Toopy died.
Yep. A little over an hour ago, I came home to pick up Tupelo and take him to the vet to find out why he’s been acting so strangely the last 48 hours or so. Andi had let him stay out on the back lawn and when I went out to find him, he was still pretty unhappy – gasping a bit, really down, didn’t want to move at all. I’m *pretty* sure I recall that he lifted his eyebrows when he saw me and twitched an ear.
Anyway, I picked him and carried him to the car – he moaned and groaned. Not a happy dog at all – Tupelo has always been the most stoic of animals and before this just never complained about anything.
I put him in the car, walked around and got in. Halfway down Ibey road, about a minute from the time I’d set him in the car, I saw that he was having real trouble breathing, slowly gasping and gasping. Thinking I’d put him in an awkward position, I pulled over, leaned over and lifted him up to rearrange him a bit – he was completely limp. Checked his eyes – no response at all. His gums were ashy colored. A few seconds later, he stopped trying to breath.
I put on my hazards, floored it and called ahead to the Vet to let them know what had happened and that I’d be there very shortly with a nearly (I hopedead dog. I started chest compressions as well as I could while driving….
When I arrived at ACE (Animal Clinic of Enfield) about three minutes later, I rushed him into room two – Wendy and her staff had setup a respirator and tried to entubate him. The Doc’ checked him over thoroughly and told me very gently that she was pretty sure he was gone – would I like her to keep trying? Maybe they’d get him back…
No. He’s had enough. I think he’s done. Could I just have a few minutes to not think? Of course, we’ll be outside. Tears, sobs…
Andi arrived a few minutes later. Luca was sound asleep in the car and stayed there peacefully while we cried and loaded Tupelo’s body back into my car. Wendy helped us out – told us there wouldn’t be any bill for the visit.
Tallis is in school this morning so Andi and Luca headed back out to pick him up while I drove Toopy home. We’ll gather soon as everyone is home and bury Tupelo this afternoon after we’ve had some time to say our goodbyes. Sort of a doggy wake, I think.
As I write this, Toopy is on his blanket on the back lawn, lying in the sun, birds all around. There he is again, waiting patiently for us to come home to him, as he always did, one last time.