July 28, 2000. It was 7:00 am. My mother opened my bedroom door. She said, "Julie. Julie. Max just died." I just looked at her and I instantly started to bawl. I have had Max since I was 12 years old. I will be 23 in November. "If you wanna see him, you better get up."
So, scared to see my dead dog, I got out of bed and got dressed and headed downstairs behind Mom.
You must understand right now, that Max was very close to me. Even going so far as to let me know, in his own way, what he thought of the guys I brought home. I always took him for walks with me and always took him along for the ride when I went to recycling. (don't ask) So, Max wasn't only close to me, but my mom and dad and my brother too. Well, as you can imagine, it was a very sad time.
As I said, I followed mom downstairs. She said, "He's at the bottom of the basement stairs." So, I looked around the corner and there he was, looking like he was sleeping. (i'm crying while I write this, I can't help it.) Mom and I went down to the bottom of the stairs and sat there on the steps and just looked at him. He was still soft and still warm. So, he had just died. But in the time that we (Dad came down and sat between Mom and I) sat there, his paws went cold. I started to cry and dad said, "He's in a better place. He's better off." This is pretaining to Max having hip problems. And hardly being able to get off the floor to go out and take a pee. Which is what happened on Thursday. He was getting lazy and wouldn't get off the floor to go outside to pee. I figured he was dying, but didn't say it out loud. I didn't want to admit to myself, let alone anyone else.
Max had lost bodily fuilds when he died so there was a wet mark around his mid-section where he had peed. (guess who got to clean that later, cause mom went to work and dad dug the hole!?) We got up and had, somewhat of, breakfast. None of us were in the mood for it. My brother and sister-in-law would have to know, but both were going/or already at work. We didn't want to upset them. They were going to be told when they got home from work. Umm, I also forgot to mention that I took Max's collar off of him so I could keep it. Dad wanted me to leave it on him, but mom remarked that he doesn't need it where he's going. Which if you think about, is true. Mom says the new one he is going to get will be gold.
Dad went to dig a hole out back. Might as well do it as soon as possible, it was starting to get hot. While dad dug the hole (I wanted to help but couldn't find a shovel that wasn't broken) I went to see if I could put a blanket under Max to get him out of the basement. I got it under his rear and under his head, but I couldn't get it under his mid-section. He was a little heavy and I didn't want to hurt him. So, I let dad do it when he came in. We got him outside and we put him down beside the hole. We then lifted him off the blanket and folded the blanket around him to cover him. I saw my dad cry. I rarely, if ever, see my dad cry. Max was one of the family, he even went on vacation with us if we were going to a cottage or camp ground!
We finally got him buried. I miss him terribly. I may be in Ottawa right now, but in my heart I know that when I get home he isn't going to be there and that erks me. I also am glad that mom came to get me up because I wanted to see Max before he as buried. Kinda give me the feeling that I can move on. Not easily, but at least try. I miss my boy. *sob*
After everything was cleaned up and I had, *finally*, eaten breakfast, I set out to get my brother's dog. I was lonely and missing my dog so, I wanted company. He is a Jack Russell Terrier and loved to bug Max. He had been at the house for roughly two hours, spent most of the time looking for Max. I finally decided that if his nose is more that 10 times as sensitive as mine then... So, I took his tennis ball and threw it to the bottom of the stairs (where max died and where I cleaned). Pager (the jack russell) picked up the tennis ball, came up to the top of the stairs where I was. I picked up the ball threw it to the bottom again. This time, Pager was about to pick up the ball when he stopped. Started to smell. Then smelled the carpet for about 2 seconds. Then came running back up the stairs, forgetting the ball, and sitting beside me. He wouldn't go back down. I had to coax him into coming with me. He knew. And after that, he didn't look for Max again. I think he figured it out.
I am sorry if I upset anyone, but this is my way of venting. I miss my dog more then some would understand. If you have ever lost a pet that you had for more than 7 years, you know how I am feeling right now.
