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Monday, November 3, 2014

RIP my Dukie Palooki

I have been crying all day... 
but want to take the time to write this blog. 

Oct 22, 2003 - Nov 3, 2014

I was going to write a blog about the great remodel work we were doing this past weekend on daughter Erin's kitchen.... but instead our world crashed as we lost our dear Dukie Palooki to some awful seizures this morning.  He had been having small ones over the past six months, so we kinda knew this was coming. Along with onset of congestive heart failure, thyroid problems, and a huge tumor under his armpit and on his chest, this little guy has dealt with a lot in his 11 years.

At 5 a.m. he had a horrible seizure that lasted about half an hour.  He could no longer walk, his right side was paralyzed, and he was losing ground fast. We carried him downstairs to the vinyl floor in the laundry room in case things let loose.  Finney crawled up tight against him and didn't leave his side.

Then about 6:30 a.m. another seizure took over, and we had to get him into the vet.  The look in his eyes said "It's time"...

One last snuggle

Appanasha Pet Hospital was very kind, courteous and made sure we knew and saw what they saw, that he was in rough shape, and the kindest thing to do was let him go.  They left us alone with him during the process, so we could say goodbye on our terms.  They even have a side door to carry him out to our car, so we didn't have to face going through the waiting room as we exited the building.

We reached home again, with our sweet boy sleeping forever on the back seat....curled up in Finney's red plaid blanket from when we adopted him.   I went into the house and brought out Finney on leash to the car.  He put his paws carefully up on the door sill and leaned in to sniff his buddy Duke lying on the seat... and Finney licked him on the nose.  Good bye.

While Steve dug the hole next to where our collie, Duchess, is buried, little Finney wore Duke's big collar hanging down on his little neck.  He sat so still, watching and wondering what we were doing with his buddy.  It was a serious and respectful ceremony.

After it was done, we took the collar off Finney and hung the collar along with Duchess's collar, around the neck of a little doggie-statue we have marking the spot.  It was done.



Let me say, I am soooo glad he got ONE MORE RIDE in the motorhome over the weekend, because this little guy ADORED the motorhome.  It was a great moving house that brought him from place to place, each time the door opened, he got a new place to SNIFF!

When we would get home from a weekend or vacation, he would hold a temper tantrum out in the driveway and refuse to come into the house.  This would go on for hours... until either darkness or an empty tummy would drive him reluctantly into the house.

Now I am going to celebrate his life by filling up the rest of this blog page with photos.....
















































35 comments:

  1. Oh Karen. Having just been through this very recently, I can imagine how you feel. I hope your ability to write about it so completely and to share all the wonderful memories about your sweet boy helps in your healing. I am soo soo sorry for your loss.

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  2. Oh Karen, I am so sorry to hear about losing Duke. I can tell how much he meant to you by your wonderful posts. I love his tribute. What wonderful times he had camping with you. I know you and Finny will miss him very much.

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  3. Oh Karen and Steve our hearts are breaking for you.

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  4. It is always sad to say goodbye to our four legged friends.

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  5. So very sorry to hear of the loss of Duke. He will be missed, not just by you and Steve but by all your readers. He had a good life and knows that he was well loved and cared for by you both. Dutchess is not alone anymore. they have been reunited. RIP Duke!

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  6. I am so sorry to hear your lost Duke. He was a beautiful dog.

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  7. Oh Karen and Steve, We are so so sorry about your loss. Sending lots of hugs and prayers.

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  8. I can barely see through the tears. I feel so lucky that I was able to meet both of your beautiful dogs when I came through a few years back.

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  9. Hugs and love to you both, and to Finney. It is so hard to say goodbye but the wonderful memories make the pain bearable. Such great photos.

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  10. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your furbaby. I know it's such a sad sad time but your tribute is beautiful. My heart grieves and I send hugs to all of you.

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  11. Your post brought tears to my eyes and sadness to my heart. We had to put down our 16-year-old cat a number of years ago. It is heart-breaking. But for sure Dukie Palooki had the bestest home with you. Take care, Karen and Steve.

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  12. What a beautiful tribute to Dukie - such a precious doggy - you gave him a good home! So, so sorry. Sending lots of hugs from PA!
    Connie

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  13. oh, geesh, I'm bawling her in NY........there is nothing like the pain of losing your best friend.....and they are your best friends.......but the good news, is that there is always room in your heart to love another. when eddie died, I cried and cried for days, then went and adopted Roy.....In Eddie's name. Thinking of you Karen.

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  14. So hard to let them go, isn't it? My old boy will be 14 soon and he is still hanging in there, albeit very slowly. I somehow think my dad will live if Oscar can live. Silly, I know.
    I am so sorry for your loss.

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  15. For very sorry for your loss, He was a beauty and he had a great life!

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  16. He was one lucky pooch and so lucky to have you for a family. What a wonderful life you gave him...
    I am so sorry for the loss you feel, but just think of the happy memories with him..
    Hugs,
    Arlene

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  17. I always re-live my own sadness when I read of other's sadness at the loss of a cherished best Pal & treasured family member. I understand very well how you, Steve, & Finnie are feeling right now & it does help for you to write about it. Duke was truly a part of your family & his life well deserves to be always remembered. No words can lessen the hurt & pain in one's heart & it is only the passage of time which will bring comfort. Nice tribute to Duke both in words & photos & we thank you for that. All the best to you & Steve & big hugs for Finney from we doggy folks over here at the Bayfield Bunch..............

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  18. So very sorry to hear your sad news! It is hard when a furry member of a family passes on, but he was lucky to have you for 11 years!

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  19. Oh so sorry. My wife and I are both in tears. We know what you are going through, since we have had that loss, too. Our dogs are like are children and they are a big part of our family, as I know yours are, too. Our two oldest dogs are laying right beside me on the couch as I write this.

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  20. Karen, I am so sorry for your loss. You have published a beautiful tribute showing your love for Duke at a time when you must be typing through your tears. He no longer needs a wagon, as he can now walk and run to his hearts content.

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  21. I love to follow your blog and have learned to love your dogs through your clever use of words to describe them. I am so saddened to learn of your loss and shed a few tears although your tribute was beautifully written. We have a 17 year old cat named Sara and we know our time with her is getting shorter...hard to imagine our life without her so she gets lots love and snuggles for now.

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  22. Karen and Steve, I wish you comfort as the days pass. Your love for Duke is very evident in your posts and photos. You did a good thing in giving him love and taking his love!

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  23. From following your blog...I'm sure we all feel that we know your pups...thank you for sharing with us...

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  24. Sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing his life in pictures. We can see and feel the love you had for each other.

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  25. I am so sorry for your loss. They are our family and it is so hard to loose them. The pictures honoring his life were wonderful. He indeed had a wonderful life.

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  26. Crying.

    I know the pain and extend our condolences, we just lost our big guy Toby. It's been a very rough few days. He looks like he was a great pal.
    Hang in there.

    WS

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  27. Crying.

    I know the pain and extend our condolences, we just lost our big guy Toby. It's been a very rough few days. He looks like he was a great pal.
    Hang in there.

    WS

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  28. Your words tell me that Dukie had a wonderful life with you. I hope the memories you have sustain you through these very difficult times. He'll live on in your heart. I know, very well, the pain of these times, so you are in my thoughts. In the end, you did the unselfish thing for Dukie...that was the truest act of love you could give him.

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  29. I am so sorry for your lose of Dukie. I know we become so attached to the lovely critters. My prayers are with you and Steve.

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  30. I am at a loss for words. The picture of Finny with Duke together for a last snuggle just broke my heart. These dogs just really work their way into our lives. What a wonderful life he had with you. He couldn't have asked for a more loving home and people who loved him

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  31. Karen, I know from FB that Duke is gone, and now reading your blog, it made me cry this morning already. It is so hard when our pets pass away and I am sure you and everyone in your family will never forget Duke, including me, because by following your blog and FB over the years, you kind of get to know and love everyone. Pets and people. Hugs....Heidi

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  32. So very sorry to hear about the lose of your fur-baby. Hugs and puppy kisses from Diesel and his humans.

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