Ask Sue – October 2009

Nov 3, 2009 by Sue

Dear Sue,

Q. Our dog Rooney passed away about four years ago — he was 15 years old. Rooney was a Chow/Elkhound mix with a beautiful red coat. Right before his death, he went to the front door and wanted to go out into the snow, so I let him out. He went out and laid proudly in the snow, but I was worried about him and went and carried him back in. Rooney died shortly after I brought him back in the house. I would like to know if I brought him in before he was ready, or if he wanted to pass in the snow?

A. In tuning into Rooney for you about that day, he said that you handled it well. He was looking for some relief from the transitional states that his body was going through at the time. Rooney was also saying to you that he was ready to cross over. He said that you always knew what he wanted and he understood your concern for him. He felt it was the best decision that you brought him back in the house. Rooney wants me to remind you that he loved hanging out in the living room as well and felt it was the center place of a strong union of love, which in the end, made it a peaceful transition for him to cross over. Rooney is by your side and mentioned that he was still attending to his ‘post.’

Editor’s Note: In her last “Ask Sue” column, Sue Hopple told us of the continuing story of Arizona, her beloved horse, who had surmounted many health obstacles. In this column Sue continues the story of Arizona.

Arizona’s Story

The days continued with just trying to keep Arizona’s pain levels comfortable with the least amount of pain relievers. Arizona had some days where he ate well and other days that he would not finish up his hay. I kept up a routine of cleaning up his back legs from the sores that had developed underneath his fetlocks. It was a constant battle to keep them from getting infected because of the moisture that collected from his fetlocks dropping almost to the ground.

I talked to Arizona every day about how wonderful he was and how much we loved him. I also talked to him about winter coming and that he needed to remember how they can be so hard here, with all the snow that can accumulate. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about all that and would say “How about more carrots?” There was another issue I felt was loaming over Arizona’s survival — that was the prospect that he could get another infection all over again in his back legs. Because he was already in a weaker state, I knew in my heart that he might not be able to manage another serious infection.

I always ran some of my animal cases by Arizona and would ask him how animals would handle certain situations. I talked to him about my classes coming up and how busy I was. The Saturday morning of my class I mentioned to all the horses that I would be gone for the day and back that evening. Everything seemed well and in order that night when I fed all three horses.

On Sunday morning I noticed that Arizona’s back left leg had started to swell up again. It was also noticeable in how he walked, that he was experiencing more pain. I started him on a little bit more pain medication to help him out. Then by Monday, Arizona could barely walk. The infection had returned in the one hind leg. He didn’t want to eat much and I talked to him about what we might do. By Tuesday evening, I heard him tell me that he was getting ready to cross over. He was eating the best he could and was still enjoying his carrots that night. When I came into the house that evening I mentioned to my husband that I would need to call the vet and make arrangements maybe by Friday to let Arizona go. At midnight I checked in on Arizona and he was standing out in his paddock, looking out at the night sky towards the south.

Wednesday morning I went to feed the horses around 7 a.m. Immediately I saw my other horse, JD, looking at me with such an intense stare that I knew something was wrong. Arizona had fallen in his paddock and could not get back up. I went out to him and realized that I couldn’t help him up and covered him with a blanket to keep him warm. I knew that Arizona was helping me out with my decision about when to call the vet to come and put him down. I made the call, and the vet was on her way. Both my husband and I waited there with Arizona and kept petting his neck and face. Arizona then wanted to get up and he was determined to do it. Some how he managed on his own and we just got out of his way. When he stood, it was as if he was standing on ice. All four legs were moving so un-steady, that I just prayed he didn’t fall again, maybe into the railing. This was truly his way to cross over while standing, because he got up right as the vet’s truck was pulling up to the barn.

We walked Arizona very carefully out onto the grass lawn away from the barn and he even picked at some of the grass. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun was bright and warm. My husband and I both kissed him and said our good-bye. My husband held onto the lead rope and I stood back. Arizona gave my husband one last sweet nudge and stepped back. Everything around us was calm. The other two horses were watching, but were silent. Before the second injection was done, Arizona went down and I felt his soul leave in that moment. Then in that same second, a hawk flew over us and cried out three times. What a send off Arizona received! It was verification for us, too, that all was in perfect order. We all felt so special for that acknowledgment from the hawk.

So it was that Arizona crossed over on Wednesday, October 7th at 8:45 a.m. He has left a hoof print on our hearts that will be there forever.

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