Tonight I went to Heaven

I am getting weaker. It's hard to walk, jump, and run. I don't do much anymore except lay around. My tumor has outgrown everything that my family has bought to cover it up and it continues to grow. It's gross - even to me. I'm not very hungry anymore. I don't eat much in the morning but I eat a lot at night when I'm feeling a little better (once my medicine kicks in).

Last night mom gave me a rawhide to chew on. I LOVE rawhides. But even that is too much work. I got tired very quickly and gave up on it. I lost another tooth too. I had a hard time going upstairs to bed. I got sick - twice in the middle of the night. Mom got up and brought me downstairs to sleep in the laundry room. I didn't mind. I like the cool floor better than the carpet.

Mom took me for a ride tonight. I couldn't jump in the truck so she had to help me up. I laid down during the ride. I can sit up and ride in a bumpy truck anymore either. We got to the vet (I could tell by the smell). I've been to the vet a lot lately. I still don't like it. Dad showed up too. The nurse took me to the back and put a catheter in my leg. It's a plastic tube to put medicine in. It didn't hurt. Then she brought me back to my family in the exam room. Mom kissed me and hugged me a lot. I kissed her a lot too. Then the doctor came in. He put some medicine in my catheter in my leg and that's about all I remember.

Butch went very quickly and very peacefully. They tell you to expect anything from gasping for air, to twitching, to stiffening. Every dog is different. Luckily for Butch (and for us), Butch just went to sleep. He didn't gasp, he didn't twitch, he just went to sleep within about 3 seconds of the injection. We owe a HUGE thank you to the doctor and staff at Animal Hospital Jones Road. http://www.animalhospitaljonesroad.vetsourceweb.com/index.pml They were truly AMAZING. They were very kind and gentle and treated Butch with the utmost respect and dignity. Butch will be cremated and his ashes scattered.

Butch had a great life and gave us much joy and happiness. For that we are forever grateful. We hope we did the same for him - even in the end. We will truly miss him. Good-bye Butch - We love you!

Labor Day

My Labor Day was pretty uneventful. No BBQ. No party. My family just sat around and watched Netflix movies all day. I'm not feeling so great anymore. I can't seem to make it to the door before I have an accident in the house. It just happens and I can't control it. I know my family is tired of mopping but there's nothing I can do.

My tumor has really grown a lot. I went to the doctor with daddy today. The doctor gave me antibiotics because my tumor has an infection. The doctor says it's grown to the size of a grapefruit. I don't like grapefruit. I like green beans. I've been eating a lot of green beans. They're better than my dog food. I've lost 3 pounds. I just don't feel much like eating anymore - except for green beans. And rice. I like rice.

Today I had a hard time standing up. My back leg was shaking. I had to lay back down for a few minutes. But then I got up and was okay. Mostly I just lay down. I don't have much energy. I'm tired. I don't know how much time I have left. I wonder what it's like in Heaven. I wonder if there are other dogs like me...