bye bye Casey

So, this post is not quite baby related, but it is family related. Yesterday, we had to make the agonizing decision to put Casey, our 11 year old black lab, to sleep. He was down to two working legs and was in excruciating pain. It was the worst, hardest, saddest decision we have ever had to make but we had to keep his happiness and quality of life in mind and it would have been selfish to put him through another day of pain. The vet thought that he may have had bone cancer, tumors so small they wouldn't show up on the x-rays but cause an excessive amount of pain. The typical course of treatment for that would have been amputation, chemotherapy and a large amount of drugs. And after all that, his life would have been extended for maybe 6 months, a year tops.

Casey has been with us for almost our entire relationship. We adopted him over 5 years ago from the Humane Society. While neither one of us was really experienced dog owners, we dove head first into rescuing this dog. It didn't take us long to figure out that he had lived a rough life so far. We learned quickly that he loved us, but disliked most other people in the world including kids. Casey loved, I mean LOVED playing ball, going swimming and sniffing other dogs behinds. I'd like to think that we made the last years of his life good ones. We did our best and will miss him terribly.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...