LOSING A FAMILY DOG CAN BE MAJOR GRIEF 

             My daughter’s dog needed to be  put to sleep last Saturday.  He was nearly l5 years old which in human equivalency would be about l00 years old.  His name was Bernard and he had a brown coat with white chest . 

              Leslie first saw the puppy in a dog shelter when she and her husband Norman were looking for a household pet to form a menage a trois.

              From the moment their eyes met, a rapport was established.  It seems that dogs encaged have this unique faculty of ingratiating themselves to potential rescuers with a wiggle of the tail, a snuggle of the body, and a love light in their eyes, especially if they are puppies.  It works most of the time.

             And thus it was with kind-hearted Leslie.  She was looking and so was the puppy.  Norman approved the merger.

             No one knew of the dog’s ancestry nor to what size he would grow.  The veterinarian suspected a medium sized animal which turned out to be correct.  Norman, a surgeon, named the dog Bernard because he thought he had a gene or two of a St. Bernard.

              Bernard loved to take baths, and Leslie bathed him as if he were a delicate child.  A favorite enlarged photo shows Leslie in the bathtub with  a nine pound puppy getting his first bath.  No laundry tub for Bernard.  He was learning to go first class.

              Bernard grew until he reached the size predicted by the veterinarian.  Dominated by a large handsome head, a shoulder height of about 2 l/2 feet, a weight of about 65 pounds, and a lustrous velvet coat.  Bernard looked regal.  He was healthy and receptive to basic obedience training.

               One night in the wee hours of the morning a surreptitious rattling of the gate in front of the house was heard.  Two men were trying to climb over it when Bernard went into his attack mode.  So ferocious was his barking that the would be burglars quickly jumped down and ran off.  Bernard was the hero of the family.

                When Leslie moved, Bernard became her sole property as well as responsibility and Bernard, in turn devoted his energies to protecting her and being her constant companion.  Years went by and all was well. 

                  Lucky Bernard had led a life that other dogs could only dream about.  I know that many other owners  treated their dogs as Leslie treated Bernard.   Dogs are important to many people . 

                  Dignified Bernard had a chauffer.  Whenever Leslie went on errands or visits, Bernard leaped into the car and eventually found himself in the passenger seat where he sat like the king of dogdom.  No one dared approach the car when Leslie stopped at a gas station.  Leslie felt secure as long a Bernard was near.

                   Since Leslie lived alone, Bernard was an important member of the household and was treated as a true member of the family.  Like some children, he was fussy about what he ate but Leslie made sure that he got what he wanted.  Even  ice cream, as he stood in front of the refrigerator waiting for service.

                   A new dog treatment which was launched by major dog food and pharmaceutical companies recommeded that dogs after  age seven or eight, be given geriatric-type attention in order to keep them healthy and to prolong their lives. 

                  Bernard was in the vanguard of this newer dog treatment philosophy.  A shelf in the closet was reserved for Bernard’s  medications which were purchased at full retail price.

                  But as age marched on so did the symptoms of advancing age.  Not as spry as he used to be Bernard would need help now getting into the car and climbing the fourteen steps to the bedroom.  A special dog ramp was build for the car. 

                 Last  Saturday morning Leslie was heart broken as Bernard struggled to stand  on his own and  was unable to walk.  She knew it was time to call the vet .  Her brother , Ron,  who lives twenty five  miles rushed over to help her lift the dog into the car.  As Ron drove Leslie sat in the back  of the car with the dog .

                  The veterinarian and Leslie spoke of the quality of life that Bernard had enjoyed.   Not wanting Bernard to suffer any longer , both Leslie and the vet agreed that it was time to put Bernard to sleep.  Leslie cradled him in her arms and  spoke softly to him as the vet gently proceeded.

                   When it was over Bernard’s heart released his soul and his essence was carried upward to dog heaven.

                    Here is what Leslie said to friends:  “ Yesterday was one of the hardest and saddest days of my life.  It was time to put Bernard to sleep.  I knew that eventually this would happen but I was hoping that we would have another year together.  It was not meant to be.  He was such a good dog.