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Sunday, June 24, 2018

Calli : our Girl has gone


Calli: April 11th, 2010 - June 23rd, 2018

Calli was doing just fine. She was enjoying the back yard and would ask to go out and lay in the sun. There were birds to chase, deer to keep an eye out for and someone would come and throw the ball. She loved the new home and yard!   

She had experienced some digestive issues with diarrhea but we had a treatment plan / diet all worked out with our vet. Then there was the soft mass tumour that was successfully removed last July.   At eight years old, she was sleeping a bit more and sometimes a bit slower to get up.... but she was energetic when it came to a ball game, playing chase or going out in the car.   

This past week she wouldn't eat her dinner and had diarrhea. So we weren't too concerned as this has happened before. She was drinking large amounts of fresh water and active.  We rest her for a day and then re-introduce foods (rice and chicken).... but she continued to refuse food.  

Then she quit drinking water. We tried her with everything she loved to eat but no luck.   Now Calli had Cushings disease which is a form of  hyper aldosteronism so we were worried it had progressed, or the cancerous tumour had come back somewhere in her body.   The extensive lab tests came back and no cancer,  Cushings Disease had progressed a bit but nothing serious..... but her creatinine levels were right off the charts in the red.  So high that they had to dilute the urine sample so the machine could read the results!  The diagnosis of end stage kidney failure caught all of us by surprise.   Sadly it was too far advanced for treatment, so we made a hard decision that was in her best interests.

Our house is so still and quiet without her. We gathered all her toys and beds but there are still little surprises we find and  that start the tears all over again.    She was a very gentle soul and simply loved to be with us where ever we went.  She loved car rides.   She also loved us both equally and spent time each day with both of us.  With me, she'd have her afternoon nap near my loom as I wove. 
This is going to take a long time......


Calli at age 10 months with her cute helicopter tail 

Also at age 10-11 months: its a very Airedale thing to cross their feet like this.

Always ready with a toy.


She loved to sleep on her back.....






And she loved to play in the snow. Great fun!




At our last home and property she loved to wander the acreage and sometimes walk in the creek (a bath always followed that trick)




After we moved in 2016 she found this spot at the front door while we unpacked and its was a daily favourite to watch the neighbours, paperboy, school kids and dog walkers going by.


Wearing her onesie after her cancer surgery last July.


Ready to play again two weeks after surgery!


She'd run out ahead of us onto the lawn and get ready with her latest favourite ball!


Playing in the snow this past December...


Car rides....


yes, I know I'm in your seat.... so?


Father's day card June 2018

I'll close with this picture my late father made of Calli using a picture he took of her and applied an art filter to create a painted effect.    She was our treasure and we miss her terribly.....

Edit: June 25th 2018

Bruce and I want to share a special comment that came from a new friend. Tal was at our home just before we had to leave for the vets this past Saturday morning. He met Calli briefly as we lifted her into the car. He wrote to us after learning she had passed away. With his permission I share his message to us: 

I am so sad to hear about your loss. I lost my dearest friend when I was twenty, he was a Labrador Retriever cross with White Wolf dog, and had been with me ever since I was five years old, so I understand how much this hurts. I was struck by Calli, she looked so strong, so full of joy and life, despite having not been eating and drinking for so long, so I can only imagine what a pleasure and sheer force of Life she was for this family. The only solace we can find when we face such loss is in knowing that we have done our best, and that being small, finite humans, sometimes even our best is not enough to save those whom we love. Yet still, I believe that in knowing that we have given them our everything while we could, there is peace to be found, and even beauty in the midst of such pain. I hope that when the time will be right, when this grief will have run its course, you will make another dog very happy, and he or she you--for as I am sure that you and Susan know, we need our dog friends much more than they need us. They remind us of this primal Life that we human beings with our decorum, moralities, and stories so easily forget; they remind us that there is a truth to love and togetherness that a hundred million dollars could never replace; and most importantly, they remind us that despite all of our human madness, that despite all this strange complications that we introduce into our world, Life is profoundly simple.



23 comments:

  1. I am SOOOO SORRY for your loss. My heart goes out to you, as tears fill my eyes - for you, and for the pets I have lost. We have them all for too short a time, so we have to love them, as much as they love us, while they are here. Tears and hugs from Rochester, NY.

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  2. So sorry to read about Calli's passing. It was always fun to see her in your posts. This might be of interest https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
    Mary

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  3. There is nothing anyone can say to make this better.......just know this....all the dogs we love are waiting for us, and the reunion is going to be an awesome thing. :)

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  4. Oh Susan, I am so, so sorry. I remember the puppy days and what a sweet girl she was and mostly, how much you loved her and she loved you. Big heartfelt hugs to both you and Bruce.

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  5. I am so very sorry for your loss. Our pets are our precious companions and it's so sad to lose them. She looks like she had a good life with your family.

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  6. I am so sorry for you loss. Airedales are special and she was such a nice member of your family. They leave such a big hole in your heart when they are gone. Hugs

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  7. So very sorry about your beautiful girl, Calli. They leave such paw prints on our hearts, don't they?
    Remember all the good times and the funny things she would do, and in time, I hope your grief eases.
    I believe that when we die, all of our furry critters are waiting at the gate for us, so keep an eye out for your Calli.

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  8. I am so sorry! The end can sometimes be so shockingly quick and it does take a while to process.

    The furry members of the family are exactly that: members of the family. I have shared my home with many fur-persons, and they all have had their own distinct personalities, and each are remembered individually.

    Callie loved you as much as you loved her. Remember that.

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  9. I am so sorry for your loss. Having been through it more times than I care to think about, I understand the huge hole left behind. Gentle journey, dear Cali. You were loved.

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  10. OH dear, I am so sorry Susan. What a blow to you both. Calli had a wonderful life with you and she will not be forgotten....although for now there will be many tears. Big hugs to you.

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  11. Susan and Bruce, I am very sorry to learn of Calli's passing. Calli was a special little girl and will be missed by many. I send you lots of warm wishes and hugs. Very sad news. Hugs

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  12. So very sorry for your lost. My husband and I was at the same situation last Fall. It was the most difficult decision to make, but the right thing to do. May you be comforted of all the wonderful memories that your girl left you to remember her always with fondness. You and your husband ae in my thoughts to day. Sending you warm hugs..

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  13. I'm so sorry, Susan. Sending gentle thoughts to you and Bruce. It's so hard to say goodbye to our furry family members, especially so suddenly and unexpectedly. You gave Calli a most wonderful life. I hope the good memories soon overtake the immense sadness.

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  14. I am so sorry about Calli! I was so happy when she recovered last year, so the three of you had many additional months of pleasure together.

    Naturally I have been remembering the cats and dogs my family has had to part with when their quality of life was not going to improve and was going to be very painful for them. It's a very mixed feeling, as I'm sure you are experiencing as well.

    The comment by your new friend is just WONDERFUL and thank you so much for sharing it.

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  15. I'm so sorry...a huge loss, for sure. All best to you.

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  16. So sorry to read of you loss, please accept my condolences. Losing a loved one on 2 or 4 legs is never easy. Love and hugs.

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  17. from Theresa, Ashland Oregon:

    Oh Susan, I am so, so sorry. I remember the puppy days and what a sweet girl she was and mostly, how much you loved her and she loved you. Big heartfelt hugs to both you and Bruce.

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  18. I am so sorry about Calli, but happy that you had all those years with her. Too bad it couldn't have been more. The comment that you included at the end of the post from your new friend Tal was lovely. My family has lost both dogs and cats over the years, and faced similar tough decisions. We did our best to make their lives happy, and they certainly added joy to ours. You and Bruce clearly made Calli's live happy, as she did for yours.

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  19. I'm so sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful girl. It's hard to part with them, but far kinder to those true friends. I know I wasn't alone in looking forward to her appearances on your blog.

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  20. She'll definitely see
    botha youse in Seventh-Heaven, dear.
    She's even now crossing her feet,
    as she spins her whirlybird tail
    and staring at the earth waiting.
    ALL. DOGS. GO. TO. HEAVEN.
    Wanna bet?
    Meet me Upstairs someday with our dogs.
    Let's gitta BIG-OL-BEER
    (they can have one, too -
    tastes faaar better than a daquri).
    Gotta lotta tok about
    as they drink outta
    their affluence bowls.
    Cya soon Upstairs...

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  21. Hi, Susan,
    I found your blog as I was looking for overshot info. You wrote a very nice and informative article back in 2013 and I appreciate all the information. Your chocolate cherry scarves are gorgeous! Though I just really want to tell you that I'm so sorry for your loss of your beloved Airedale, Calli. I know she was a special girl. We have loved a Welsh terrier and two Airedales among other dogs we've had - our 2nd Airedale, Wallace, is now 9 = a rescue that we adopted as a puppy. So hard to lose these precious pups. May it get easier for you to remember Calli knowing that she will always be a part of you. I'm so sad for you and your husband. Hugs from Texas.

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