On 19 November 2022, Lori writes:
Tadhg
17 July 2010-15 November 2022
On Wednesday I had to let Tadhg put on his vest for the last time.
This has been the hardest loss for me.
We were together thru so many things during the past 12-plus years.
Thirteen moves before he turned three, especially that move to
South Korea and back to the US.
His hips had started to fail about six months ago
and I knew with my back problems,
winter was going to be a defining moment,
but even before the snow started he had another problem.
Over the weekend he seemed to develop dementia and deafness.
He got into the garbage and ate an entire chicken carcass -
all the bones and skin and fat and innards.
Tadhg has never eaten anything that wasn't in his bowl
or handed to him by me EVER. He did it in a matter of seconds,
while I was in the bathroom.
The garbage basket is right outside the bathroom door;
I heard a sound so popped up and the last hunk of skin was going down.
He seemed deaf and confused when I called him away.
Later that night he got growly towards Oisin and
poor Oisin didn't want to sleep in bed with us.
The next morning I was expecting horrible poops,
but it was well formed with something white.
I have not had any eggs in ages so I knew he couldn't have found egg shells.
Nope - it was a grocery receipt over a foot long, not a tear on it.
I knew it was time to make the call.
I couldn't take the risk that the chicken would cause
an obstruction or something worse. I found a wonderful veterinarian who
came to the house and we were able to send Tadhg to The Rainbow Bridge
in a very stress-free way. She was even willing to let me do
the euthanasia myself (I was a Vet Tech for 17 years),
but in the end I decided to just cuddle with him and let her do the injection.
She spent over an hour here.
I was able to share lots of stories and she took photos of us.
She made a putty paw print and stamped his name on it and added a heart gem.
He was given a sedative and he jumped into the back of her car.
The plan was to do it in the yard on his favorite blanket,
but she opened her car and he just hopped right in so we decided
it would be easier to just do it there. Before she gave the sedative,
I asked what drugs she was using because there is one drug
that can't be used in Irish Wolfhounds because it can kill them.
It was in the sedative! We both laughed.
Guess this one time it didn't matter.
He went peacefully. Why? I wish they would fight,
but I guess they know more than we do and at the end we do what we
because we love them so much.
I know I would not be able to live alone if I didn't have a Service Dog.
Tadhg helped me for so many years;
Oisin has been helping me since Tadhg retired.
Oisin is five years old already,
so I think I will probably have to get a new puppy this summer or fall.
SUE FORRESTER
in Australia:
Lori, I am so sorry to read your beautiful tribute to your beloved Tadhg. What a guy. I'll always think of you and him as joined at the hip (at least he was tall enough) and what an astonishingly long life he lived. What a grand old man.
MARE MOORE
in Canada:
Oh Lori, I am so very sorry to hear this sad news that your wonderful lad has crossed the RB. Sending lots o' comforting cyberhugs your way & my sincere hope that your memories of happier times will help to ease that horrible ache in your heart. Soar high, soar free, dear Tadhg!
PATRICIA YARNOT:
What a beautiful tribute to Tadhg!
LINDA DOERING:
My heart bleeds for you. Letting Tadhg wear his Service Jacket must have filled his heart with pride.
CHUCK RUSK:
So sorry to hear about Tadgh.
JACKIE McGUINNESS
in England:
I was so sorry to hear the news about Tadhg. Through your stories I feel as if I knew him and loved him and will miss him. Tears are nature's salve. They wash away the pain and let fond memories shine through.
JACKIE IKE:
I'm so sorry, Lori!
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