by Anthony Asuncion
This story is about my beloved Desiree' who unexpectedly died 27 October 2001.
Desiree' was born on 11 June 1996. She was a purebred Pomeranian of show quality. As with most show dogs, once they are past show age they are usually disposed (sorry to have to use the word) of. How she was disposed of was that she came to live with us.
Her final days were in a home full of love. She no longer had to live in a kennel with her kennel mates. Instead, she had now found a forever home that she shared with a distant cousin, Punkin, who also came from the same kennel.
She was given good medical care, had her own spaces, and good food (not kibbles!) and love which are factors which most show dogs probably don't receive enough of. But that is not to say that the breeders do not love them. Some do.
One distinctive feature about her were her famous rolling eyeballs. Whenever she was surprised, displeased or uncertain, she had this knack of rolling her eyes. All that needs to be said is that she was such a pretty young lady, she looked every bit the Pomeranian that one sees in photos.
I do not know what really happened, an autopsy is pending to determine as to why she died.
Desiree' went in for spay and dental work on the 25 October 2001. Prior to that medical procedures were followed to ensure that she was medically able to go through surgery.
Towards the close of that day, the vet opted to take her home because she was still groggy. The next day, 26 October, she was well enough to go home. I fed her lunch which she ate with gusto. In the afternoon she had a little snack which she also ate. But later in the evening I noticed that she became mopey and listless and would eat very little. I knew offhand she was not feeling well.
I had been told by the vet that she was just fine except for a hacking cough which is sometimes to be expected due to an irritated trachea caused by the endotube used in anesthesia.
Later that evening and throughout the night she would cough in fits. I put her over a steamer to let her breathe in the steam. And she got the medications as a precaution.
But on the morning of the 27th. I noticed she was having a breathing problem and that her tongue and gums were not as pink as they should be. I rushed her back to the vet.
A few minutes afterward the vet called to state that she was in critical condition, oxygen was given along with other medications in an attempt to stabilize her. Arrangements were to have been made to transfer her to an emergency ICU at another facility for hospitalization.
Several minutes later a staff member called to state she had stopped breathing. Several minutes after that the vet called to state that she had passed away, apparently from respiratory distress. We were all in extreme shock!!!
A necropsy is pending. We are all shocked and in mourning. An otherwise healthy pet went in for a routine procedure and 48 hours later she is dead.
It's "funny" how everday mundane things take on a suddenly different meaning when a loved one passes away. Desiree' was with us for only a short while but we all fell in love with her. We had expected her to be with us for *years*. And now she is gone! :-(
I shall miss especially her bark whenever I came home. It was as though she was saying "mommy, mommy favourite master is home, mommy." Each pet has something distinctive about them.
Desiree' and Punkin were like two peas in a pod. I'm just so sorry I did not take enough pictures of her. They would walk together, answer nature's calls together, demand things together, eat together. It was really cute when they would ask for food standing literally shoulder to shoulder and almost looked like twins. That is the hardest part of it all. Now Punkin is also in mourning and obviously misses her beloved Desiree'. They were so protective of each other.
I took Punkin out to the back yard for a pee and she just walked all around the patio as though she was going to find Desiree'. Poor girl.
The coming days and months will not be the same. For Punkin's sake I will get another Pom. But you know no pet will ever really replace the pet that was lost especially under very tragic circumstances as in Desiree's case.
May her soul rest in peace at Rainbow Bridge until we all meet again.
Desiree' we all love and miss you oh sweetheart. Love, the family. The way you left us is all so very hard.