3/9/07 We lost Augie very early this morning (around 12:30 – 12:45).  He was fine Wednesday evening, dipping his head in the water bucket and drenching us when he laid his head on our laps (a favorite game of his).  He brought us his favorite toy, each time a challenge if he would leave it or insist on a game of tug-of-war we could never hope to win :-)  Thursday morning he decided to continue to lay on his doggie bed in the bedroom rather than do his morning ritual of running out and grabbing a toy, throwing it around and showing off.   I didn’t think much of it because he’s done it before.  He had epilepsy, IBD and back legs that could barely hold him (a result of an epileptic seizure), so he does have some “off” days.  I began to worry when he didn’t come in for his morning treat…he was just lying on the patio watching…and spit out the treat when I gave it to him  He wouldn’t eat his food, which I took out to the patio for him.  When we put some wet food and water, he decided to give it a try.  He followed me to each room and laid down on a doggie bed…he’s not a “needy” dog, but that day he was.  He was lying on his doggie bed in the computer room and I was giving him some loving when I noticed a lump that wasn’t there a day ago.  I immediately made an appointment with our Vet Dr. Brady at Best Friends Animal Clinic.  He was able to walk into the room, but it was a struggle.  Dr. Brady took blood and we took him home to rest.  Depending on the blood results, we planned on X-rays the next morning.  At this point, he was able to walk out of Dr. Brady's office and go potty. Update:  All blood work was in the normal range.

I sat out on the patio with him on his doggie bed and stroked him forever.  I removed his collar and scratched his neck which obviously felt good enough to get one of his bad back legs to react.  Dave and I took turns giving him lots of comfort and love.  Augie wouldn’t eat, so Dave headed out to Safeway to buy some canned chicken for a quick meal and bought fresh chicken to cook for him for tomorrow.  I have to say, he couldn’t resist the canned chicken and ate the whole thing…we were quite pleased.  Up to that point, all we could get down him was water (which he needed…dehydration was a concern).  We had a hard time getting him up to potty, but once he was on the grass he was able to manage to go, walking back to the patio and immediately lay down.  We decided to watch TV and used a towel as a sling to bring him into the living room to his doggie bed rather than make him walk.  He slept comfortably during the entire evening.  When we tried to get him up to potty for the night (we set up our blow-up bed to spend the night with him in the livingroom) he couldn’t get him up...he didn't even try!  I called Alice from Aussie Rescue in AZ and she and Richard (hubby) immediately showed up with a sling.  We managed to get him to the yard using the sling, but he could not stand…his front legs would not hold him at this point.

Placing his doggie bed in Richard’s van, Dave carried him to the vehicle.  We arrived at First Regional Animal Hospital and they supplied a gurney to get him into the room.  Augie was bleeding internally and a scan show a tumor (thought to be cancerous) in his spleen.  They believed that it was an aggressive cancer and even if surgery was successful (although doubtful at this point), the cancer would most likely return.  Augie has been through so much in his short life, so Dave and I made the decision to let him go with dignity…he was a very independent boy who did not welcome help…he was too determined to always do it himself.

Throughout this entire day of sitting with him, comforting him and showing him all the love we have for him….his eyes begged us to help end this pain…which we did…at a cost to us.  Our loss is an unbelievable sorrow that makes it difficult to even breathe.

Upon making the decision to let Augie go, I called LJ Cooper from All Pets Great and Small Cremation Service (which offers their services 24/7 including picking up your pet at home or hospital) to come get Augie.  LJ was at the hospital within 20 minutes...and we had Augie's ashes the very next day.  What a comfort to know that we put Augie is such loving hands.  He went peacefully, watching the staff on each move and left us on the doggie bed he so enjoyed.  Dave and I said our goodbyes and a very nice English girl came to take Augie’s foot print.  Although he had already passed, she spoke to him as though he was still with us.

In spite of all the pain and confusion that Augie must have endured on Thursday, the very last thing that he managed to do was wag his stub of a tail :-)...we will ALWAYS have that memory!!!  Alice was such a comfort...and strong enough to cut some of Augie’s hair as a keepsake.  She took hair from his tail because it wagged all the way until the very end.  She took hair from his back leg so that there will be no more pain.  Before he left us, Alice tidied him up with her snot rag :-)  Alice also took hair from his ear so that he’ll hear us when Dave and I finally cross over the Rainbow Bridge to meet him and others dear to us that we have lost.  Augie will be waiting for us pain free and ready to run again as he did as a young sweet pup!

For those of you that knew Augie and recognized his attributes, I'm sure that you will miss him too.  He would have been 10 years old this July…we plan on celebrating his birthday!  We'd like to share a few pictures of Augie's life as one of the original AussieLads (Augie & Austin).  Enjoy!

Cyn & Dave