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barbtries

(28,756 posts)
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:35 PM Dec 2019

Chase

This is a post i made on facebook. I've cried so much i have a headache but still wanted to share with DU, my little home on the web.

I had the urge for a chihuahua and found some in the Recycler. So we drove over to Paramount or somewhere off the beaten path to look at the puppies. They had a boy and a girl, and I wanted a girl. But the boy was smaller and as I approached him, he rolled over on his back and it was all over.

I was in love. He weighed all of 2 1/2 pounds. So I chose the boy and decided to let my son name him. But then I nixed the first name he came up with, so he said, "how about Chase?" and I liked that. This was in June 2004.

Chase was a joy of a dog with the disposition of a saint. He loved cats, dogs, and people without reservation. If you could bottle this dog's disposition you could be a multi billionaire, he was that wonderful. He was the reward for a long days' work, standing at the door with every part of his body wagging. He sprinted to the food bowl. Sometimes if it took too long to get his food he would squawk. He slept with me every night and was by my side through most of the days.

I wanted to breed Chase, so he could pass on that lovely disposition, but it was not to be, as one of his testicles never dropped. The condition if not treated carries a huge risk of cancer, so Chase was fixed without ever being with a woman. I don't know that he missed it though, he was such a happy dog. Until recently.

We said good-bye to Chasie today. I lost my best friend. He lost all his joy, his appetite. He couldn't walk straight. But mostly as we sat together through the day all day felt him saying to me, "I'm tired."

He got very tired and lost his joy. We took him to the vet 2 days ago and the doctor looked at his labs and noted borderline anemia, abnormal kidney and liver function, neurological deficits. She said "Old age is not a disease."
But it took him out regardless.

I had to wrestle so hard with the decision to let him go, because he probably would not have died today, tomorrow, maybe not for weeks. But all the life had gone out of his life.
Chase: 30Mar2004 - 09Dec2019. His little box of ashes will have those dates and the inscription, "The best dog there ever was"

Pictures at link. I can't figure a way to get the image on this post.
https://www.facebook.com/barbara.bales.54/posts/10162736578250716?notif_id=1575937805051350&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Chase (Original Post) barbtries Dec 2019 OP
15.5 years is a good long life Sanity Claws Dec 2019 #1
Thank you. barbtries Dec 2019 #3
He was darling. I am so sorry for your loss. We love them so much, but their lives are so short. nt tblue37 Dec 2019 #2
thank you tblue37 barbtries Dec 2019 #4
My deepest and heartfelt condolences nt tazkcmo Dec 2019 #5
thank you tazkcmo barbtries Dec 2019 #6
I am so sorry for your loss. How lucky you were to be blessed with Chase for over 15 years. jezebel321 Dec 2019 #7
What a beautiful boy! Sending you ✨💫💖 MLAA Dec 2019 #8
I am so sorry for your loss. Ohiogal Dec 2019 #9
I am so very sorry. CottonBear Dec 2019 #10
i will. barbtries Dec 2019 #11
By and large, Mother Nature thought things through amazingly well. But She made a few Karadeniz Dec 2019 #12
Aww thank you Karadeniz. barbtries Dec 2019 #13
Oh, I'm so very sorry. They're family, sometimes more than family. catbyte Dec 2019 #14
Peace to your heart. herding cats Dec 2019 #15
thank you herding cats barbtries Dec 2019 #16
I'm so sorry, Barbara. littlemissmartypants Dec 2019 #17
thank you littlemiss! barbtries Dec 2019 #18
This is the hard part msdogi Dec 2019 #19
thank you msdogi! barbtries Dec 2019 #20

Sanity Claws

(21,839 posts)
1. 15.5 years is a good long life
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:38 PM
Dec 2019

It sounds like he found the best family for him.

I am so sorry for your loss.

barbtries

(28,756 posts)
3. Thank you.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:40 PM
Dec 2019

like a dummy i had my heart set on 20. He was a chihuahua, they can live that long. But you're right. He had a good life. I don't think he was feeling as if it was too short for him at the end.

jezebel321

(278 posts)
7. I am so sorry for your loss. How lucky you were to be blessed with Chase for over 15 years.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:44 PM
Dec 2019

He was such a handsome boy in his pictures. May his memory be a blessing.

Ohiogal

(31,888 posts)
9. I am so sorry for your loss.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:51 PM
Dec 2019

I know how the grief can just consume you. You gave him a good life and he loved you, that is what you should remember. It is never easy. Hugs to you.

CottonBear

(21,596 posts)
10. I am so very sorry.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 09:55 PM
Dec 2019

Chase was a beloved member of your family. He brought great joy to you.
You are so fortunate to have shared your life with Chase.

We lost our beautiful cat, Chippy, 3 years ago. My son was heartbroken. I explained that she lived on in his heart, and that his love for her and her love of him, is what her spirit is.

You will always have Chase’s spirit in your heart. ?️

barbtries

(28,756 posts)
11. i will.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 10:03 PM
Dec 2019

and i take comfort believing that he's with Luke and Lola, the 2 cats he lived with for most of his life. They passed away 5 and 6 years ago. He can run and jump and wag his tail, and eat to his heart's content.

Karadeniz

(22,461 posts)
12. By and large, Mother Nature thought things through amazingly well. But She made a few
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 10:05 PM
Dec 2019

Mistakes: I absolutely need three arms, minimum, and I could use an eye in the back of my head. But I'd trade Her correcting those missteps if She'd just planned dog's and cat's lifespans with better foresight. This 15-20 years with us is for the birds. I cried for a month when my globetrotting Maltese died. I still miss Bear and Penelope, and it's been years. I was such a basket case when my lamb, Pinky, died that the next time a lamb got sick, my husband laid down the law to the vet that we couldn't survive another Pinky episode...Einstein lived thanks to a truckload of epinephrine and oxygen. When I cross over, you can bet I'm going to discuss this situation with someone in a position of authority. Promise.

Until then, you have my deepest sympathies. I looked at Chase's photos. He was gorgeous. Remember and be thankful for the wonderful years you were blessed to have him. He'll be waiting for you. Promise.

barbtries

(28,756 posts)
13. Aww thank you Karadeniz.
Mon Dec 9, 2019, 10:07 PM
Dec 2019

it's a comfort knowing I'm not alone in this particular grief. he was just the best dog. just the best.

catbyte

(34,325 posts)
14. Oh, I'm so very sorry. They're family, sometimes more than family.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:42 AM
Dec 2019

What a beautiful tribute to your precious Chase. He lived his best life with your family and you committed the ultimate act of love even though it was an utterly heartbreaking decision for you to make.

Again, please accept my deepest condolences. Please know that tears are being shed in Michigan tonight for your sweet Chasie. Again, I'm so sorry.

herding cats

(19,558 posts)
15. Peace to your heart.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:57 AM
Dec 2019

Chase was loved deeply and fully. Which is why your heart is so broken now. I know this feeling all too well.

Try and remember it's also why his all too brief life (in respect to ours, their guardians) was so filled with joy and happiness! You made his life the joy it was and without you he'd quite possibly not have been as loved, spoiled and worshiped. He'd also not have had such a peaceful passing. It takes truly a deep love to know when it's about them and their comfort and joy, not our just our pain of letting them go. I commend you, and I cry with you tonight for being a truly loving pet parent to Chase.

My heart is heavy with you tonight. It's never easy loving our fur babies like we do at the end of their lives, but it's still our love which reminds us of our duty to them.

Peace and love to you, barbtries.

littlemissmartypants

(22,529 posts)
17. I'm so sorry, Barbara.
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 11:07 AM
Dec 2019

I'm weeping. What a lovely little friend. My baby, a rescue chihuahua mix turned ten in October and I know I will come close to death myself when she has to go. I am so sorry you had to let Chase go but I understand. I hope you find comfort in the happy memories he left behind. Sending love and hugs. ❤

barbtries

(28,756 posts)
18. thank you littlemiss!
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 12:45 PM
Dec 2019

totally working on that. i had 2 old pillows on the floor next to my recliner so he didn't have to jump too far. we had gates all over so he wouldn't take the stairs. Pee pads all over. picking them up, putting them or throwing them away.
with christmas coming i'm letting my sons know the kind of dog i want. but nobody can take Chase's place, I'll just love the next dog for who he or she is and never let them know how exceptional their predecessor was.

i got so lucky with that dog.

msdogi

(430 posts)
19. This is the hard part
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:28 PM
Dec 2019

I just lost my third Great Dane, was glad she was doing well at 8, but the arthritis got the best of her. My two before Maggie were both only 7, one with crippling arthritis and the other an enlarged heart. I know this about Danes, but to me, the joy of living with them for however long I get is worth the heartbreak when it's time to let them go. I also think that making their passage as easy and peaceful as we can is a gift we can give them.
I now have only one dog, a lovely Saluki mix who was a street dog in Quatar, and she is such a sweetheart. We will be rescuing a sibling soon.
You did the right thing to not ask your Chase to be miserable just to have more time with him.
I have three dogwood trees in my yard, and will eventually add a fourth where Maggie's ashes will be.
You have truly loved a great dog, and he loved you back. What a gift.

barbtries

(28,756 posts)
20. thank you msdogi!
Tue Dec 10, 2019, 01:44 PM
Dec 2019

Chase is my first but not my last. I will dog again. He gave me so much more than he ever took, and as hard as losing him has been, there's just nothing else in my experience that matches that unconditional love of a dog.
I actually think everyone should have a dog because they enrich our lives and teach us that selfless love.

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