Friends,

Yesterday afternoon, we learned that our Libby has cancer of the bladder. She's been having some peeing problems lately and after several tests, it turns out that the outlook is .... let's say not so good.

Right now, she's an active fun-loving Scottie dog, the finest of the eight Scotties who have shared their lives with us. And I pray that we can keep her feeling good for another year or so.

Yup, we've cried and held her tight and she's loving the little added attention. We usually do Chinese take-out when coming home from Saturday evening Vigil Mass and I spoiled her last night ... four noodles instead of the usual three.

Hey, we'll just take each day as it comes. Loving and hugging and being a family.

I wrote the little Personal Writing about Libby last year. I hope the dog lovers amongst us can appreciate the love. I cry whenever I read it ... especially now

God Bless,

Steve



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Libby


It's a cold winter day, with rain and a touch of snow blowing sideways. And I'm studying a mother lode of Scripture and Gospel. I'm the leader of a Lenten Group at church and I'm amazed at the needful preparation I must do every week.

Anyway, I was taking a break, sitting by the fire with a sleeping Scotty dog, Libby, laying by my side on her favorite flannel blanket. Libby loves to lay on Karen�s lap, or in my chair, or between us on our bed.

Libby is family.

Lib is very close to being nine years old, and I simply HATE that. Libby is our eighth Scottish terrier and she is by far the finest dog-person with which we�ve shared our lives. Dang I hate to see her celebrating her ninth birthday ... Scotties usually live ten years and that's pretty-much it.

One beautiful boy Scottie of ours was a great dog. His name was Stuart. He got melanoma and died a little after his ninth birthday. We knew he was terminal, so we took him on a special trip to the beach. He found an icky dead fish and did all things doggy.

His last effort at the beach was to bring a golf ball-sized pebble to me and drop it on my foot ... then, he got another identical one for Karen and put beside the first. And then, he collected a little pile of rocks, just enough to give one to her veterinary, Dr. Kirsten Shaw, who took such loving care of him and some for his favorite vet techs. Not long after that, our beloved Stuart died.

Too young, our baby boy. Too young dead.

We still have those two little stones, Stuart's last gifts. They are cherished and each rock bears his name. Like all of our little Scotty boys and girls, his ashes will be put into our coffins with us.

And then there was Mac, our first Scottie Dog. He was a rascal and a wonderful dog. He lived to be almost fourteen years of age. He was a diabetic for the last several years of his life, but he still went with us everywhere. Blind and loyal and loving, that was our Mac.

Libby, celebrates her ninth birthday soon and we'll have our little party, just like we always do. She has had a hermatacrit problem for several years (too much blood volume), but she's still wonderfully active. From just watching her, Lib is still in the prime of life.

Anyway, I was just taking my break and contemplating this little and marvelously devoted dog person, Libby. She's kinda long-haired now; she�s had a bath and Karen�s going to clip her soon. Libby doesn't mind and neither do I.

And, HEY, I'd rather lift a glass of Mike's Harder Blueberry Lemonade, supplemented with a wee-bit of additional Blueberry Vodka, to Libby now, while she's active and happy and oh-so full of life. The other end of the Rainbow Bridge is too horrible to contemplate, so let's not even think of it.

Today, just for now, let's celebrate life and the love shared by all the great dogs in our lives. Let's love life for all of the pleasures it gives and cherish it.


by Steve

I am sorry to hear this friend Steve, I have been through it many times myself and it NEVER is any easier.

Just continue to treat her well as I am sure she is used to.

They live way to short of lives and I have often sworn "no more after this one" but I always fall for another, be it a dog or cat. One always enters when one leaves and keeps me going awhile longer.

Sorry to hear about Libby s problems. I have a Shepard/retriever mix that is 15 years old. She is having hip/leg problems now, but is still happy and active. I dread the day I have to put her down.

I hope 2013 treats you well. Always remember the good times that you have had with your family and pets.

Sorry to hear ya'll have a sickness in your family. Hope it works out for the best.

IF AND WHEN YOUR LIBBY PASSES AWAY SHE AND ALL OF YOUR LOVED 1'S WILL BE WAITING AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE SO YOU CAN BE LOVINGLY TOGETHER AGAIN.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH BRING US,JOY,LAUGHTER AND LOVE.PRAYERS TO ALL.Skeeter

Sorry to hear this news. Watching a dog-child lose vitality hurts a lot.

Hate seeing this brother Steve. My Black Lab, Bebe also has cancer (thyroid). We found out this past July, and through medication we were able to hold the tumor in check for a while. Now we can't, so she gets spoiled a little more every day. We know she won't be with us for much longer, but what a joy it was to have her over the last 13 years.

My best to you and Karen.

Sorry to hear about Libby.

Sorry, Steve. T Lee says it well. Our little buddies help us through difficult days, enrich our best days, and invariably show us a selfless devotion. In return they ask for so little and mostly forgive when we let them down or disappoint. It feels cruel that their time is so much shorter than ours, but like so much else, that's not something we control. Will pray your time with Libby remains rich and peaceful, and while it is hard on us that she knows neither sorrow nor suffering.

Steve,
Elvie and I will say a special prayer for Libby. I remember
When you got her. We know how much she means to you
And Karen.

Thanks Sam,

We lit a forest fire of Prayer Candles last evening at Vigil Mass and spent some serious knee time; for Libby.

We're just going to enjoy every single day as if it was Libby's last and OUR last.

Way over 20 years ago, my mom was diagnosed with a aneurisym of the descending aorta. The operation was 50% fatal, 25% chance of becoming a vegetable and 25% chance of some form of normal.

Mom decided to let God sort it out. That He could take here when He wanted her ... and in the meanwhile, she lived every day as if it was her last.

And about eighteen months after diagnosis, it was THAT day.

Karen and I found her dead on her bedroom floor. Apparently, she was getting ready for bed and died LITERALLY in one heartbeat.

It was so spooky to see her tea and Tang set out for morning, her little slippers lined up by the bed for morning ... her stupid letter to Publishers Clearinghouse (I mailed it and she still didn't fuggin' win )

Anyway, we're gonna spoil this little Lassy like no Lassy has ever been spoiled. And one day will be her last .... but just not now.

God Bless You and Elvie; THANK YOU for your prayers and please keep them coming.

Your friend Steve

Been there. Sorry to hear of this. Enjoy the days she has left, but they are always too few.

Steve, you and the wife enjoy her while you can, been thru it myself never easy! take care!

Stuart was Libby's grandfather. He was a GREAT Scottie ... Libby's even better.

Yep, every day is precious. And we will cherish each day to its fullest.

Libby and our cat, Stowie, are cuddled up and sleeping together right now. Stowie is a gorgeous tuxedo cat that stowed away in our trailer house fifteen years ago ... when we got home, we had a two-month old cat. Anyway, they are best buddies.

Blessings,

Steve

I'm sorry to hear about Libby. Enjoy everyday and spoil accordingly. Not a day goes by I don't think about Rocky who has passed 4 years this July. Coby, our mixed breed turns 13 this month and hasn't been doing well. Dogs are the best, but it always ends badly.
Raising a glass in her honor!

You're a good Dog Libby.

Steve, I am sad to hear this.Its been a bad dog year here, I lost the best dog I ever expect to see, and our freind JB lost his bird dog Gideon...
All I can tell you, and it pains me,is that when the dog begins showing signs of pain, take her and let her go, she doesnt deserve to suffer a single day....and stay with her when the deed is done. She has always been there for you.....
On the up side, the world is full of good dogs, when the time comes find one, and make another good life for another good freind...

Steve,

So sorry to hear this. Dog's surely are special and I don't think that's any accident on the Lord's part.

Prayers sent.

I'm sorry to hear about your little friend. I hope all the best. Man's best friend is an understatement.

Prayers sent for Libby, Karen, and you. A neighbor has a Scottie we see when we take our daily walk. I think of Libby when he barks at us for their yard. He's a friendly dog.

Steve my bother I know exactly where you are....lost Belle in May to cancer and Sam has it too.....

Your friend til the end....

Keith

The last week has been a whirl.

We saw Portland's finest doggie oncologist. She was totally convinced, because of the ultrasounds, that Lib has bladder cancer. Dr. Freeman suggested a change in anti-inflamatory/pain killer and that we have Libby checked endoscopically.

In PDX, we are pretty lucky; a world-class vet who specializes in minimally-invasive endoscopic surgery is right here! So, we have an appointment for this coming Friday. Dr. Tim McCarthy will run his tiny endoscope up and into Libby's bladder. He will photograph while he is there and he will snip lots of the tumors away. The samples will give us a clue as to what "stage" of cancer Libby has.

No matter what, Libby would get the finest care possible. After all, unconditional love can only be answered by the finest help we can give.

Also, and happily, we've covered the last several decades of Scotty dogs with VPI Pet insurance. And in Libby's case we also bought the Cancer Supplement. VPI has been absolutely fabulous over the years.

And when it comes time to say good-bye, our vet, Dr, Kristen Shaw, does home calls. When the bad time comes, Kristen and our favourite vet tech, Dona, will come to our home.

Libby will be in famiar surroundings and in the arms of folks who love her totally. We'll have a little cuddle-time and love all around. Then, when we have to do the bad-thing, I will hold her in my arms and tell her, "It's alright, Lib, we all love you and it wil be just fine."

Then, Kristen will carefully insert the IV and ask me to nod when the time is right.

Minutes later, I'll nod and Libby the Wonderdog will begin her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. She will be stroked and loved and whispered to all along the journey. Libby will slowly and gently leave us.

She will always be in our hearts, but we will have to wait until we see Libby the Wonderdog on the other side.

But in the meanwhile, we will fight for Libby's life with everything we have. And when she is not having fun being a dog, then it will be the time to say good-bye.

Tears are coming, and some now ... and Lib will leave a dog-sized hole in our hearts.

May God Bless All of You,

Steve

Steve,

I sincerely hope that Libby is able to spend a few more months with you, Karen and Stowie. We've gone through this many times and it is never easy, nor should it be. Two of mine were gracious enough to go in their sleep which is much preferred. You share our committment to afford them the best possible care in the short time they give us, but the time to say "goodbye" eventually comes.

Sincere regards, Rick

I am so sorry to hear about your pups Malanoma. I had a Black dog one time, I had an Irish Setter, a White German Shepard and him. A black dog. His lineage was unknow as I found him wandering a dirt road hige in the hills surrounding Tucson years ago. He had no particular breeding, nothing to distinguish him other than his love for us and our love for him.
I first noticed a red "scratch"? in his eye. It didn't hear after a week or so, so I took him to the Vet where I found he had Melanoma. The Vet said it is always fatal in dogs and to operate would be very expensive and he would probably still die in the end.
I paid the Vet to operate and dig the cancer out of our pup.
He still got worse in spite of the surgery and a few weeks later I had to put him down. His right eyeball was pushing out of the socket and I could not stand to see him there ,, in pain,, silently suffering.
He was my buddy,my best friend and he loved our entire family. He was a "special person" to all of us. I still get tears almost 20 years later thinking about him. It is funny how a simple dog can endear itself to you so deeply for so long.
My Vet gave me the needle to send him on his way to the "Brigdge". I couldn't muster up the wherewithall to do it to him. I had to ask my Son in Law to do it for me. I cried like a child, but I did in fact bury my old friend in a place he would never be bothered and that only I and my wife knew.

We always miss them and mourn them in proportion to the amount that we love them.

And DAMN do we love them.

Right now, Libby is still doing well. She is sooo excited about being fed her very soecial goodies. One difference is that she is not eating her regular kibble well ... which does not bode well.

For right now, we will enjoy every single day we are allowed to spend together. She is such a total and complete joy!

Blessings,

Steve