Today, Lucy Died
Sad Day. After 14 years in our lives, Lucy passed.
She was stalwart to the end.
She was suffering from Hip Dysplasia (common among labs), Geriatric Vestibular (diagnosed after Wallie’s passing in 2025), and Cushing’s Disease (a few years of this). Vet who showed at our home thought she may have had cancer, as well. We’ve known for some time – it was time. The struggle with so many pet owners is Is It Too Soon? Is It Too Late. I think it was about right. She didn’t have any accidents (so great, she was), but you could tell as she stumbled for weeks, wouldn’t ‘sit’ – just plop on the ground. Often hurting herself. We knew it wouldn’t get better for her. Obviously, it was hard for her. Her heart was more robust than her body would allow at this point.
We know she had an awesome life. Adopted from our local shelter so many years back, she was the only one that was quiet and looked into our eyes that day. She was a spaz when she was young – to be expected. We will miss her jumping on the bed at night. Her growling at the cats (never anything else), and her need to always be near us, especially Tina (I was always secretly jealous of this).
I hate that my last memories of her was her stumbling to just be near us. Often, she wouldn’t be able to get up at all … you could hear her struggling and trying, resulting in either myself or Tina going over to pick up her hindlegs to enable her to walk. Her Dysplasia made her legs so stiff; yet, she stumbled on. Often I would see her stand on her curled toes just to be upright. She would stumble to the dining room table when we ate at dinner time. Stumble to bed. Stumble to potty outside. Stumble for her treats. Yet – she persisted in her love and want to be near us. Now she’s gone.
Vet was shocked to know Lucy was 14. Most labs live 10-12.
“She’s obviously been well taken care of!”
No consolation.
But, to some extent, Yes. We love her so much. We will miss her so much. I’d like to think she was very happy over her 14 years. I know that. Which makes this agony easier.
I fired up the smoker at 9am and grilled her a nice steak, medium rare. Elyce and I also had gone to Albertsons the night before to buy her a slice of chocolate cake. She devoured both about 30 minutes prior to the vet arriving. We had her lay down in front of the fireplace, in the living room – where so many nights were spent over the years with her just laying down, sleeping, snoring, farting.
Hug your pet tonight, please.