Ginger

by Anna

My dog Ginger died. We had to put her to sleep due to an enlarged heart. She was almost 10 years old. The vet had given us some heart medication for her and that helped for a while, but when the medication didn't help anymore and Ginger began to suffer again, we took her to the vet one last time.

Before going into the vet office, my husband Tim and I walked around and around the parking lot holding Ginger and talking to her. We were taking some time to be with her before having to put her to sleep.

Ginger was my baby. I could love her and she never thought, "What are you trying to sell me, or what ulterior motive do you have in loving me." She loved me no matter what I looked like, no matter how I acted, and no matter what problems I was having in my life.

When it came time to actually put her to sleep, the vet allowed Tim and I to spend more time with her in the room where Ginger eventually died. Tim held her in his arms and I sat right next to them so that Ginger was between the two of us. I petted her and talked to her. Tim and I couldn't stop crying the whole time. I couldn't believe that it was actually happening. Ginger felt safe because we were there. She trusted us so much.

I had always thought that I would have Ginger at least fifteen years or more. I met someone in Vermont one time who had a little Pomeranian who was 17 years old and he was very healthy acting. It gave me hope that Ginger would live a long and healthy life.

Finally, the vet came in and put the needle in Ginger's leg. Ginger struggled against it a couple of times trying to free her leg from it, and then she just slumped down. Her little head fell. I bent over and hugged her head and told her I was sorry. We just couldn't let her die the horrible death that she would have gone through if we hadn't put her to sleep. Her choking and struggling to breathe had gotten so bad, even with the medication.

When we got home, I struggled with the issue of mercy killing and whether or not something else could have been done for Ginger instead of putting her to sleep. I wondered if I did the right thing.

I miss my little Ginger so much. I pray that God is holding her in his arms and that she is happy where she is.

A week before Ginger died we decided to spend time doing the things that Ginger loved to do. We took her to the ocean, out for ice cream, her favorite park, and got her a cheeseburger.

Some people might say that Ginger was just a dog and that we shouldn't grieve so for her, but I have had a couple of people who turned out to be angels who understood and gave me comfort and related to my pain during this time, and I am so grateful.

Response from Dr. DeFoore

Thanks for this, Anna. Grief over the loss of a pet is very profound, and your story illustrates that beautifully.