Last week, I shared that Ellery had hit his head on the bedframe last week and given himself a concussion. His condition improved for a few days, and then stopped. We took him back to the vet, only to learn that his balance problems had been caused by cancer. X-rays showed that he had bone cancer, which had mestastisized into his brain. The poor sweety was in a great deal of pain, and with a very heavy heart, we had him put to sleep on New Year’s Eve.
Needless to say, we’re devastated. He’s been my constant companion for the last 10 years. I bought him with royalties from Canine Crimes, which seemed very appropriate. He sat at my feet while I wrote 3 biographies and 3 novels. He was my companion through 4 jobs, 2 layoffs, graduate school and a happy new career as a teacher.
He’s the one who spent Y2K with me, watching the ball drop and eating a few treats as we saw that nothing major happened to the world with the year 2000. He was unimpressed, as was I.
He’s met a lot of my readers. He appeared on WLWT with me to promote a book. He’s made friends with Sharon Short and her husband. He’s had quite a life.
But nothing of that makes this blog any easier to write. He’s gone and I miss him terribly. He was certainly this man’s best friend for a decade.
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I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I’m a HUGE Scottie fan. We had the best dog in the world (naturally a Scottie) when I was a teenager. He wasn’t smart. He wasn’t pretty. He had a lot of health problems. Man, did we love that dog. He lived an amazing fifteen years. Mac’s been gone more than twenty years now, but it’s a rare week that goes by that he isn’t mentioned several times by all of us. (I’m getting all teary just thinking about him.)
I’m sure Ellery loved you just as much as you loved him, and it sounds (and looks from the picture) like you gave him a wonderful, happy life.
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Losing a pet is far harder than pet-less people can understand. My sympathies, Jeff. I’ve lost two good buddies, Woof (a Westie) and Hoover (our first Airedale) and I know just how hard it is. The plus side is that you gave Ellery a good, happy life and he’s looking down at you from doggy heaven and smiling!
by Casey
on January 4th, 2008 at 9:13 am
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Sorry to hear this news.
There’s a good reason dogs are considered man’s best friend.
In fact, many reasons. As a dog guy, I feel badly for your loss.
Z
by Zorro
on January 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
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I’m so, so sorry about Ellery, Jeff. Big hugs to you.
by Heather
on January 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am
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Sorry to hear about your pup. I know how difficult it is to make the decision you faced. Carol and I faced it two years ago with our sheltie, Biscuit. It was truly one of the hardest days of my life.
I’m sure you’ll keep the little fellow in your heart forever.
by C.R.
on January 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am
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Thanks for all the kind words.
We’re putting together a nice little collage that will have a place of honor in our home. He would have loved all this attention.
by Jeff
on January 4th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
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I’m so sorry about Ellery. They say that every pet we’ve ever owned, no matter how small or for how short a time they were with us, are waiting for us on the other side.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras
by Marissa
on January 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
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Jeff, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. It is a painful thing.
When I was in junior high I had to have my collie put to sleep. To this day I can’t watch Lassie without getting teary.
Thanks for sharing your feelings and the picture of Ellery. I’m glad you had such a good friend.
by Judy
on January 7th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
