Husky of the Month |
Congrats Nikita, Archer, and Cheyanne,our November HOTM Winners! Husky Cuddles!
Thanks to all for this month's entries!
|
Forum Rules | 1. Here we prefer clarity to agreement. Obviously not everyone is going to agree on a topic; here we prefer to talk out our differences in a respectful manner to ensure mutual understanding and respect. 2. Read the Stickies and Announcements. Each sub-forum may have specific rules which trump the Forum Rules in cases where there may be conflicting information. Read the rules of each board before you post so that you are clear on the expectations of the staff. 3. Respect ALL Staff and Admins. These people volunteer of their time and MUST be respected as well as their word adhered to. They are responsible for maintaining a free, open, clear and organized forum. Anyone found to be openly undermining any official ruling by a staff member will be warned. 4. Signatures: One picture only and no links. Images: To keep the forum looking neat and tidy, we ask that members insert just one picture only in their signatures. The picture should be no more than 200x500 pixels and should be of an appropriate subject, for example, your dogs and their names. Should you need assistance creating an appropriate signature, please PM an Admin and we would be happy to help! This is to ensure that signatures remain a welcome addition to our forum instead of a cumbersome distraction. Links: Hyperlinks in signatures--unless to a personal blog or photo stream of your dogs (like Flckr or Piscasa, for example)--are strictly prohibited. Please PM a staff member with any questions or concerns regarding this rule. |
Rescue Spotlight |
Our current rescue spotlight is: Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Rescue!
|
Top Dog Website Award Winner! | |
|
| Shimmer was a very good dog | |
| Author | Message |
---|
shimshim14 Newborn
Join date : 2016-03-01 Location : Northern Michigan
| Subject: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:23 pm | |
| Hi All, I just wanted to post and share my thoughts and love for my first dog Shimmer "Shim Shim" who passed last week. I am sorry this is no long but I just cant help it <3 Shimmer was a very good dog. I got her when I was 23 and she was 8 weeks old, and she became best friend for the next 11 years. I have never missed anyone so much! Shimmer had a good life living in northern Michigan. She was born Feb 14 2005, to a family who races sled dogs. She was an AKC black and white husky with an almost purple coat and brown eyes with blue stars. She grew up for her first few years on a 160 acre farm and learned how to play, hunt, run, swim, and was truly the master of her world. We have lots of coyotes around here and she formed a relationship with them, she howled back and forth with them at night. I work in biological sciences and she came to work with me every day surveying natural areas, parks, and forests. We spent our days together hiking through the woods and lazy summer afternoons at the Lake Michigan beach collecting sand in her fur. She loved to bake herself in the sun then go for a cold swim. She loved mucky ponds and hated to be washed! She really stunk when we had to surveys swamps and between the sand, mud, water, and fur, my car got totally trashed. I take 4 months off in the winters and I spent every moment of that time with her. We skied, and if the snow was too deep for her, especially when she was older, we hiked along the lakeshore or across the dunes. I just bought 40 acres for us to move out to and spend her old age. At 11 she acted young and full of energy and when people met her they thought she was 3 or 4. Its amazing how when you spend that much time with an animal, human or not, the level of communication that you form with them. She knew my rules and she followed or pushed them, and she let me know what she wanted and needed. We made compromises. She also had her own life with her own prerogatives, and she taught me things and showed me things all the time. We communicated really well so much that at times I felt like we could read each other's minds! She was truly my best friend. Shimmer developed allergies when she was 2. She developed a lot of mucus and would reverse sneeze and it got so consistant that the only thing that controlled it was Prednisone. We could never figure out what she was allergic to and tried exclusionary diets and she got the best dog food and whole and raw foods. She loved sugar snaps and would eat them off my vines! I took her to 6 vets, including ones that worked with huskies, and no one could give me an alternative treatment. This truly broke my heart over years and years of seeing that she was uncomfortable, but as she got older she actually seemed to get better and I was giving her a very small dosage. This is why it broke my heart to have her suddenly die on Feb 24th, just last week. She seemed so healthy, she had a good coat, good teeth, hips, eyes, and spirit. I noticed she was slowing down for about 2 weeks and attributed it to just getting older, then for two nights in a row she peed in the house and I noticed she was drinking excessive amounts of water. The next day I took her out and she was running around and seemed fine. She wanted to sleep outside that night which is normal, so I let her. The next morning she had very labored breathing. I called the vet at 7 am but she couldnt stand up, her back legs wouldn't work. My boyfriend, her dad, rushed over and when we picked her up to carry her to the car, she looked in our eyes and took her last breath. She died there in our arms. It was truly unexpected. I have thought about what happened a lot. I didn't get an autopsy, as she is gone and I didn't want them cutting into her, but now I cant help but constantly wonder why she died. She had fatty tumors on her body and perhaps they blocked an organ. The vet said it sounded like a heart attack. Maybe she had vet-induced Cushings from a lifetime on prednisone. Maybe someone on this forum has insight, but I know I will never know for sure. But I have learned I will never ignore even the smallest signs of discomfort again and I feel terrible for not being able to help her. I buried her by the compost pile at my parents house so she can haunt the animals and she can see the house and know she is home. I am very sorry that you died Shimmer and Im sorry that you never were able to grow old out on our 40 acres. You will be missed every day. You were a very good dog. Shimmer at 8 y.o with a deer bone Shimmer at 5 y.o. listening to an animal stalk us in the swamp https://i.servimg.com/u/f84/19/43/07/75/20100610.jpg |
| | | aljones Senior
Join date : 2014-08-18 Location : Terlingua, Texas
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:32 pm | |
| Liana May, I can't even begin to tell you how much your story about Shimmer touched me. I can relate to how much we share with our dogs which turns into a major hole when they leave us to wait a the Bridge.
I'm sorry that Shimmer had to leave, but think of the good times - as you related them here - becasue as lomg as you remember him, he'll be there, right beisde you. _________________ “Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.” Corey Ford . |
| | | jbealer Husky Stalker
Join date : 2009-05-29 Location : Denver, CO
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:43 pm | |
| I am so very sorry about your loss of Shimmer, that was a lovely write up about her. try not to think about why but about the life you did give her while she was with you. and remember she will always be by your side now. _________________ |
| | | TwisterII Senior
Join date : 2013-06-14 Location : Missouri
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 3:48 pm | |
| Sounds like she had a wonderful life. You gave her more opportunities than most and went above and beyond for her when others might not have. She was beautiful. I am very sorry for your loss. _________________ |
| | | amymeme Senior
Join date : 2013-12-20
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 6:49 pm | |
| I am so sorry for your loss...especially at a time when you had bought the land and thought of a long old age. Your write up touched my heart...and released the tear ducts. You have my deepest sympathies. |
| | | Artic_Wind Senior
Join date : 2014-07-23 Location : San Diego, California
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:53 pm | |
| Such a beautiful write up for a very beautiful little girl, I'm just so sorry for your loss I can relate to so much to your last two paragraphs. Although mine passed away from different circumstances, like you, they were so healthy and I expected many many more years from them. You dread that one day you have to make the decision to put them down, but when they die suddenly, really without much of a hint it's going to happen, you're just left in a daze and question everything. The "what ifs" and the "should have dones" are overwhelming. Two of my huskies passed away unexpectedly coming up on 3 years now (in April) and the third 8 years ago, and like you, two of them took their last breath in my arms. ..so let me say this to you...don't let the what ifs, and the should have dones, eat you up, instead ,just know you gave her the best life possible and she loved you as much as you loved her. I know it's easier said than done, but ...she would only want you to treasure the happy, good memories, and not question or blame yourself for anything. |
| | | shimshim14 Newborn
Join date : 2016-03-01 Location : Northern Michigan
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:21 pm | |
| Thank you so much for your kind words, there is something about expressing this to others, and hearing back as well, that really helps. A big shout-out to the world and maybe she'll even hear us |
| | | Sponsored content
| Subject: Re: Shimmer was a very good dog | |
| |
| | | | Shimmer was a very good dog | |
|
Similar topics | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| Latest topics | » Summer Time and the .... by Lostmaniac Yesterday at 11:48 pm
» Squirt mystery illness and xrays by Lostmaniac Yesterday at 11:39 pm
» The Desert Pack by Lostmaniac Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:19 am
» Dasuquin for the win! by Lostmaniac Mon Oct 28, 2024 9:09 pm
» Hi new here by Lostmaniac Wed Oct 23, 2024 12:58 am
» A day in the life by TwisterII Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:07 am
» Dog Attacked and Killed at Apex Park, Golden, CO by Lostmaniac Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:19 pm
» Recall Information by aljones Tue Sep 24, 2024 11:20 am
» Whining after anesthesia by Lostmaniac Wed Sep 18, 2024 10:20 pm
» Hello from Hiro by Lostmaniac Sat Sep 07, 2024 12:58 am
» Eye change help by amymeme Wed Sep 04, 2024 4:33 am
» 2 year old Husky has mouth sores and patch on leg by Bigdog2 Sat Aug 10, 2024 12:48 pm
» Why do other dog's dislike my husky? by Bigdog2 Fri Aug 09, 2024 10:38 pm
» Need advice on best way to introduce new puppy to our 8 year old male husky by aljones Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:08 pm
» Pending renewal or deletion by jbealer Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:35 pm
» Inflammatory Bowel Disease? by amymeme Wed Jul 31, 2024 3:34 pm
» URL Expiring. Do we renew? by ddvora Tue Jul 23, 2024 8:06 pm
» Hypothyrodism? by TwisterII Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:35 am
» Infection & Possible Tumor on Paw Pad. Help plz. Pictures Included by aljones Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:58 pm
» I just need ppl to talk to that understand by TwisterII Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:03 pm
|
|