And now Tinsel

[Corgifan]

I don't post much here, just sort of lurk around and enjoy the pictures and comments. When I lost my Corgi pal Watson (http://cool2bcorgi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4314) back in March I knew I'd also lose his sister Tinsel in time because her back legs were failing due to serious disk issues in her back and neck.

I thought I'd lose Tinsel last Christmas but she soldiered on as best as she could, always happy, always with her Corgi appetite intact. But bit by bit I saw her deteriorate as the discs in her back and neck gave out. Her rear legs became useless but she was quite adept at dragging herself around, sometimes with surprising speed if the supper dish awaited! I made ramps for the back door and the doggie door so she could negotiate them herself. They were still a challenge for her but I felt it gave her some extra work to do to keep her front half strong. I made her a nice aluminum cart but she couldn't adapt to it.

In time though even with the ramps it wasn't working well, she was losing strength, and more and more often I had to carry her out to the yard. I promised myself that as long as she had control of her functions and wasn't in pain I'd carry her as needed to get outside. She remained quite good at scuttling around the house to stay near Debbie or I but bit by bit I could see her growing weaker, becoming more solitary, and finally her voice going, and her body becoming incontinent.

Debbie and I talked at length and with many tears about what to do with our little friend. How long should we try to put off the inevitable? This weekend it became clear that while Tinsel might last a bit longer there would be little dignity left in her life in the weeks to come. She was easily the sweetest, happiest dog I've ever owned (or in her case, been owned by) and she deserved a dignified end before she became helpless. Some of you know that "when" is the hardest decision for a pet owner to make and there are no hard and fast rules except to follow your heart.

So this morning we made that last trip to the vet who concurred that there was nothing within reason to be done for our Corgi sweetie. Tinsel was quite happy and very much herself right to the last but her body gave out on her.

At the vet's office today the tech asked me if I wanted a bit of Tinsel's fur to keep. I said "No, we had two Corgis. We will still be finding Corgi fur under, around, and in things for years to come."

So we are left now with Debbie's lively little mini-Dachshund, Holly, to keep the house from being too empty but as fun as Holly is, she's not a Corgi. Debbie told me not long ago "At first when I met you I didn't understand your whole thing with Corgis but now I'm hooked too...maybe more than I have been on wiener dogs." We may get another Corgi one day but it will be a while. I can't imagine right now replacing the amazing two that I've had the joy to own for 10 years.

The picture below is one I took yesterday. She was out enjoying the sun and I grabbed my camera for some quick shots as I knew her time was short. She would have been 11 years old next month.

http://www.corgifan.com/tinsel/Tinsel.JPG


We'll miss you, Tin-doggie. You were the best.

Doug

http://www.corgifan.com/forum/Tinsel.JPG

[Dillydoodle]

I am so sorry to hear about your losing Tinsel. She is just a beautiful girl and I know how hard it must be to have lost both your corgis in such a short time. My heart breaks for you as i understand all too well how hard it is to lose a beloved four legged family member.
Wishing you some peace and comfort during this very sad time. My deepest sympathies.

Emilie

[ZdogZ]

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that you fill find some comfort in knowing that Watson met Tinsel at the Bridge and both are healthy and happy together. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

[Jespah]

Oh Doug, I am so sorry to hear about Tinsel.

You certainly did everything possible to give her the best life she could have. Your efforts to accommodate her this past year gave you all the extra time to fill your hearts with Corgi love. As you said, you thought you would have lost her almost a year ago.

Your decision to say goodbye was a great gift to her and a terrible burden for you and Debbie. She is free from the pain and the bonds of her body that was failing her. I know how hard it is to make this decision and my heart goes out to you both.

You never replace a loved one. You bring another one into your lives to honour the one that went before. There never is a comparision, they are who they are. I hope one day your hearts will be healed by another Corgi who will benefit by all that you've learned from Watson and Tinsel.

My deepest sympathies,

Deb

[Merlincorgi]

Tinsel is a beautiful girl and that is a lovely photo and tribute of her. RIP Tinsel.

[disraeli ears]

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet Tinsel. It sounds like she lived a very good life and you and your wife loved her a lot.

You made the right choice under very tough circumstances. Rest in peace, Tinsel. +WUBCLUB+

[Kassie]

I am so sorry to hear about Tinsel. She was most obviously a loving and happy girl and I am sure she appreciated the respect you gave her in the end. I know it is the hardest decision to make, but also a gift of love. Play well at the bridge, Tinsel and enjoy romping with Watson.+RBRIDGE+

As Deb said, we never replace one of our companions, they are irreplacable. We just bring a new friend into our lives.

[CasaCorgis]

What a beautiful tribute to your lovely sweetie Tinsel. We know she is free and healed, running with the other corgis and animals at The Bridge. No doubt she has already found Watson, and they are a pair once again.

May peace and great memories be with you and your family.

+RBRIDGE+

[dcole]

Doug,

I'm so sorry to hear of Tinsel's passing. It's a difficult decision to make because we love our pets so much.

Take comfort that Tinsel is whole and healthy again, and frapping around the Bridge with Watson. +RBRIDGE+

[glencorgi]

Doug,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your special girl. Even when they tell us it is time, it is never easy. My thoughts are with you.

Debbie

[travelers]

What a lovely picture of your Tinsel, she sure didn't look that old. You are in my thoughts and Tinsel is too. She was a lucky doggie to be so loved.
Beth
Quiddi & Fiona are arrrrooing for Tinsel

[LoveMySadie]

Doug,

Your love for Tinsel and Watson knew no bounds, and they were very aware of that. Tinsel was a beautiful girl - what an amazing treasure to have such a gorgeous picture of her on her last day in the sun.

Our love to you both.

Leslie

[CorgiMum]

I'm so sorry Doug. What a beautiful tribute, and what a beautiful picture of Tinsel.

Play well at The Bridge Sweet Girl.

Barbara

[jcj528]

My deepest condolences on your loss, Doug. Tinsel was a beautiful girl and her picture shows how very much you loved her. I hope you find peace in knowing that you gave both her and Watson the very best possible life while they were with you. As for Tinsel, she is at peace at the Rainbow Bridge. She waits patiently with Watson for you. You three will be together again.

Play well with Watson and all the others, Tinsel+RBRIDGE+

[jeepgal]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Tinsel was a beautiful girl and will be missed.

Play well at the Bridge sweet Tinsel. +WUBCLUB+

[taflar]

My sympathy on your loss. I know how very hard it is. And how it makes your heart ache.

Peggy

[thebeach.corgi]

So very sorry for your loss of Tinsel. The photo captures the intensity of her love and how much she is loved. The brave corgi, right to the end.

Facing those moments of knowing when it is time, so utterly heart wrenching. Tinsel and Watson are surely jumping and woofing in joy over being reunited.

Wishing you sweet memories and a healing heart. Your love and care shines brightly for your beloved Corgis.

[sutulu]

Hi Doug:

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of both your Corgis over such a short period of time.

Tinsel was a lovely Corgi!

You have my deepest sympathies.

Susan

[corgiland]

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beautiful Tinsel.

You are in our thoughts and prayers.

[Corgifan]

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I know I'm not a "regular" here but I also know that Corgi folks are the best so I still feel like I belong to the group even if only as a lurker.

It was a sad day here, to say the least. I spent some time taking down the various "handicap" ramps I'd made for Tinsel so she could get around on her own as best as she could. My wife was shampooing the carpet for about the 100th time this year... I was in another room and I realized she was crying while she was running the carpet shampooer. I asked (as if I didn't know) what was wrong. She said "There's no one now to attack the sweeper or the carpet shampooer and protect us from them!" You see, even with her back legs gone Tinsel would always scuttle over and nip at the evil machines that had noisily intruded once again on our peaceful pack.

One more Tinsel story for you all: As far as we could tell Tinsel had not been able to get out the doggie door in three or four months. Inside the house I had not been able to build a ramp that wasn't too steep for her. On the patio I'd built her a very long, gradual ramp coming in so we'd let her out the patio door and down a short ramp to the backyard and then she would come in up the 9 foot long "handicap access" ramp to the doggie door and into the house. I hated to see her struggle up the long ramp but she always made it and we counted it as good physical therapy for her front half at least. We knew, since she couldn't walk or be real active, that some exercise had to be gotten. Making it up the long ramp and in the doggie door was good exercise and always earned a treat.

So...after that long lead in... About a week ago we noticed that Tinsel had managed to go out the doggie door! ???? Later she came in, got her biscuit and laid down. About an hour later she got up and went out again. ???? My wife and I looked at each other in amazement. I got up and looked out the window to see what was up. There was Tinsel sitting near the patio table in the yard sniffing the air intently and looking around. She'd move a little, sniff some more, and look around. Finally she headed back into the house.

Finally I realized what was going on. My wife has a small solar oven and was cooking a chicken in it on the patio table. Tinsel smelled roast chicken in the backyard and was determined despite her bad back and legs and that steep inside ramp to find it! Yes, later on we gave her a bit of chicken. We never gave the dogs much "people food" but sometimes on special occasions it's fun for all. In this case we thought Tin's Corgi persistence in pursuit of food deserved a reward.

Well, thank you all again. I did put up a little memorial page for Tinsel as I'd done for Watson. The link is below.

Doug

[jcj528]

Tinsel's tribute page is wonderful, Doug. I feel as if I really got to know her. She was and always will be special. Thank you for letting us see more of the little girl who was always "happy to be a Corgi."

[ZdogZ]

Doug - your tributes to both Watson and Tinsel are very heartwarming. Again, I am so sorry for your losses.

[Dillydoodle]

Doug,
Thank you for sharing your tribute to Tinsel. She was a lovely girl with a wonderful corgi personality. I love the photos of her smiling face. I know she is terribly missed as is Watson. I hope you and your wife can find some comfort in the memories of some of the happy times you all had and in the fact that they are happily playing at the bridge and one day you will be reunited.

Emilie

[Jespah]

Your tribute to Tinsel was beautiful. Both of your lovely Corgis look like they had a wonderful life with you.

You are right, Corgi people are the best - doesn't matter if you are a "lurker" or a "regular" - we understand what you are going through.

+FUZZHUG+

Deb

[thebeach.corgi]

Doug,
Your photo tribute to Tinsel is wonderful, even when viewing through tears!

Loved the quote that dogs don't live long enough, their only fault. Reminds of another that says they already know how to live and love to the fullest so they don't need as much time...we are the ones that need more.

+FUZZHUG+

[disraeli ears]

Very lovely memorial to Tinsel...she will obviously be missed. +WUBCLUB+

[LoveMySadie]

What a beautiful testament to your love for Tinsel and Watson. I can't imagine two more loved corgis, or two dogs with happier lives.

Hold on to those beautiful memories....

Leslie

[Corgifan]

Two years ago today that my sweet Tinsel was stolen away by what I now understand to have been DM along with the disk issues.

http://www.corgifan.com/tinsel/tinselwithcart.jpg

Gromit is a luv, a wonderful pal and Corgi, but I still miss "Tin-doggie" and feel her loss keenly.

Doug

[jcj528]

Tinsel is still with you in so many ways, Doug. She will always be in your heart in that place she shares with Watson and Gromit.

Peace, my friend.

[Penutsma]

How hard to lose two of them so close together. It will be really hard on Holly. Watch her for signs of depression. It happens! Peanut went into such a depression when he lost his first playmate that he started losing hair. Extra attention and a friend to 'talk' to will help her. My heart goes out to you.

[Jespah]

I don't think we ever lose the pain totally, and there are some special dogs that we bond with more and the loss is more keenly felt, no matter how much time goes by. ((HUGS))

Deb

[Redwood Corgi]

No matter how many dogs have touched our lives there are always those "special" ones. I know that they leave a hole in our hearts that wonderful memories eventually fill.

Here's hoping that thinking of her brings more smiles and less tears as the years go by.

[Fluffypants]

Sending you lots of hugs. The pain dulls over time but never goes away. The loss is always there.

[CorgiMum]

They stay in hour hearts forever. {{{{Doug}}}}

[Kassie]

Thinking of you today. When they're that special I don't think it ever stops hurting on some level. Hugs

[thebeach.corgi]

Agree with Kassie, the loss of those special heart dogs hurts at some level always. I still miss my Cody after 7 years. We had a special bond. He has a piece of my heart.

Thanks for sharing Tinsel with us. +WUBCLUB+

[Dillydoodle]

I couldn't agree more with what the others wrote.. I know how hard it is .. the anniversary of the passing of my furbabies is always a hard day for me.. even after quite a few years . The pain is not as raw as it once was, but i do always feel the loss and miss my babies.

I hope you can find some peace today and comfort in the memories of your special girl and just know that one day you will be reunited.

[Corgifan]

Thanks for the comments, kids. I found myself wondering why I would post again about Tinsel's passing 2 years after the fact but it just seemed like the thing to do.

Doug

[corgiland]

Thinking of you, Doug..........

They are all so special in their own way......

[dcole]

The special furbabies are always with us, Doug. +FUZZHUG+

[Anniesmom]

The pain of loss never goes away Doug. The edges just soften a bit. We remember every year and write it on the calendar the date we lost our Missy and of course the day we brought the red headed Diva aka Annie home.
Anniversaries of the heart...{{{{HUGS}}}}