Thank You Everyone in Regard to Looie-Angel

[DeeanDave]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers and hugs regarding our Looie-Angel.   I am sad and my heart aches for “Looie-Lou” as I called him.  But, God had other plans for him and he was called to the Rainbow Bridge.  The shock was enormous for us and not expected.  We feel like we were hit with the freight train…..head on!  Looie had not shown any signs of being seriously ill.  On Monday and Tuesday, he started to cough a bit.  By Wednesday, he was coughing a bit more and when Dave called me, Looie’s breathing held sounds of wheezing.  I called Dr. Kevin’s office and we got Looie in.  By the time, I got home, shortly after I got an appointment, Looie’s breathing had gotten worse.  He looked at me with his eyes and they said, “Mom, I don’t feel so hot……help me.”  I picked him up and off to Dr. Kevin’s office we went.  From there, the train came at us full speed.  Dr. Kevin listened to him and said that he sounded full of fluid so the techs took him to the back and they did an xray, plus gave him medicine for the wheezing, to dry the fluids up and nitroglycerin for his heart.  While he was in the back with the Techs, being observed and loved, Dr. Kevin came and talked to me.  He told me it could be touch and go……and showed me the xray.  He showed me where the fluid was (surprising at that point in time, there was no fluid in his lungs) but his heart was the size of a baseball.  He said that for a little dog and his age (5 years old), that was very rare.  He was in the midst of congestive heart failure…..at the snap of your fingers.  At one point, it appeared the medicines were helping….there was a small improvement; however within an hour and a half, Looie was having more and more problems.  Bless the little guy, he rallied and held on until I could bring Dave back with me.  At that point, we had made the decision that he needed our assistance in helping him to the Bridge.  His eyes told us, it was time and please help free him from the pain.   We both were there holding him and talking to him until he took his last breath and went peacefully to the bridge.  He knew we were there, he knew that we loved him with all our hearts.  We told him that it was okay to go and that we loved him and we said goodbye.  He passed to the bridge at 5:00 p.m., on October 3, 2007 of congestive heart failure.

He was a lover and a cuddler and loved life with us.  We rescued him from an abuse situation and adopted him April 28, 2005.  His first three years of life were not pleasant for him but his last two years and six months with us, he had the life of royalty with love, food, and a warm bed and house.  We had the honor of his love and presence for two years and six months.  I wish it could have been longer……but God had other plans.  He loved everyone and everyone loved him.  At his passing, we were crying, as was Dr. Kevin and the Techs in the office.  He touched everyone with his love and you couldn’t help but love him back, even if you were a stranger!

His spirit will always be with us and in our home.  We had him cremated and I picked up his ashes tonight and brought them home.  They are in a little oak box in a blue felt bag, with “Until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.”  His ashes will be in a special place with a clipping of his fur, his dog collars and tags and his favorite toy, the hot dog that sounds like a duck and his picture. I am also going to plant a Memorial Flower Garden for Looie in the spring.   God-Speed, Looie-Angel and we will always love you and hold you in our hearts.

Dave and I are doing okay.  I still cry silently but that will pass in time.  The picture I posted of Looie, seems to be saying to me, “I’m okay, Mom…..You’ll be okay, too.”  We are remembering the good times and the fun that Looie gave to us.  The memories are good and they help with the healing of the sadness.   We are giving Sarge our love and attention as he adjusts to the fact that his brother is gone.  Sarge was staying extremely close to Looie and watching over him and I think he knew when I left with Looie on Wednesday that he may not be coming home.  When we came home, and he saw that I had Looie’s collar and his blanket and leash and no Looie, that Looie was not coming home.  He sniffed the items long and hard and looked at Dave and I, as to say, that he and Looie had said their goodbyes already.   He has been staying very close to us and we have made sure that at least for a time, he will not be alone at home �" one of us will be with him.  In fact, tonight we went to pick up dinner and took him with us.  Sarge and Looie were close and so far Sarge is not showing any signs of depression.  I am watching him like a hawk.

Thank you all again for your thoughts, prayers, and hugs.  Reading all of the posts and knowing that we have the doxie family, has helped us tremendously.  Thank you for being there.
 


Love to all……Dee, Dave, Sarge and Looie-Angel

[Sandishooligans]

Dee and Dave, thank you so much for telling the story of Looie.  The only thing is, I'm typing through my tears. What a precious boy he was.  Please accept my hug to you over the miles.  Please give an extra snuggle to Sargey for me.  My heart breaks right along with yours.  Thank you for giving our Looie a wonderful WONDERFUL home.

[doxielady5569128]

Thank you so much for sharing about Looie.  His pictures do show how loving and lovable the little guy was.     Your pain will ease in time.   Sargey needs lots of cuddles and loving from you guys.  How is he taking it?   I'll be praying for you all.   

[Barb]

Looie was truly blessed to have found his forever home with you.  He had the best of everything especially a mom, dad and brother that loved him.....and a bunch of cyber aunties and uncles that he wrapped around his little paw with his pictures and mom and dad telling us stories.  As many have said, Looie belonged to all of us in a way - we loved him too.    My heart hurts for you and my tears flow with yours - he will be missed.  Sending hugs to Dee and Dave and soft rubs to Sarge.  Godspeed Looie-Angel - you will be missed and we will meet you again.

[MimisMomma]

I am truly sorry for your loss. I do not post much but I had to on this one. I of course like other am typing through tears. Such a wonderful boy you had the privilege of knowing. You made the last years for him very special, which he deserved. Please accept my heartfelt hugs and prayers during this time. The garden sounds like a great idea.

Mel, Mimi, and Tuttle

[Kari]

Thank you so much for the checking in with the WW family! We are sending you our hugs over the many miles. I can't imagine what you, Sarge and Dave are going through so just know you have a whole family here behind you giving you support. 

[Valerie]

I am typing thru tears too.   How sad and shocking to lose him so quickly.  He had a wonderful home with you and is now looking over you.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Thank you so much for posting Dee. Like everyone else I'm in tears here too. That sweet photo of him makes it even harder to grasp....he went from a perfectly healthy dog to this in such a short time! What a horror for you guys, I am just so sorry life can be so unfair and hard to understand. Give Sargey a big hug for us and please keep in touch we're here for you!

[cheryl186]

Tears are flowing here also.  Thank you for posting the story of what happened to Looie.  I know Looie-Angel is watching over all of you and he most certainly knows how much you love him!!  You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers....God Speed Looie-Angel, you sweet boy....extra hugs and kisses to Sarge. 

[Doxherding Karen]

I am so sorry for your loss.  My mom is at the Bridge right now (with my dad in tow, who is probably saying "All right, now. . . ") and she is with her cat Daisy and all her turtles - I hope Looie meets her and gives her a big wet kiss from me.

Karen

[LUVMYGUNNER]

This is so sad-that he had to go,  while he was still so young.

[Roberta]

It is hard when they go so young. Thank you for giving him  a few years of love and knowing he was adored. My only hope is he does not meet up with bossy boots Emma. I often wonder if at rainbow bridge if there is a  Weiner writings reunion sign post where all our loved ones can meet up again.
Love and hugs Roberta

[TerriL]

Thank you so much for sharing Loois's story with us Dee.  Like the others here, my heart is heavy with grief that your sweet boy had to leave you far to soon.  I will always treasure the pictures that you sent of your boys in Toby's Get Well Box.  Looie was a lucky lucky boy to have found his forever home with you and Dave and Sargey.  I think I speak for all of us here on the board when I say that we were blessed to have had the privlege of knowing Looie through your posts and pictures. 
We are all here if you need us .....  Hugs to you and Dave and special belly rubs to Sargey.

[David C.]

Our hearts and prayers continue to go to your family.   As tough as it is to lose an older dachshund, it's kind of expected once you get past a certain age.   Losing a younger one is always heart-wrenching.  I hope you and your family can find peace in the fact that it really wasn't the quantity of Looie's years as much as the quality, especially in the days that he came to live with you.  Imagine what it would have been like if the dogapult had not found you, Looie would have never known real love, both from his hoomans and his dachsie brother Sargey.   You gave him that gift, and the look on his face clearly showed he was grateful.

Sargey may have already had an inclination the Looie was doing so well.  For our four-legged puppers, the comings and goings in a pack are part of the circle of life.   If Sargey does start showing signs of depression, I'd recommend bringing a younger dachshund as a guest into your house.   Even if the younger dog is not a permanent fixture, its presence will give Sargey the idea that the circle is complete.   After Rusty's passing, Rudy & Max were noticeably down.   When a friend of ours brought his younger dachshund by, both of them perked up.   It gave them that sense of the circle completing itself.

[PattyInAK]

I understand the part about feeling like you were hit by a freight train.  You guys are going through what Dan and I experienced when we lost Misty so suddenly.  I'm glad you were able to be there for Looie, especially at the end when he needed your comfort so much.  You did the right thing, you took his pain away and put it on yourself, as anyone of us who love our dogs so much would do.  You had him for such a short time, just like we did with Misty.  You made his last couple of years wonderful and loved-filled, and he felt that.  Hugs to you and Sargey.

[Doxherding Karen]

Take the advice of Cesar millan.  Dogs live in the momemt and whil they clearly remember, they probably aren't capable of introspection. 

When Cooper died, Guinness knew something was missing.  Whenever I came in the houe, h would run around looking or Cooper.  Once the new Herd members came, he became his own self.
So while Sarge is missing an important part of his life, I don't think he is pinin specifically for Looie.

That doesn't make the loss any easier.  They were very good friends.  I've saved tha last photo of Looie leaning on his best friend, his buddy Sarge.

Karen

[Ruth in MT]

We have a couple of pictures when  eLlIe and I stopped at Greenacres last year and met Dave and Sarge and Looie. 
We wish you all peace and comfort.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

OMG wasn't he just the most beautiful boy! His markings were stunning and he had the sweetest look on his face, you could tell even though photos just how sweet a boy he was. Thanks for sharing these shots of him Ruth, he will be greatly missed by all of us here too.

[Bratpak and Lauri]

Oh NO!  Dee and Dave and Sargey, I'm SO sorry for your terrible loss!  Know you're in our prayers and thoughts!

Warm rays and hugs from SA
Lauri, Simson, Tommie, Heino, Jessie