Hello Rainbow Bridge greeters!
Can one of you please be on the lookout for a fluffy black Chow named
Orion? He will be on his way to you this afternoon as we are taking him
in for a mercy shot.
My husband bought Orion as a puppy in 1993. Orion ended up living at my
husband's parents house, as they have a huge fenced yard, but my husband
has always been his "alpha".
While Chows have a bad reputation, Orion has always been a good-natured
dog. Reserved at first, but always happy to greet you once he got to
know you. He would sit down right on top of my feet, then flop over
onto his back to have his belly rubbed. I knew I was "in" the family
for good the first time he walked up to me and stuck his head between
my knees and gave me a "shove" with his nose..."pet me!!".
Over the last few months Orion has slowly deteriorated, as old age
and arthritis transformed the warm, friendly furball into a cranky
pain-ridden old man. For the last few weeks he's scarcely been able to
walk more than six or eight feet at a time, and it's been more of a
stagger than a walk. The last few days he's started refusing food...
this from a dog that has always eaten *anything* you offered him. We've
convinced my in-laws that it is far more humane to send him on to the
Bridge than to keep him here, especially with cold weather coming on to
further stiffen his already painful joints.
Bridge greeters, please introduce Orion to my ferret Mischief, who
crossed the bridge last May. While Orion has never met a ferret, I'm
sure they'll be friends at the Bridge. And show him a field where he can
chase a bunny or two...I never knew a Chow could run so fast until the
first time I saw him light out after a rabbit that was in his yard (he
didn't catch it, but he sure tried!). I'm sure at the Bridge there are
speedy bunnies that will enjoy playing chase.
We'll miss you, Rhi-no. But you'll be pain-free, with a full, fluffy,
shiny black coat again, and your tail will curl properly over your back
again.
Thanks,
Melissa Bell
[Posted in FML issue 5044]
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