Your Pet Loss Stories

'Schultz'

by Cindy
(New Jersey)

My gentle, handsome boy~~Schultz~~a gorgeous black German Shepherd.

We had him 13 of his almost 14 years. In all that time, I only ever heard him growl one time, at our Border Collie who was annoying him and boy, did she love to annoy him. She is a younger, alpha female, who constantly tested his being top dog. To keep her in line, he would occasionally,just grab her by the neck and bring her to the ground, quietly and firmly (never violently), she---with no protest--I guess she just knew at that point that he'd had enough.

Schultz was what I would call "watchful" of strangers. Would keep his eyes on them with calm confidence. Rarely barked, except to tell us that someone was near. When he yawned, a roar would fill the room and he'd make funny, almost chirping sounds when happy and excited.

He was such a gentleman, never whined to go outside (even in the later years when he needed to quite often in the middle of the night), but would simply nudge your hand or gently touch his nose to your face when sleeping.

As he got older, we could see age catching up to him and also knew the life expectancy for German Shepherds and he went beyond what most German Shepherds do and was in pretty good condition to almost the very end. So we were prepared but even knowing the day was coming--when it arrived, it was still a shock.(NO~~please don't let it be now).

I'd been hoping that Schultz would do what all elderly pets should do, die peacefully at home, in their own bed, in their sleep. I prayed for that to happen--when his time came. It didn't.

On April 2, we took Schultz to the vet because it appeared that his side was bulging outward and he seemed in some distress. Tests came back that a tumor was bleeding into his abdomen. We had to make the decision that I'd been praying we wouldn't have to do.

When I walked into the room and walked toward Schultz to join him on the floor, he looked at me as if to say, "It's alright Mom, I'm ready" in that calm, confident manner he always had.

Schultz went to sleep as he lay across my lap, being stroked just behind his ear, just as he liked it. His last sight was of his Mom and Dad, the last sounds were our voices saying his name and telling him what a good boy he was.

Today is May 24th--I'm crying as I write this. One of his beloved yellow tennis balls still lies between two rocks in the yard. I think I'll leave it there until---whenever. I miss him ~ terribly.

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