I don’t know how to go about this. I think Arlene would want me to let everyone know. She was so close to many of you. My wife, my best friend, my everything lost her life in a car accident last night. This is very hard for me to write but I think it is what she would have wanted me to do.
Friday was the day that Razzles had enough. It was a very, very sad day. We had to have our Razzles put to rest. On Tuesday Razzles began to go down hill. She was diagnosed with Canine degenerative disc disease on 06/12. After a gallant effort on her part it was time to end the struggle on her part.
After a month of steroids and showing all sings of being able to live a some what normal life it all became too much for her. She was unable to go upstairs at night to bed and she was not happy about that. Her mobility was limited to just walking outside on a leash. She was eating, sleeping and walking around well. She was excepting everything well until Tuesday July 6th. Everything began to change. She began to have trouble walking and her walks became much shorter. Each day was a little more noticeable. On Friday I took her outside and she was very unsteady. As soon as we were outside she sat down and looked at me. Razzles would make no attempted to move. For the first time through this nightmare Razzles showed signs of pain in her face. Tears came in my eyes and I had the feeling in me that it was time to end this on her part. Through this entire struggle Razzles showed no signs of pain until Friday. It was also the first time she would not attempt to stand. Razzles was very frustrated during this ordeal but seemed to accepting everything. We took Razzles to our veterinary that afternoon and I carried her inside. When all was over it was a big relief to see her with no pain and frustration. As much as I hurt inside I was sure the right decision was made for Razzles.
For the second time I had lost one of my favorite Labs. Our Hawken passed away last December. I know there should not be any favorites when it comes to our Labs, But they were my 2 favorites. Hawken passed away in our kitchen so there was no decision to be made. This time there had to be a decision made. This decision will stick with me for a long, long time. I know in my heart it was the right one to make but it still haunts me.
Over the years Razzles was Known for her intensity, she was the most intense Labrador retriever I ever had. Everything she did was intense, eating, sleeping, retrieving even when she went to the bathroom. She never lost that intensity until the final moment. Razzles was a lab that would retrieve under water, she was always ready to work and please you. Together with our Magnum they produced some of our best puppies. Ever litter we have had Razzles thought they were her puppies. After the litters were born you had to let Razzles see them, she just had that mother instinct. Her ashes will be kept in our dinning room along with Hawken and Amber. I will never forget “Razzles”, all the joy and good times she has given Arlene and I over the years. She became Known as the Razz to most and will be sadly missed for a long, long time.
