| RIP Eli Biedermann 1995-2008 |
[Mar. 30th, 2008|01:19 pm] |
I will miss Eli. Eli was the greatest dog I have had in a long time. Black Lab Great Dane mix, and so smart.
We got him when we were working with a group called AIM-HI (Animals in the Military Helping Individuals). AIM-HI specializes in training animals for placement with Vets and Dependents that need assistance. They would open and close doors, turn things on and off, get phones, carry things for people, etc. Eli made it through nine months of training before being washed out. Eli had a bad habit of thinking horses were big cranky dogs that needed to be played with, Squirrels were Dog Toys, and Cats were a lite snack. Needless to say when Eli dragged the maniquin up and down the stairs three times chasing the cats they had let loose, they decided he would be too hard to place.
We brought Eli home and that was that.
I remember how many different ways he always proved just how smart he was. I was out mowing the yard one day and Eli wanted to come out too. I wouldn't let him so he sat at the sliding glass door for a few minutes barking until he knew I was looking at him. Then very calmly, he hopped up and slapped the door lock down, locking me out of the house. With a very smug look, he turned and climbed on the couch and laid down.
Then there were the times when he wanted to play and I was watching TV. He would sit down right infront of the TV and cock his head to one side. That was the warning look. If I failed to acknowledge him then he would turn around and hit the power button, turning off the TV. He would turn back around and sit patiently waiting to be tended to.
Eli had started getting tumorous growths a few years back. We had been able to remove them all and he showed no signs of any difficulties. A week or two ago my parents noticed a change in his eating habits. It was found that a tumor had begun forming in his jaw. It had eaten its way through the bone and muscles on one side of his jaw, and forced his tongue to one side. My parents called me yesterday and let me know that the tumor had burst and the bleeding would not stop, they put him down yesterday afternoon.
Its just one more thing pilling up. It makes me wonder what else is going to fail now, what more is going to pile up on me and weigh me down. I guess I can only wait and see how much worse this year is going to get, see what else the Goddess feels I can loose. |
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| Comments: |
Oh honey, I'm so sorry for your loss. From all the stories you've told about him, a very special pup indeed.
I'm sorry for your loss. Sometimes animals can be even closer and more dear than human relatives.
::commiserate::
When Jabber goes, I'm going to be a wreck. :-/
A quick word of (friendly) warning, however:
...see what else the Goddess feels I can lose.
Loss is certain, and if one waits to see what else will *poof* back into the aether, one will find that much does - and always sooner than expected.
Perhaps the lesson that is being taught is not "you must persevere," but to teach you to "add more quickly than you lose."
Of course, the opposite arguement can be used. If one does not have things of meaning, one can not loose them.
Then again, I know better.
Oh honey *big hug*. I am so sorry for your loss. Dogs are the best. | |
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