This sweet face belonged to our first baby. He was our practice kid who experienced our first feeble attempts at parenting. Our Gulliver.
He was the center of our universe for a few years…
…And then had to find his new place in the pecking order when Pippa arrived. (She wasn’t that much fun at first.)
He’s had to find it a few more times since then, but he has always remained a beloved member of the family.
We loved this boy dearly, and we said goodbye to him on Thursday, at the ripe old age of thirteen. He had been declining since last winter, and hadn’t been able to walk well enough to go for a walk since the summer.
We postponed the inevitable for as long as we could, and we were thankful Guvvy got one last visit with Adrian. They were old pals.
On Wednesday, we had a particularly rough day. Mr. G went potty and then fell sideways into his mess. While I was giving him his emergency bath, Junie managed to knock Coraline over and give her a bloody lip, and suddenly I knew I had to make the call. After months of wondering if he would just go peacefully on his own or if I would have to make the most horrible decision ever, and wondering how I would ever know it was time to make that decision, I just knew. Only I was too much of a mess to talk, so I called my sister instead and made her call the vet for me.
The next day, we took our sweet boy to his last appointment. Romilly came with us: she wanted to be there. Through tears, we all gathered round him to say our last goodbyes, and then just like that it was over. I could no longer feel his heart beating under his too-skinny ribs. It was so much harder than I ever could have imagined.
You’ve been a good wee dog, Guvvy. Sleep tight.
Gulliver Ezekiel Young
9/20/01 – 1/15/15
Oh, this is tough. I’m so sorry. What a beautiful and heartbreaking post about your sweet doggie Gulliver. I’ve had to put down two of ours, a bassett hound who was 13 and a kitty cat who was 18. We can talk about them with a smile on our face because of all of the memories we have. Your Gulliver was well loved and had a full and happy life with you and your family. I know it’s hard now, but soon your memories will make it easier. ((HUGS))
so sorry. I was a mess when my first dog died. He was getting sicker and sicker and suffered from hemophilia and vets all told me when he was a pup he wouldn’t make a year but made 12 wonderful years. It took me a long time but now I can remember him with joy.
I’ve never been so sad to see a picture of myself 🙁
Crying my eyes out reading this. I love the photo of Gulliver and Pippa looking out the window, and also the one of G and Adrian. Thinking of you all. Much love.
Oh, Youngs. I am crying just reading this. I am so glad that all the kids got the benefit of being loved by and loving on Gulliver. What a perfectly sweet practice child that became so much more. It is really amazing how much of our hearts pets can take over. I cannot imagine having to make that call. But it sounds like you made the best decision for him. So thankful he is no longer in pain. The pictures you have of him are so sweet. May the memories you have fill you with peace during this most difficult time!
I am sorry to read the sad news about you beloved Gulliver. Even though I am an avid reader of your blog, I was unaware that you had a Wire Haired Fox Terrier. I too had one as a child, except she was the runt of the litter, so she was much smaller than your guy. She was 11 and travelling with my parents and brother to visit prospective colleges when she passed peacefully in her sleep. They were close enough to home to bury her under her favorite tree. She was a special soul, and growing up I cried many tears into her fluffy fur. In winter we would let her fur grow out, and I always thought she looked like a lamb. I even entered a elementary school talent show with her as “the lamb”! 🙂