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Doggy Tales -- Tribute for a Loved One

Posted on July 26, 2010 at 12:06 PM

This is Cloud, the photo used as the avatar for our member here, Nonoma. I've never met Nonoma, or Cloud, yet through the miracle of the internet I've come to enjoy a rewarding, deep friendship with Nonoma.

Isn't Cloud handsome? A white Arabian stallion, he celebrated his 25th birthday last Tuesday crunching yummy apples.

Unfortunately, day before yesterday, he developed colic. Nonoma desperately called for a vet (six times), but none arrived. For four long hours, she and her husband fought to keep Cloud on his feet. But when he collapsed near the pond, she made the decision none of us want to face.

I want to say right here that Nonoma is one of the most dedicated animal people it's been my privilege to meet. She knew how to revive Cloud, but she needed the vet to be there with the proper equipment. When no one arrived, and with Cloud's condition apparent, she did what she had to do. Unable to witness the torture her loyal and faithful companion was enduring, Nonoma called a neighbor to perform the humane act.

A part of her is now missing, a part that will never be healed. But I know, if Cloud had been able to, he would have looked her straight in the eye and his last words would have been, "Thank you, my friend."

Rest in peace, Cloud. To Nonoma, may you rest in the wonderful memories you shared with this lovely, gentle soul.

Categories: Doggy Tales

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11 Comments

Reply hywelalyn

06:08 PM on July 26, 2010

Hi Nonoma and MM

What a beautiful horse Cloud was! I can sympathise with your loss, Nonoma, I had to make the sad decision to have my sweet mare, Sally put to sleep when she developed surgical colic. At the age of 34, and weakened by several hours of colic the vet said it was unlikely that she'd survive surgery. It's was a heartbreaking deciision, but like you, I knew it was the right one. How lovely to have your last happy memory of him celebrating his birthday though. I know he'll always live in your heart as Sally does in mine.

Reply Rebecca J Vickery

06:45 AM on July 27, 2010

May Cloud's spirit and love forever be with you, Nonoma. I too lost a beautiful, loyal friend a few years ago by making that awful decision. But it is truly the last kindness we can do for them. I cried for days afterward and still do on occasion when I think of Rascal.

Reply Miss Mae

09:09 AM on July 27, 2010

Lyn, I remember you speaking of Sally, but I'm not sure if I was aware of her age. Oh, colic does seem to be a deadly enemy of horses!

And Becca, I'm so sorry to hear about Rascal. I know what you mean. I still weep for the childhood pets I lost!

Reply Gail

10:06 AM on July 27, 2010

Cloud is beautiful. I'm so sorry for her loss. Our animals become part of our families, and it's so hard to lose them. I'm sorry too that the vet didn't show up.

Reply sharonad@comcast.net

11:16 AM on July 27, 2010

Lovely post. Our animals leave paw and hoof prints on our hearts.

Reply Danielle Thorne

01:27 PM on July 27, 2010

What a sweet but sad story. It takes a special kind of person to work with animals--and an angel of mercy to let them go. Thoughts and prayers on the loss of this wonderful animal and his caregiver.

Reply Miss Mae

03:09 PM on July 27, 2010

There is also an additional comment from Shawna Williams, but it's posted in the entry below, in the post about July 24th and going off line. I hope you'll read that too.

Reply Anne Patrick

10:19 PM on July 27, 2010

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nonoma. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn for Cloud.

Reply Laurean Brooks

10:55 PM on July 27, 2010

Nonoma, may your heart be filled with only wonderful memories of times you shared with Cloud.

I lost a Black Lab, bitten by a Water Mocassin, last spring. The hardes thing I've ever done is make PeeWee comfortable, then watch him struggle to breathe. I knew he was fighiting to stay alive for me. So finally, I said through my tears, "PeeWee, it's okay. You can go be with Frank and Tubby . (Frank and Tubby were his brothers.)

I walked away, then checked 10 minutes later. PeeWee was gone. At 10 pm. we lovingly wrapped and buried him on one side of our back yard.

I still miss him, but we soon got his sister (Yipper) a new brother from the local humane society. Riley is a sweet Yellow Lab. Our big baby.

Here's praying for your heart to heal and wishing you only good memories.

Reply Nonoma

01:32 PM on August 04, 2010

Thank you to everyone for your kind words. It means much to me that there are critter-loving friends who understand. I am grieving for my white velvet-nosed, soft-eyed buddy. He was my "soul-horse." Yes indeed he was that, my handsome Cloud. I admit, it is hard to face the mornings and everything throughout the day seems all wrong and strange. Lots of people think I'm silly for being so attached, since he was "only" an animal. Well, let them. I care not. Somewhere at sometime I know I will meet my equine friend in splendid health once again and all the dogs that I have loved and lost. I believe that God has a covenant with the animals; after all they were created good, please remember, and they did not sin. It was certainly not by chance that on the first night of Christ's life God honored the animal creation in that Bethlehem barn. So there is much to look forward to and I am still blessed with my Shelties and Border Collie. I do pray that they will stay with me for a long while yet.

Reply Miss Mae

04:26 PM on August 04, 2010

Hope you are doing some better, Nonoma. Thank you for coming on, and posting. You're welcome to post any photos of him in our forum if you'd like. I'd love to see pics of him.

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