Saturday 3 January 2015

We've thrown Poppy's last stick

Posted by Rosie

There's always blog posts you never want to write and this is such a post.  With heavy heart I have to say that we had Poppy, our Black Lab put down on New Year's Eve, almost 10 years to the day after getting her from Battersea Dog's Home.  

Back in February she had a lump on her leg that she licked to the point of making it sore.  She then developed another lump in her groin which came and went over time.  The vet suggested we had the lumps removed and analysed which was when we learnt that they were both cancerous.  The vet was not able to say what her future would be at that point but as she appeared in good health we were hopeful the cancer had gone or would at least be slow to return.  Not so and the lumps did come back.  However she stayed fit ... until recently.  Sadly just after Christmas she deteriorated rapidly and we made the agonising decision, on New Year's Eve, to say our final goodbye. 

She is now buried under a Mulberry tree we bought ages ago and had never got round to planting.  We each put something in the grave for her - a couple of sticks, a tennis ball and a raw hide bone. Whilst we have thrown Poppy's last stick and have shed many tears, she leaves us with hundreds of happy memories ... and a few we'd rather not remember!
 

 



 


 


 RIP Poppy  
3rd Aug 2004 - 31st Dec 2014

24 comments :

  1. Bless her. So sorry for your loss. We are still missing Soxa. Like you, we have another dog but it's just so quiet without Soxa. I'm so pleased Poppy was a rescue dog though, such an amazing thing rescuing a dog, of never buy one, rescuing is the rift thing to do and it sounds like Poppy had an amazing life with you.xx

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    1. Thank you, Natalie. Poppy was our third rescue dog and I would never now buy from a breeder.

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  2. So sad :( Big hugs to you all, losing a pet is such a terrible wrench.
    Janie x

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    1. Thank you - she leaves us with many happy memories though.

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  3. The hardest decision of all but it sounds like Poppy had a very happy life. Sending you best wishes, Christine

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    1. It was a terrible decision and not taken lightly. The vet was so understanding and gave us all the time we needed to be sure, working on beyond when she should have closed for New Year. She was crying too but afterwards assured us we had made the right decision for Poppy.

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  4. The final kindness we can do for our beloved pets is the hardest. So sad but it looks like she was a much loved doggy companion who brought a lot of joy to your lives. Sianx

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    1. Thanks Sian - our pets are lucky that we can end their suffering.

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  5. She sure looks like she had a very happy life with you and in time may you enjoy many happy memories of the fun times you shared with Poppy. In my thoughts, Jayne x

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    1. Thank you Jayne. We will always remember her and raise an extra glass to her each New Year's Eve.

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  6. Oh I am so sorry to read this. It looks like she was very happy and very loved. You and your family are in my thoughts

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  7. God bless Poppy and all those happy memories xox

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. I am so pleased for you that Stella beat her cancer.

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  8. Oh my goodness! How sad. Brings back loads of memories. Our Mutt (before Doc) also had to be put down because of bone cancer. It was difficult. I still tear up every time I talk about or write about it. My brother's beloved Milo (a brown lab) was also put down before Christmas last year and my younger sister said that she's never seen my brother cry that much :( So yes, I feel for you guys. Poppy is in doggy heaven now, along with our Mutt and Milo. xxx

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    1. Long may they gallop through the celestial buttercups chasing sticks and wagging tails!

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  9. Sorry to hear that. It's quite a wrench after 10 years isn't it? Sounds like she had a lovely life though from when you rescued her.

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    1. I think she did have a good life and we had no idea when we got her that she would spend most of it in rural France with so much space.

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  10. I am so sorry, its just terrible when you loose a pet isn't it? in fact I swore I would never get another Dog after loosing our Beloved Dog Edward 5 years ago. I couldn't bear loosing him. But then came Toby. She was so lucky the Day you rescued her from Battersea, it sounds like you gave her the most wonderful life. RIP Poppy x

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  11. Oh my, it is so sad to lose a dog, reading this brings it all back! My Ruger also died of cancer at aged 8. Up 'til then he had been very much full of life and energy (he was a German Pointer after all), it hit very suddenly and he died in my hubby's arms not that long after we first noticed he wasn't his usual self. That said Poppy had a great life and left you some magic memories to enjoy. This is their gift!

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    1. Whilst cancer is awful (and we had a cat die from it too), it sounds like both our dogs (and cat) had mercifully short illnesses.

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  12. Awww she was a lovely dog! So sorry to hear of your loss.
    I remember as a child my parents had to make the decision to put our cat to sleep as she had kidney problems. It was heartbreaking xx

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    1. Thank you. It was horrible to have to make the decision but we are also glad that we could end her life for her before her pain become much worse.

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