Rest in Peace

In 2005 I received my Pharaoh Hound.  I named him Xerxes.  He was young, energetic and playful.  Smart does not begin to describe him. His intelligence was uncanny, his ability to outsmart other dogs was only matched by his ability to out run and out "agility" other dogs as well.

Well, that was almost 13 years ago.  Today I will be taking him to a veterinarian and watching him die.  This is possibly the hardest thing I will ever have to do.

Up until late December, this dog was healthy.  Then one day he suddenly started limping.  We went to the vet, got Xrays and got some pain meds and went about our normal routine.  The only indicator that he was in pain was the limping.  He never whined or showed pain...Even if I was massaging his back legs...never even a slight flinch.  Last night he spent the night screaming in pain, his hind legs were cold to the touch and he didn't even try to walk.

I wanted to take one more walk to the river with him.  One more time watching him get excited on a car ride.  One more of everything.  I'm going to miss him so much. 

Xerxes died at 11:10AM EST.  The house seems so empty.


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