ColColt
06-15-2007, 07:22 PM
As many of you already know, Katie was a Corgi Mix of possible American Eskimo/Pembroke Heritage.Three years ago I didn't even know what a Corgi was. She came into my life back in the summer of 2004 when she was just four months old. My former wife and I have always remained good friends and she brought Katie over for me to see. It was love at first sight for me and I like to think for her as well. What a little bundle of energy she was not being able to stay still for more than ten seconds as just as happy as she was energetic.
We played a lot on the deck and in the yard, although she was on a thirty foot leash because I didn't have the back fenced in but she ran and explored the yard just the same. I didn't take any pictures of her as I knew she was so young and that I had plenty of time. I did get videos of her with a Hi8 camcorder but, no still pictures.
Katie loved to play about as much or more than any dog I had ever seen-jumping and running and even hiding when you weren't' watching and then she would jump out as you walked by (like you didn't see her) as to try and scare you. She was just like a three year old in many respects. I think I can count the times I heard her bark on one hand. She was such a loving little thing and loved everybody regardless of age or what you looked like. There were no apparent issues with Katie the whole time I knew her. No food, dog or human aggression was present nor was she afraid of anything that I remember. She was as close to being the perfect dog as I have seen and I don't think you could have ordered a more loving dog if that were possible.
Margie (my former wife) offered Katie to me about a year later if I wanted to keep her as she was having enough on her hands with a sick son. I declined because I just didn't frankly think I could take care of her as it had been years since I had a dog live with me and I didn't have a fenced in yard, crate, baby gates or anything doggy related. Although we sort of shared Katie, Margie was willing to let me have her and and come visit from time to time. I still suffer emotional anguish over my decision.
Last November 2006, I called Margie to see how Katie was doing and her usual reply was, " Just as feisty as ever", and I expected to hear that this time...I didn't. I was told that while tied to a small tree out fron where they lived, she was left alone about thirty minutes on her 30 foot leash so Margie could do some house work. When she came back outside, Katie was missing but the leash was still there-stretched out it's full length. She was called over and over but she wasn't to be found. Soon she was discovered lying on her side just over a grassy knoll about thirty feet from the leash with her right eye laying on her check and the left eye bulged out. Panic set in and Margie rushed her to the vet. They didn't know what had happed as there were no wounds on her, no blood or any evidence of attack in any way.
The vet placed her eye back in the socket and sewed the eyelid over it not giving it much hope. He did offer some hope of possible some sight coming back to the other eye but she was currently blind. Margie didn't keep Katie indoors except when it got cold but from that point on she had to as Katie couldn't see where she was going. We still were trying to surmise what had happened to destroy her vision like that but we became clueless.
Two weeks later they were to remove the stitches from her eye to see what, if any progress had been made with her eye. Two nights before she had a bad seizure and was thrashing around for several minutes. The vet was called and he said she would probably be ok if it only lasted a few minutes and he would check her when she came in to have the stitches removed.
I was out of town in NC with my sister as it was the day before Thanksgiving and I knew if was time for her to go and get the stitches removed. I had so hoped that some of her vision would return and she would at least have one eye to see. She had such lovely dark eyes. I called Margie about the time I figured they were back home and asked how the trip to the vet went and how her eye was doing. Her only response was, "David, Katie's gone". What!!! I said...what do you mean she's gone!! When they had taken her to the vet, she had another bad seizure on the table. Once she calmed down, they removed the stitches and her little eye just fell out. The vet said that at her age (2 1/2) her quality of life was over and with the seizures and all the other things she had going on in her head, it would only be an act of kindness if they euthanized her and that was the decision made that day when I was 260 miles away and didn't even get the chance to tell her goodbye.
You could have knocked me over with a feather and I felt like all the blood within me just left. I had every possible emotion flooding through me all at one time, anger, distress, hatred, anxiety, worry, denial...things just didn't make sense. She had only went to the vet to have the stitches removed and now I was being told she was gone! I couldn' believe what I had heard. I was angry at the vet, Margie, and somehow a little at Katie for not being better and being healed. It was not a good Thanksgiving at my sisters. I cried bitterly, I couldn't eat, sleep and I couldn' think straight. It was one of the worse times I've ever had in my life accepting death.
Margie brought Katie home in a blanket and had her grandson bury her out at the side of their house. I went to see her and we stood by her grave holding each other and crying like we'd lost our first child, which we never had. In a way, our daughter did indeed die as she was like a daughter to us both. This isn't easy writing this as memories are flooding my mind again. I had a head marker made for Katie that was engraved in granite, "Katie, our Sweet little Girl. We love You and Miss You". She was the most precious dog I've ever known and I love her and always will.
This is long and I apologize in advance but, I wanted to tell this as I will soon be getting a little red headed tri Corgi from a wonderful woman who rocks him at night and I feel privileged to even believe I will again have a little furball in my life. I still suffer some guilt over the fact that if I had taken Katie when she was offered, she may very well still be alive today. Perhaps I shouldn't feel like that but I do. Moreover, perhaps God has given me another chance to take Bubba and let him be what Katie can no longer be-a loyal, loving companion. Perhaps my suffering over her has reached the portals of Heaven and made this thing happen for me. For whatever the reason, I will take care of Bubba, love him, protect him, attempt to give him whatever is needed to make his short stay here on earth as good as I can with the knowledge I have. Maybe the wounds from experiencing the death of my precious Katie will wane more as time goes on and Bubba and I become each others only recourse of happiness and joy. May I always remember this incident with Katie and never let another opportunity to love an animal pass my way again unanswered. Bubba is a sweet boy and I can't wait to meet him and bring him home with me.
So, If you should see my avatar change over the course of the next month, it is because Bubba will now be a live memorial to me of what I passed up and have been given another chance to care for yet another one of God's creatures. Had it not been for Katie, I wouldn't have known about Corgis. Nor would I have found this breed specific forum and get to know and care about all of you wonderful and precious people who share the same love that I do for these crazy, but lovable little Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
We played a lot on the deck and in the yard, although she was on a thirty foot leash because I didn't have the back fenced in but she ran and explored the yard just the same. I didn't take any pictures of her as I knew she was so young and that I had plenty of time. I did get videos of her with a Hi8 camcorder but, no still pictures.
Katie loved to play about as much or more than any dog I had ever seen-jumping and running and even hiding when you weren't' watching and then she would jump out as you walked by (like you didn't see her) as to try and scare you. She was just like a three year old in many respects. I think I can count the times I heard her bark on one hand. She was such a loving little thing and loved everybody regardless of age or what you looked like. There were no apparent issues with Katie the whole time I knew her. No food, dog or human aggression was present nor was she afraid of anything that I remember. She was as close to being the perfect dog as I have seen and I don't think you could have ordered a more loving dog if that were possible.
Margie (my former wife) offered Katie to me about a year later if I wanted to keep her as she was having enough on her hands with a sick son. I declined because I just didn't frankly think I could take care of her as it had been years since I had a dog live with me and I didn't have a fenced in yard, crate, baby gates or anything doggy related. Although we sort of shared Katie, Margie was willing to let me have her and and come visit from time to time. I still suffer emotional anguish over my decision.
Last November 2006, I called Margie to see how Katie was doing and her usual reply was, " Just as feisty as ever", and I expected to hear that this time...I didn't. I was told that while tied to a small tree out fron where they lived, she was left alone about thirty minutes on her 30 foot leash so Margie could do some house work. When she came back outside, Katie was missing but the leash was still there-stretched out it's full length. She was called over and over but she wasn't to be found. Soon she was discovered lying on her side just over a grassy knoll about thirty feet from the leash with her right eye laying on her check and the left eye bulged out. Panic set in and Margie rushed her to the vet. They didn't know what had happed as there were no wounds on her, no blood or any evidence of attack in any way.
The vet placed her eye back in the socket and sewed the eyelid over it not giving it much hope. He did offer some hope of possible some sight coming back to the other eye but she was currently blind. Margie didn't keep Katie indoors except when it got cold but from that point on she had to as Katie couldn't see where she was going. We still were trying to surmise what had happened to destroy her vision like that but we became clueless.
Two weeks later they were to remove the stitches from her eye to see what, if any progress had been made with her eye. Two nights before she had a bad seizure and was thrashing around for several minutes. The vet was called and he said she would probably be ok if it only lasted a few minutes and he would check her when she came in to have the stitches removed.
I was out of town in NC with my sister as it was the day before Thanksgiving and I knew if was time for her to go and get the stitches removed. I had so hoped that some of her vision would return and she would at least have one eye to see. She had such lovely dark eyes. I called Margie about the time I figured they were back home and asked how the trip to the vet went and how her eye was doing. Her only response was, "David, Katie's gone". What!!! I said...what do you mean she's gone!! When they had taken her to the vet, she had another bad seizure on the table. Once she calmed down, they removed the stitches and her little eye just fell out. The vet said that at her age (2 1/2) her quality of life was over and with the seizures and all the other things she had going on in her head, it would only be an act of kindness if they euthanized her and that was the decision made that day when I was 260 miles away and didn't even get the chance to tell her goodbye.
You could have knocked me over with a feather and I felt like all the blood within me just left. I had every possible emotion flooding through me all at one time, anger, distress, hatred, anxiety, worry, denial...things just didn't make sense. She had only went to the vet to have the stitches removed and now I was being told she was gone! I couldn' believe what I had heard. I was angry at the vet, Margie, and somehow a little at Katie for not being better and being healed. It was not a good Thanksgiving at my sisters. I cried bitterly, I couldn't eat, sleep and I couldn' think straight. It was one of the worse times I've ever had in my life accepting death.
Margie brought Katie home in a blanket and had her grandson bury her out at the side of their house. I went to see her and we stood by her grave holding each other and crying like we'd lost our first child, which we never had. In a way, our daughter did indeed die as she was like a daughter to us both. This isn't easy writing this as memories are flooding my mind again. I had a head marker made for Katie that was engraved in granite, "Katie, our Sweet little Girl. We love You and Miss You". She was the most precious dog I've ever known and I love her and always will.
This is long and I apologize in advance but, I wanted to tell this as I will soon be getting a little red headed tri Corgi from a wonderful woman who rocks him at night and I feel privileged to even believe I will again have a little furball in my life. I still suffer some guilt over the fact that if I had taken Katie when she was offered, she may very well still be alive today. Perhaps I shouldn't feel like that but I do. Moreover, perhaps God has given me another chance to take Bubba and let him be what Katie can no longer be-a loyal, loving companion. Perhaps my suffering over her has reached the portals of Heaven and made this thing happen for me. For whatever the reason, I will take care of Bubba, love him, protect him, attempt to give him whatever is needed to make his short stay here on earth as good as I can with the knowledge I have. Maybe the wounds from experiencing the death of my precious Katie will wane more as time goes on and Bubba and I become each others only recourse of happiness and joy. May I always remember this incident with Katie and never let another opportunity to love an animal pass my way again unanswered. Bubba is a sweet boy and I can't wait to meet him and bring him home with me.
So, If you should see my avatar change over the course of the next month, it is because Bubba will now be a live memorial to me of what I passed up and have been given another chance to care for yet another one of God's creatures. Had it not been for Katie, I wouldn't have known about Corgis. Nor would I have found this breed specific forum and get to know and care about all of you wonderful and precious people who share the same love that I do for these crazy, but lovable little Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.