RIP Player born 8/15/96 died 09/01/08

Postby Tiger » September 1st, 2008, 1:14 pm

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj21 ... 0018-1.jpg


Player, our Border Collie, was born with a malformed heart. There really was nothing that could be done for him except to not let him play too hard, and keep him from being over heated. His life expectancy was not supposed to exceed five years of age. Well, he surprised us all and his fifth birthday came and went, then his tenth, then his 11th....

In this, the 12th year of his life, he slowed down a lot. He wanted to sleep more and the heat was harder on hm. He coughed a lot and his appetite decreased. We knew he was reaching the end stages of his life. The last two weeks, his coughing increased until he would sometimes vomit frothy liquid, but he was still a typical bossy border collie. The vet put him on lasix to try and take down some of the edema that was causing his heart to work so hard.

The last two days, He would hardly eat at all unless I hand fed him. I had to force feed him fluids and take him outside to potty - I would have to hold him upright so he could do his business, or he would fall over because he was so weak. His doctor said he was in no pain, and that I could either keep him home until he passed, or have him euthed. I chose the former.

Last night, I put him in his crate with a few fluffy towels and sat beside him and waited. I petted him and talked to him. Sometimes, I sang to him.
I am glad no one was here to watch, or they would have probably thought me insane. I spent the entire night sitting beside him so that he would know he was not alone. His breathing became slower, and shallower as the night passed on. This morning, at 07:45AM, Player breathed his last.

He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge now and there, he will be able to run and play has he was never able to do in life.

Player will be deeply, deeply missed.

~Tiger
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Postby LMM » September 1st, 2008, 1:18 pm

RIP Player :(

I am glad he surprised you all and you had 12 good long years with Player. Seems as though you both deserved that. Your dedication to him throughout his life and in his last moments is heartwarming.
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Postby madremissy » September 1st, 2008, 1:22 pm

My condolences to you and your family. RIP Player
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Postby airwalk » September 1st, 2008, 1:35 pm

Be at peace Player. What a lovely thing you did for him.
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Postby katiek0417 » September 1st, 2008, 1:36 pm

RIP Player. I am so glad you were able to spend 12 wonderful years with him and enjoying him...
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Postby BullyLady » September 1st, 2008, 2:23 pm

Sleep sweetly, Player. I'm so sorry for your loss Tiger.
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Postby Hundilein » September 1st, 2008, 2:28 pm

RIP, Player. Play hard at the bridge.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » September 1st, 2008, 2:29 pm

I'm so sorry...RIP Player... :(
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Postby hugapitbull » September 1st, 2008, 3:59 pm

Wow, 12 wonderful years. That's awesome! I'm sure it was due to the extra care he got from you.

Run free at the bridge, Player.
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Postby iluvk9 » September 1st, 2008, 4:01 pm

I am so sorry for your loss. Player was such a cutie-patootie! He certainly had a long, wonderful life living with you.
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Postby gmorales » September 1st, 2008, 5:40 pm

May he rest in peace, & play & run as he was never able to in his physical life. I believe he is. I am sorry for your loss, however he is free of his physical limitations & burdens.
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Postby amazincc » September 1st, 2008, 5:45 pm

RIP Player
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Postby cheekymunkee » September 1st, 2008, 6:26 pm

I am SO sorry! I know how much you loved the old man, and so did he. Run free little guy!! :cry:
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Postby CinderDee » September 1st, 2008, 7:18 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's sounds like he had a wonderful life with you.

RIP Player
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Postby Tiger » September 2nd, 2008, 1:27 pm

Thank you all for your care and concern. I feel blessed that we had Player as long as we did, truly. He lived more than double the span of years that the doctors gave him and for that, I am thankful.

He was a good dog. Smart, obedient (when he wanted to be), bossy, liked to herd the cats - and the pit bulls (which none of them appreciated in the slightest) - and he was Bo's best friend. I am surprised that he did not pass shortly after Bo did last November because he grieved Bo's loss far more deeply than the other dogs did. My heart is at ease with Player's passing. It hurts, but it was not unexpected. I will miss him and his silly faces and his stubborn little self.

The most difficult part for me will be to get used to his not being around anymore. This morning when I let all of the dogs out to potty, I wandered around the house for a few seconds calling for him because for 12 years, he has been here. It took those few seconds for my brain to remember that no, he is not in the house, he will never be in the house again - he is now resting in a grave at the side of the house buried underneath the crape myrtle tree.

Incidentally, his grave is covered now with a carpet of pink crape myrtle blossoms so thick that you cannot see the disturbed ground. Logically I know that the wind blew the blossoms from the tree and that they stuck to his grave area because the ground is wet there, but my heart tells me that God shared those flowers with Player on purpose to make his resting place beautiful so that I won't cry too much today.

~Tiger
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Postby Jenn » September 2nd, 2008, 3:25 pm

I am so sorry for your loss :(
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Postby TinaMartin » September 3rd, 2008, 8:43 am

Sorry for your loss.I know that he had a good life with you.
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Postby AllAmericanPUP » September 3rd, 2008, 7:27 pm

I'm sorry for your loss.

May you always remember the wonderful time you had with him
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