The last time I found myself on this forum, our yellow lab, Leo, was very ill.
It was Christmas Eve 2006 and after a few days, his pain was relieved with medication. It was two dislocated vertibrae that caused some neurological damage. With the medication he was back to normal.
Born 7/10/92, every organ in his body was like that of a 5-7 year old, based on medical testing, with the exception of a back injury that caused the pain that period of time.
Of course, he wasn't a young dog, but his mind was, even if his body wasn't.
Tragedy struck today.
Leo was scratching to go out at 4:30 am, he had come to me prior as I had fallen asleep in the living room, an absolute rarity, licking me, etc. He then woke my wife in the bedroom and she let him out into our back yard.
Unlike times before, after doing his business, he would just lay on the grass. Under the tree and enjoy the outside. Coming from Brooklyn, NY, this was new to him, as any instance of trees and grass was only happening on a walk with a leash.
This was kind of a great "retirement" for him. Relax around the back yard, along with our 6 year old mini- schnauzer. Go to the bathroom anytime he wanted, etc.
With our 2 infants keeping my wife up day after day, she was extremely tired last night and fell back to sleep.
I awoke before 7am, with my coffee in hand, walked out back.
The sun shining, there was glistening reflections on the top of the water. Never saw that before and started walking towards the pool. As I came closer, the pool revealed the most beautiful nose in the world, lifeless at the bottom of the pool.
The glistening reflections were from his shedded fur.
Our dearest and beloved Leo drowned sometime between 4:30 am and 7:10 am today.
I fished his lifeless body out of the pool. Pulling him out was a horror and he suddenly weighed so much more. His neck was stiff and I didn't know what to do.
There was no life left in Leo. Nothing
My wife was on the phone with the Vet, at this time, who instructed her to put a sheet over him and bring him in.
His eyes were still open. I closed my sweet Leo's eyes and touched his nose, still soft.
After about 30 emotional minutes, spent at his side, I drove him to the Vet for the last time.
Just Leo and me. It was quiet. As we approached the Vet's office I sang the songs that I always sang to him, one to get him to eat from when he was a puppy, the other to get him to play.
They met me at the car, with a gurney, and I took him out of the car, saying, out of habit, "C'mon Lee," as I had done each time I drove him anyhere.
I placed him on the gurney, trying not to breakdown.
They wheeled him inside.
I then broke down in the car.
My, our hearts are absolutely broken.
I can't even get my head around this. The suffering he must have gone through before he gave in without either one of us there to save him.
I have never had a pool before and will never after this.
Please watch your beloved pets.
- Leo's Dad forever
LEO
7/92 to 6/07
Leo, 6-9-2007
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