My beloved baby left for a better place Friday. I still can't believe it. He just turned 11 years old.
Balou started to act weird Sunday night, the day I left for my vacations in Wildwood. He was really slow when he moved, like if he was lazy or something. He didn't not eat that night.
We thought that maybe he had eaten something he shouldn't have, that he would get better soon.
So I left for Wildwood with my brother and my father, and I didn't stop thinking about Balou, telling myself he could only get better.
I spoke one time with my mother on the phone when I was in Wildwood, and she told me Balou wouldn't get up, eat or drink. I was really worrying.
We came home Friday around 9:00 PM, and I knew something was wrong when Balou didn't get up to welcome us. I saw in his eyes that he wasn't feeling good.
He was breathing strangely and he almost couldn't move. His eyes were almost close.
Later that night, all of a sudden, his eyes opened wide, and he started breathing heavily. He must have felt that it was coming,
My mother, my father and I stayed with him until the end. My mother told him "You can go, Balou.", and he calmly did.
We don't know for sure what happened to him, but the vet told us it must have been a heart attack. Animals are great at hiding it when they are sick, that's why Balou was feeling bad for almost a week. I'm sure he was waiting for us to come back before allowing himself to leave.
The vet also told us that we were "lucky", in a certain way, that Balou left for dog heaven at home, because we didn't have to go through the painful euthanasia process. I understand what she means, and it helps me to accept that Balou is gone, because I told myself it could have been worse.
I believe Balou left without suffering, and surrounded by people who love him very, very much.
I will never forget you, my beloved doggie.
RIP Balou
May 12th 1999 - July 9th 2010
That's brought tears to my eyes, I'm ever so sorry, RIP Balou x
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, Gaby. Pets are like family members and losing one is so painful. Take comfort that Balou had a long, happy life, one where he was loved and cared for by you and your family. You are in my thoughts. God Bless.
ReplyDeleteOMG this made me cry, it makes me remember how I wasn't there when my babies passed, my mom was there with them but I was out of the country and it hurts me so much still, they are like family so I understan how you might feel I'm really sorry for your loss :( I hope you feel better soon
ReplyDeleteGod you made me cry! I'm so sensitive when we are talking about animals. I'm sorry for your loss... We is better now and we will be waiting for you! =) I love the photos that you posted!
ReplyDeletexx
Aw that's so sad :(
ReplyDeleteOther than the memories, you have beautiful pictures of him that you'll have forever.
I'm sorry for your loss. Stay strong!
RIP Balou
xxx
Oh my gosh, I am so sorry about this. RIP, Balou. ;C
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Oh my gosh Gaby this post was very hard for me to read. It reminded me so much of my beloved dog Brady that passed away in November...and then we also had one other family dog before him that passed away before we had Brady. We loved our dogs so much - just like he was my little brother. We were beside both of them when they passed away as well but we had no choice but to euthanize them both as the suffering was hard to bear and there was no cure for them.
ReplyDeleteYou and your family gave Balou a loving home for 11 years and you have so many memories with him :) That's the only thing that helped me when my dogs passed away....and it's a great comfort knowing that Balou passed away at home with all his loving family beside him. Such a beautiful dog - I'm so sorry for this Gaby. RIP Balou
I'm so sorry for your loss *huggles*!!! You seem like a brave person and I know you will deal with this well.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss :'(
ReplyDelete12 years is such a long time, i actually got teary eyed :( so sorry for you loss..
ReplyDeleteBalou was such a beautiful dog. I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful boy. At least he went calmly and quickly and you were with him. x
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful post with lovely pictures from Balou. I'm so sorry he is gone, but you were right, he had you guys around him when he went, and he knew he was loved
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, honey. Balou was a very handsome dog, and I'm sure he had a very fulfilling life. He knew he was cared for and loved! RIP Balou :(
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. He was a truly gorgeous dog.
ReplyDeletethis was too sad for me to read. i'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. I know it's hard to lose a pet. But you were lucky to be there at the end to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteAs i am typing this message i am crying. I think of my puppy and i cna't imagine her gone. I hope you feel better and you know Balou went to a better place.
ReplyDeletexoxo
R>I>P
Balou
I am so so sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful dog, and it looks like he was extremely well-loved <3 xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo sorry! I lost my dog 2 years ago. He was very old and hardly moved or ate...it was the best for him to have the vet give him the last injection. I was the only one with him in the end.
ReplyDeleteBalou looks smart and friendly. Poor boy, rest in peace! T_T
Hope you will feel a bit better soon!^^
OMG Gaby!!! I am SO sorry! I know exactly what it feels like and that you must feel really bummed and sad now!
ReplyDeleteI lost my dog 3 years ago, she was a dalmatian and I had had her since I was 5 years old, so it felt like losing a member of family...
RIP Balou!!!
aww I'm so sorry for your loss :( It's the worst with pets because they can't tell you how they feel, I'm sure he knew you loved him right to the end and went in peace. This brought a tear to my eye. From what I can see he was absolutely gorgeous, hope your ok
ReplyDeletexoxo
you have me crying at my desk :( i'm so so so so sorry, i know what it's like to lose a pet, a beloved one at that. i'm so glad you could say goodbye
ReplyDeletehugs
Oh my gosh, I'm crying as I read this. I am so, so sorry you lost your Balou. I'm glad you had the opportunity to say goodbye - that's the one thing that eats me up about my baby Ivor, I never got to say goodbye. I'm also glad that Balou was surrounded by the people who loved him most. He was absolutely beautiful and that picture of him amongst the leaves is just stunning.
ReplyDeleteRIP Balou. I hope you are having lots of fun in Doggy Heaven.
Take Care Gaby xxxxx
I have an older dog as well, and this brought tears to my eyes. So sorry to hear about your loss. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteAw, this almost made me cry. I can't believe they told you he may have had a heart attack. Most dogs only live 12-15 years. My grandmas dobermin just passed away this Spring. She was 12 years old. She wouldn't eat for about a week and had the same symptoms. She also waited as long as she could and I stayed with her and pet her until she went. It's very hard to watch and go through, but they went with you by their side so I'm sure he was very happy. Sorry about your loss, but it sounds (and looks from the pictures!) like he had an amazing, happy life! :)
ReplyDeleteLosing anyone even animals is tough. However you need to deal with it do what is right for you. No one can tell you what to do. I know when I lost someone special in my life, I cried. Everyone told me to be strong but that didn't help. As time goes on, things will get better. It's going to be a tough time and I know things will get better. There a rainbow at the end of the hardship *huggles*!
ReplyDeleteToutes mes sympathies Gaby. Balou etait un beau chien! Comme tu dis, il avait une famille qui l'aimait beaucoup et qui l'a accompagne tout au long de sa vie.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your loss! =(
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. What a sweetie he was. I've been through this before too and it's so hard. I have tears in my eyes from reading this.
ReplyDeleteRIP gorgeous Balou. Gaby, I have a golden retriever too and she just turned 12, she is struggling with cancer and is starting to get worse :( It is so so hard, and I dread the day that I have to go through what you must be going through right now. I'm so sorry hun, I hope you feel better :( It's such a nice thought to think that he waited for his whole family to be with him before he went on.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog and that brought a tear to my eye - sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeletesorry ,,
ReplyDeletethis i really sad =(
RIP big boy ,, you're in a better place now
RIP Lovely Balou ♥ J'en ai eu les larmes aux yeux de lire et regardé les photos, c'est tellement triste =(
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