), but there’s not the lingering, piercing sadness we felt after Alice was killed.
This time, there’s just relief that it’s over, and gratefulness for the many years we had with our sweet Francie.
This same time, years previous: the quotidian (5.8.17), Moroccan carrot and chickpea salad, how it is, the quotidian (5.6.13), the family reunion of 2012, my boy, roasted rhubarb.
10 Comments
Joy
I’m so sorry – we know that aching sense of loss. I’m so glad she had such a good, long life and was lived by so many wonderful people.
Mowsy
Oh, how are fur friends are family. So sorry for your loss. She had a good, long life with your family! The picture of the other pups looking down at her breaks my heart too.
ccr in MA
I'm glad that it went as 'well' as it did, but I'm so sorry for your loss.
kay saylor
I love the final picture. When I have had to say goodbye to our animals it has always helped us, and I believe them, when the remaining animals say goodbye too. They seem to just appear when it is time. I have a picture in my head of burying our lab. The other dog was with us. The cat showed up and the horses came to the other side of the fence. All seeming to bear witness.
Anonymous
I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved pet. It's not easy to say goodbye. Thankfully your were able to have a wonderful last day with her as a family.
farm buddy
Glad that your sweet Francie had such a peaceful passing, filled with love and support. Eleven months ago, I had to put my fifteen and a half year old Border Collie to sleep, and it certainly was difficult. I did have the vet come to my farm, which does make it easier and may be something you would want to consider in the future with your pets. Farm vets will usually provide this service.
Cheryl
I can barely see to write this…tears clogging my vision. It's so darn hard to let go of a pet. We want then with us forever. I actually kept a kitty for 20 years, almost 2 years longer than I should have.
So glad that you were there with Francie until the end. So many people can't handle the final goodbye and leave the vet to do it alone. Can you imagine how Francie would have felt if you had all just dropped her off?
Your family handled it all so well and it's evident that Francie was a very much loved pup. She is no longer in pain.
Margo
Oh, I'm so sorry. Your photos are so poignant here.
Misha
I'm so sorry. I was crying from your first paragraph, but that last photo? Did me in. You are such a loving family. xoxo
Unknown
I cried for you, your children and your sweet Francie. I cried for my Tommy I loved and lost 7 years ago. They are our pets but also part of our hearts.