I Did Nothing. Options

[greenie]

I've always felt that she had health issues. Her breathing is too labored or heavy most the time. Her name is Gingee, a small terrier mutt, blonde wiry and bratty, as terriers are. Out of his two dogs, she's always been my "favorite." Maybe a few pounds heavy, but hardly fat. I would say to Adam.."she's not supposed to be breathing so hard." So he took her to the vet, who said she just needed to lose 3-5 pounds.

Yesterday, I went to Adam's, returning from my moms for an overnight stay. I entered his home and he expressed his concern for Gingee, as she wasn't herself. I saw her sitting on the couch, panting very hard. I became immediately alarmed, and sat down by her. She wouldn't move from her spot, and her panting was so heavy her entire body was heaving. Of course, it was a Sunday, when no vets are open. There are ER Vets, but they usually charge you around $150 just to be examined. Adam is unemployed, and I don't have much either. We worried about money. He said he wanted to take her, and then tell them he couldn't pay. I told him that isn't how ~~ works. We wondered if we were overreacting. We had a dinner to go to later, and needed ingredients. I told Adam to go to the store and get the ingredients, while I stayed back and bathed.

Gingee and I lay down awhile. She was distressed, could not get comfortable. I prayed for her to be ok, maybe just until we could get to a vet tomorrow. I never pray.

Adam came back home. Gingee was on the couch. He said she seemed worse. I told him he has a number of things he could sell to pay someone back. He asked if we should go now, or go to dinner and come back and check on her? I told him I've thought all along we should go, but we need to be responsible and pay for it. I said maybe she is ok, we can check on her when we get back? Gingee was laying on her side on the couch now, not able to get up. Adam became distressed at this, and said we need to take her now. I agreed.

I got my coat while Adam coaxed her up from the couch. I was looking for her leash when I heard Adam yell "oh my god i think she just died."

She had collapsed. We panicked, wrapped her in a towel. We took her to the ER vet (20 miles away), but she probably died right as we left the house.

This was just yesterday. I have since studied and it seems she probably had some congestive heart failure, which if caught early on, can be treated and life prolonged.

I will never ever ever forgive myself, as long as I live.

[Allison C]

You know, that's one of the things I've always felt was the hardest with pets. They can't talk to you and tell you how they feel or how log they've felt bad so there's no way really to gauge how sick they are or when something is an emergency. And being financially responsible is always a concern too. You weighed all the information you had, which wasn't much and DID decide to take her to the vet. One of my pets, a cat, died while on the way to the vet too and I had a hard time forgiving myself. But, you do need to forgive yourseld because that's what Gingee would do. Pets are so amazingly forgiving - that's why we love them so much. And Gingee knew you loved her. It's not like you just went to dinner and forgot about her.

I'm sorry you have to feel this pain because I do know what it's like. When I am having an especially hard time I think about Annie (that was my cat) playing in the grass and napping in the sun and all the fun things pets probably do at the Rainbow Bridge. Maybe it will help bring you some peace to imagine Gingee doing her favorite things there and being happy.

Allison

[greenie]

You know, that's one of the things I've always felt was the hardest with pets. They can't talk to you and tell you how they feel or how log they've felt bad so there's no way really to gauge how sick they are or when something is an emergency. And being financially responsible is always a concern too. You weighed all the information you had, which wasn't much and DID decide to take her to the vet. One of my pets, a cat, died while on the way to the vet too and I had a hard time forgiving myself. But, you do need to forgive yourseld because that's what Gingee would do. Pets are so amazingly forgiving - that's why we love them so much. And Gingee knew you loved her. It's not like you just went to dinner and forgot about her.

I'm sorry you have to feel this pain because I do know what it's like. When I am having an especially hard time I think about Annie (that was my cat) playing in the grass and napping in the sun and all the fun things pets probably do at the Rainbow Bridge. Maybe it will help bring you some peace to imagine Gingee doing her favorite things there and being happy.

Allison

We almost did decide to go to dinner. Adam kept asking me what should we do? And I wanted to go in, but didnt want to get into trouble because we werent able to pay anything. So we just...didn't do anything. I thnk this is going to be my biggest regret ever...and regeret is not a common word in my vocabulary.

I could have maybe saved her.