by Kathy Bezuidenhout
My little dachshund Sausage had the most wonderful character - he was only with us for three years but ironically when we bought him from a pet store - we weren't looking for another dog but the incredible howling as we walked out of the shopping center made me think twice and turn around and buy him with the money my husband had saved for my Christmas present - everyone loved him - right down to people who had only been in his company for a few hours.
He was 13 weeks old already when we bought him - he was meant to be mine - he had waited in that pet store for over six weeks for someone to take him. After a few months he got very ill and was rushed to the vetenariy hospital where they managed to pull him through parva virus and an intestinal infection which he and my other dog Smiles had contracted - it was a miracle very few puppies survive parva virus (Cat Flu). Ironically again we were told to get rid of some of our animals at the complex we were living in and thus we bought a house with a wonderful big garden for our doggies. Having only been there for a week - we decided to go shopping for some goodies for the house. Sausage had in the meantime had his nose bitten by the neighbours two Alsations because he wanted to get at them - on 9 December we went shopping - I closed the gate to another part of the garden which had some drainage holes in the wall - however I couldn't get the latch shut but the gate was closed and I didn't think they would push open a large wooden gate and if they did I didn't think they could get through the rather small drainage holes in the wall - so we left to go shopping - on arrival home - we couldn't find him anywhere and the dogs were going wild - we finally located him in the neighbours yard - maybe it was Gods way of allowing me to say good-bye - because he was miraculously in the front of the yard - where we could see him - when my husband realised he was still breathing - the dogs that were guarding his body - disspeared around the back and never came to the front of the house as my husband climbed the wall to get him - we rushed him to the vet who did all he could but he had air escaping into his body from his lungs all over the place - as I held him in the car - I told him he was going to be alright but death was visiting and although he looked back with those beautiful brown eyes - deep down they told me that he wasn't going to be there for much longer - this is the final moments I had with him - the vet wouldn't allow me near him in case any excitement would cause his heart to beat faster and cause his to stop breathing.
I feel so guilty - if anyone else has had this happen they would know - I feel it's my fault - my husband feels it's his fault because he was cleaning out the garage and the gate wouldn't have been opened I feel it's my fault I should have done something to prevent them from getting into that part of the garden if I couldn't close the latch properly - so on top of the grief comes the terrible guilt that this might not have happened - but then we have to remind ourselves somehow that even animals have a soul and have a destiny and a time to be born and a time to die just like us.
If there is just one good that comes from this - Please I implore all people to socialise their dogs at a young age - too often here in South Africa because of the crime we want big vicious dogs and all socialising does is prevent them from eating every other animal that comes in the yard - I was wrong too - Sausage wasn't socialised but neither were the Alsations and if only - if only they had been - there wouldn't have been a fight or at least there would have been less of a chance.
Please please socalise your dogs - it doesn't make them any less protective of your property but it does prevent things like this happening.
Here is a little poem I wrote for him
To my little Sausage
You were sent to us - a little gift
To teach us all how life to live
You taught us compassion,
Unlimited love
And how life was simple
Yet filled with gifts from above
Always be happy – never be sad
Live life to it’s fullest
And never get mad
As long as there is a lap to sit on
Companionship
Lots of tit bits
And a smile curling on your lip
Be brave and courageous
in spite of your size
And let the window of your soul
be your big brown eyes
Keep your coat shiny
And don’t get your feet wet
Always sniff things before you eat them
It may mean a visit to the vet
Enjoy rides in the car
And of the sun never lack
Love everyone equally
And never look back
Your life was truly full
Even though it was short
You brought joy to everyone
And special lessons you taught
You escaped death once
But you couldn’t again
It was your time to leave us
Because your lessons were spent
We’ll all miss you my Sausage
Ponk, Zero, Smiles and Tazz as well
Things won’t be the same without you
And only time can tell
But I know that you will come back to us
Maybe not in a Sausage dog form
But your spirit will live forever
Our bond was too strong – it was not the norm
****************
We all love you dearly and miss you more than anything
There is always a place in our house for you
We’ll be waiting for your return
Love from Dad (Greg), Mom (Kathy), Ponk, Zero, Smiles and Tazz
September 1999 to 9 December 2001