Friday, May 15, 2009

My Precious Hubie

Hubie has been pretty lethargic the last couple of days. Not excited to eat and not eager to get up and play. This morning he had no interest in his food and only went to his bed to lay down.

I called the vet and got him in to find out that he had aspiration pneumonia. This was our biggest fear with the last treatment and were just trying to wean him off of it. His white blood cell count was astronomical and he had a very high fever. The vet said his chances of surviving this were really very very slim and even past that he suspects there has been some permanent damage to his esophagus. So he wouldn't have the greatest quality of life.

So. I just put my baby down. He was frustrating at times, stinky and slobbery but by far the sweetest, gentlest of all giants. I'm gonna miss cuddling with him and watching him protect Cooper and Dolce.

Mike found this:
Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog
by Lord Byron

When some proud son of man returns to earth
Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptur'd art exhausts the art of woe,
And stoned urns record who rest below;
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been;
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to wwelcome, foremost to defend;
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes, for him alone
Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in Heaven the soul he held on earth;
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claimls himself sole exclusive of Heaven!
Oh, man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debas'd by slavery, or corrupt by power,
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye! who, perchance, behold this single Urn
Pass on--it none you wish to mourn:
To mark a Friend's remains these stones arise,
I never knew but one, and here he lies.

Newstead Abbey, November 30,1808

On one side of the pedestal supporting the antique urn he had inscribed:

NEAR THIS SPOT
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF ONE
WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY WITHOUT VANITY
STRENGTH WITHOUT INSOLENCE
COURAGE WITHOUT FEROCITY
AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF MAN WITHOUT HIS VICES
THIS PRAISE WHICH WOULD BE
UNMEANING FLATTERY
IF INSCRIBED OVER HUMAN ASHES IS BUT A JUST TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF
BOATSWAIN, A DOG
WHO WAS BORN AT NEWFOUNDLAND, MAY 1803,
AND DIED AT NEWSTEAD ABBEY,
NOVEMBER 18, 1808.


taken today :(

We Love you Hubie!!
February 23, 2005- May 15, 2009

3 comments:

TanishaLynne said...

Awww hunny sorry to hear bout Hubie. He was a cutie.

The Lavallee Family said...

My heart is absolutely breaking for you. He was such a young baby. At least he knew love in his lifetime thanks to you.

That was a tough decision you had to make. I know it's not one you made lightly.

Hugs from Seattle!

MDAC said...

Sylvia,
I have been trying to post a comment for almost a week from my blackberry but it wouldnt let me click"post". I finally logged into a real computer so that I can tell you how very incredibly sorry I am to hear about Hubbie. I know his last few months have been a struggle and it must have been so very hard for you to see him not be his normal self. I remember the post you did that mentioned that his heart condition was the same as your father in laws and how very strange of a conincidence that was. I would like to think that He is getting a good belly rub in heaven right now from Mike's Dad....
Cliff saw your post on Facebook about hubbie and had no idea you had a dog by that name. He called me very upset while I was working and was asking me what was going on with you and your hubbie.
It took me a moment to think clearly but then I was able to explain to him about your beloved dog( I hadnt seen the post on here yet)
Wish I was there with you or close enough we could get together.
Lots of love and hugs!
Micayla