O/T: Not A Happy Birthday

[Eric7100]

I will post a more formal and detailed announcement later, but I just wanted all of my AtariAge friends to know that Salt has died. She passed away while we were at church on Sunday, May 7, 2017. On May 23, she would have been exactly 16-and-a-half years old.

[Intellivet]

I am so sorry, Eric. We all know how much you loved her very much from all your posts. Both you and Salt will be in many of our thoughts and prayers today; I'm sure.

[mthompson]

Sorry to hear that, Eric. Losing a long-time pet is super tough. Time will help.

[townparkradio]

Saw the topic, knew it'd be Eric! Now time to read the latest chapter of the drama in the life of someone who has no family to support and who has, unlike me, been able to beg support form this board for years while I, with the severely mentally handicapped child once had the TEMERITY to ask for 45 bucks to fix my car got shut down.

 

Let's see what his first world problem is this week.

[townparkradio]

(well my truck)

[Keatah]

Wow..

[townparkradio]

But tell us again how the cat and the dog you lost lately, (in the same time period I lost four cats, two because I ran out of money to feed them and they took risks trying to hunt. Kinda sucks to have a cat meowing at you and the best you can do is to give a few pieces of deer meat form your own dinner to them) matter SO SO much. I'm intrigued. Really. Go on. it THRILLS me when people who've never been without water whine.. I mean talk about their problems.

[townparkradio]

Wow..

 

I'd be a little more forgiving if the one time I asked for help wasn't shut down cold. This piece of crap even added to it, something about other members and tricycles.

[townparkradio]

 

I'd be a little more forgiving if the one time I asked for help wasn't shut down cold. This piece of crap even added to it, something about other members and tricycles.

 

I'd post a link but apparently the search results don;t go back that far.

[Keatah]

I think it's more the human condition rather than any one shmuck on a message board. I see this situation all the time in real life away from the internet.

 

It's like the BMW owner whining and crying because it broke down 2 block from garage. Ohh the humanity. Ohh the inconvenience. Or the teen crying over lack of wi-fi for 15 minutes.. Same deal.

Edited May 8, 2017 by Keatah

[m-crew]

Sorry to hear Eric !!!

[+intellivotion]

I'm so sorry, Eric

[Eric7100]

Salt was born on November 23, 2000 from a dog breeder in Arizona. On Valentine’s Day 2001, I purchased Salt at the mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, while on my lunch break from work. It was just 17 days after the death of my childhood dog, Pepper. Salt came home on February 23, 2001. That day marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and a long journey side by side. Salt lived a happy, healthy life for many years, until 2015, when she was diagnosed with a skin cancer called lymphosarcoma. Since that time, her health continued to deteriorate, not only from her cancer, but also from several neurological “episodes” such as strokes and seizures, an eye ulcer, and the progression of various lumps on her body. She had 7 risky surgeries between 2015-2017. She was under the care of an oncologist and an ophthalmologist, and was receiving semi-regular cancer treatments, and eye check-ups as needed. She was taking a variety of different medications, including steroids. In November 2016, just as she was turning 16 years old, she experienced a serious neurological “episode” that prevented her from standing, walking, eating, drinking, and even opening her eyes. For one month, I force-fed her by shoving food down her throat, and I hydrated her using a water-filled syringe. Her doctors all thought that she would die at Thanksgiving, but instead, she lived until after Easter, almost 6 months later. Amazingly, during that time, she made a full recovery, resuming all of her normal bodily activities, including walking and eating on her own, and being wide-eyed and fully alert. However, in more recent weeks, she began exhibiting some of the same symptoms as before. But this time, it felt different. It didn’t seem like the result of a neurological “episode” or any specific disease. It seemed like old age was finally taking its toll, and her body was slowly shutting down. Specifically, during the last two weeks, I knew that the end was near. I just didn’t know exactly what date on the calendar it would be. On Sunday, May 7, 2017, my family and I attended the 9:30 mass at our local church. As I left the house, I placed Salt in her bed. Usually, she would just lay there, stretched out in the position in which I placed her, and not even look at me. But this time, it was different. Seeming to be fully alert, she raised her head, and looked up at me with her big, round eyes. I remember closing the door, and then opening it again, only to see her there, in the same position, making direct eye contact with me, as if she was trying to tell me something. Perhaps that was her way of saying goodbye. When I returned home from church, she had already died peacefully, just 16 days away from being exactly 16-and-a-half years old on May 23, 2017. She was still warm, so I must have just missed her final breaths. Perhaps she wanted to spare me those moments, so she passed away before I got there. Salt’s life on this Earth has come to an end, but she leaves me with over 16 years of wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. Salt was truly my best friend. I know that she is now watching over me from above. And I also know, according to an ancient tale regarding pets and their owners, that when the day eventually comes for us to be reunited, we will never be separated again.

[m-crew]

Salt was born on November 23, 2000 from a dog breeder in Arizona. On Valentine’s Day 2001, I purchased Salt at the mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, while on my lunch break from work. It was just 17 days after the death of my childhood dog, Pepper. Salt came home on February 23, 2001. That day marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and a long journey side by side. Salt lived a happy, healthy life for many years, until 2015, when she was diagnosed with a skin cancer called lymphosarcoma. Since that time, her health continued to deteriorate, not only from her cancer, but also from several neurological “episodes” such as strokes and seizures, an eye ulcer, and the progression of various lumps on her body. She had 7 risky surgeries between 2015-2017. She was under the care of an oncologist and an ophthalmologist, and was receiving semi-regular cancer treatments, and eye check-ups as needed. She was taking a variety of different medications, including steroids. In November 2016, just as she was turning 16 years old, she experienced a serious neurological “episode” that prevented her from standing, walking, eating, drinking, and even opening her eyes. For one month, I force-fed her by shoving food down her throat, and I hydrated her using a water-filled syringe. Her doctors all thought that she would die at Thanksgiving, but instead, she lived until after Easter, almost 6 months later. Amazingly, during that time, she made a full recovery, resuming all of her normal bodily activities, including walking and eating on her own, and being wide-eyed and fully alert. However, in more recent weeks, she began exhibiting some of the same symptoms as before. But this time, it felt different. It didn’t seem like the result of a neurological “episode” or any specific disease. It seemed like old age was finally taking its toll, and her body was slowly shutting down. Specifically, during the last two weeks, I knew that the end was near. I just didn’t know exactly what date on the calendar it would be. On Sunday, May 7, 2017, my family and I attended the 9:30 mass at our local church. As I left the house, I placed Salt in her bed. Usually, she would just lay there, stretched out in the position in which I placed her, and not even look at me. But this time, it was different. Seeming to be fully alert, she raised her head, and looked up at me with her big, round eyes. I remember closing the door, and then opening it again, only to see her there, in the same position, making direct eye contact with me, as if she was trying to tell me something. Perhaps that was her way of saying goodbye. When I returned home from church, she had already died peacefully, just 16 days away from being exactly 16-and-a-half years old on May 23, 2017. She was still warm, so I must have just missed her final breaths. Perhaps she wanted to spare me those moments, so she passed away before I got there. Salt’s life on this Earth has come to an end, but she leaves me with over 16 years of wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. Salt was truly my best friend. I know that she is now watching over me from above. And I also know, according to an ancient tale regarding pets and their owners, that when the day eventually comes for us to be reunited, we will never be separated again.

Thanks for sharing that Eric, You and Salt were lucky to have each other in your lives. That's for sure and Salt has left you all those happy memories which you will have for the rest of your life..

[Eric7100]

Salt's body was taken to PETS in Lancaster, where they made a clay paw print for me. While I was there, Salt's oncologist told me that a donation is being made in Salt's honor, toward a fund for the treatment of canine cancer.

[Eric7100]

I am finally done running around with Salt's body. In addition to getting a clay paw print made at PETS, her regular veterinarian made a series of ink paw prints. Her casket was also chosen. Salt is scheduled to be buried on Thursday at 3:00 PM at the Lancaster Pet Cemetery.

[Eric7100]

Salt was buried on Thursday at 3:00 PM at the Lancaster Pet Cemetery, following a four-hour funeral service.

[Eric7100]

Rest in Peace, Salt.

(November 23, 2000 - May 7, 2017)

 

[SiLic0ne t0aD]

Sorry for your loss, Eric. I lost my boxer dog "Tank" a couple months ago, he was 10.

[+nanochess]

Rest in peace. Sorry, Eric.

[+JasonlikesINTV]

Sorry for your loss, Eric. It sounds like she lived a decent and full life...the best we can all hope for.

[ChefPepper]

Sorry to hear about Salt. You were a good dog dad.

[Kiwi]

Salt was very lucky to have an awesome pet owner as yourself.

[dgdgagdae]

Sorry she's gone, but be happy for all the time you had together.

[Eric7100]

Meet "Oregano" ...... a Jack Russell Terrier puppy.

 

These are the breeder's photos. She's coming home on June 21.