I haven't written much in a while because I have been grieving. Before I start, apologies for the long post, this is more as a remembrance of Dougal for my husband and I than anything else but I would love to share Dougal’s life with you, especially as it's Dougal's birthday today. He would have been twelve. He was put to sleep on the 28th January 2013 after suffering from lymphoma cancer for over a year and we have been devastated and miss him so much.
A painting I did of Dougal a few years ago, called 'Chasing butterflies'.
Dougal was born on the 19th February 2001 and he came to live with us in Chepstow when he was 8 weeks old.
Dougal and I have been inseparable ever since, he was my soul animal mate. When he was tiny, I would carry him around in my coat. He was a cheeky, playful and mischievous little pup who made friends with everyone. His inquisitive nature got him into a lot of scrapes and adventures though. He grew into a loveable dog, adoring people but was a bit wary of other dogs, until he got to know them. His best friend was Murphy, an old English Sheepdog, who taught him everything. This is Dougal with Sarah and Murphy on Dougal's first birthday.
Over time, there were two new additions to the family. Daisy-Belle joined us in 2002 and Millie-Moo in 2006.
The Clan
Dougal's favourite things were walks with his sisters, rough and tumble games with his dad, swimming, snoozing and cuddles from me :)
Flying Dougal
Playing with Millie
Tuggy with Daddy
Walkies with Mummy, Daisy and Millie
Swimming and chasing splashes... the dirtier the water, the better.
Afternoon snoozes
Cuddles
He also loved sitting at the window and barking at the postman and the neighbours cats:
Usually on his own but sometimes with his sisters.
Before falling asleep on his favourite, soggy, white teddy.
Dougal was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2011. He hadn't been himself for a while and I was worried so I took him to the vets, thinking I was just overreacting. I cried so much when we were told it was lymphoma. It felt like I had lost him already. My husband and I discussed chemotherapy with our vets and decided to go down that route. We weren't ready to give up our little boy yet. The vets from 'Island Vets' in Stafford were wonderful and the chemo worked well, it didn't make Dougal sick and my little man went into remission, I think it was in spring of 2012.
Dougal was fine until mid December. After a bone treat one day, he was very sick. I thought he had probably overeaten, but he was becoming more lethargic and he wouldn't even eat his favourite treats, so we took him to the out of hours vets on 21st December and the vet wondered if the cancer had spread to his stomach. The vet gave him antibiotics and we took him back the next day for a follow up checkup and his temperature was normal again. We were so relieved and thought he just had an infection, but we were wrong. Over Christmas he became poorly again and we had to take him to the vets in Carmarthen, when my parents in-laws live. The vet noticed his tummy was enlarged and she gave him antibiotics, which seemed to work for a while and we had a lovely Christmas, although I was sad as I knew this would be Dougal’s last. Here's some Christmas photos.
Boxing Day walk on Llanstefan Beach
When we returned home, we took Dougal to the vets and they gave his stomach an ultra sound scan. We found out his spleen and liver were enlarged and the cancer had progressed quite fast. I knew time with him was short now, so I cuddled him and played with him as much as possible, although all he wanted to do was sleep.
One thing Dougal loved more than football and white teddies was snow. We had a snow day on the 18th of January. We weren't going to take him out as he was poorly, but at the sight of the snow, he perked up. He didn't run about as he used to do, but he rolled in the snow and seemed very happy. We took him home and he ate a good dinner and had a good sleep.
A week after that he started to become very sick, he couldn't keep food down and started to refuse his favourite treats and his eyes became swollen and red. I knew we had to start to thinking of Dougal now and not ourselves. On Sunday 27th January, we took him for a drive (another of his favourite things), then his last walk by the canal in Gnosall, and that evening we put on a DVD and spent a couple of memorable hours with Dougal, snuggled up.
Dougal and Millie on our snow walk. Dougal is the one rolling in the snow :)
A week after that he started to become very sick, he couldn't keep food down and started to refuse his favourite treats and his eyes became swollen and red. I knew we had to start to thinking of Dougal now and not ourselves. On Sunday 27th January, we took him for a drive (another of his favourite things), then his last walk by the canal in Gnosall, and that evening we put on a DVD and spent a couple of memorable hours with Dougal, snuggled up.
The next morning, Monday 28th January, was a sad time. We took Dougal to the Island Vets in Stafford in the hope that it was just an infection, although deep down we knew it wasn't, and the vet said we would be doing the right thing to put him to sleep as his stomach was so swollen with the cancer. I whispered a little song in his ears while we waited in the waiting room (for some weird reason, he liked my singing) and then we stroked him and spoke to him about good things, such as Aunty Debbie coming to visit him in a few weeks and Sarah and Murphy, his friends, waiting for him on the rainbow bridge, while the vet administered the drug to put him to sleep. I think we were in shock, despite knowing that he had cancer. We miss him so much. His sisters miss him too. Millie's moods were low to start and Daisy carried a toy around with her wherever she went, tucking it into bed at night, although they are both a lot happier now. We brought Dougal home with us and let Daisy and Millie say their goodbyes, before we took him to the crematorium.
Finally at peace after battling cancer for nearly 16 months, little Dougal Dog was laid to rest on 28th January at the 'Holmes in Heaven' crematorium in Sugnall, near Stafford, with his favourite white teddy and his red blanket. RIP our little boy. You're in our hearts forever and we shall miss you so much.
2 Comments on Happy Birthday to My Little Man, Dougal Dog, last added: 2/19/2013
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life: beauty and sadness, beginning and ends... xx
Thank you :) xx