To visit or not

[shilohsmom]

This might sound really odd to some people but I'm actually considering this. Last week I found out that the biological mother to two of my three dogs has Mammary Gland Cancer which has spread to her lynth node. Its inoperatable. Today I found out she is slowing down. I'm at home now so I can't do this but if anyone could post the picture I put up of her under the Health section, I would really appreciate it.
She's in North Dakota, I'm in California. Except for last year when I hurt my knee, I would spend my summer vacations there and most of my free time would be spent with Ebony. I love her soooooo much! She wasn't one to take to everyone but I understand she really liked me...why not, I'd shower her with treats, toys and bones. I take her out running for miles, watch as she swan, heck I was even there when she had her last litter. I really felt a bond with this girl. Through her I received two of the three greatest gifts in my life. And now she is dying.
I have a friend who works at the airlines. It might be a little hard but she's thinking she can get me a buddy pass so that I could go visit Ebony one last time.
My question is, would you go? I guess I should say that if you were a lot like me would you go? Is this a crazy thing to even consider? Far fetched perhaps, but crazy???
I'm thinking going there might not be such a good idea on one hand. I'm a very emontional type (I cry easy, heck you should have sceen me the first time I met her) so perhaps thats not the right thing to subject her to???
On the other hand I so want to hold her and pet her and tell her how very wonderful she is. I love her. Heck, I'm even in tears now as I write this.
But if I do go I'd have to leave my own babies here so would that be fair to them?

[JazzNScout]

You seem to love her very much. As long as the people she lives with are ok with this, you should go.
When I have had dogs terminally ill and people wanted to say goodbye to them, I appreciated it very much, but there was also a time for them to leave so that I could be alone with my dogs. Do you know what I mean? How are Ebony's people with this?

[katieliz]

i don't think it would be fair to your dogs. you can be with ebony in thought energy without actually being there with her physically. your first obligation is to your dogs at home. also, strong sad emotions from humans are toxic for sick dogs to process, and it might be better if you don't expose her to that. jmho.

many blessings to ebony.

[WiscTiger]

Here is the picture of the pretty girl Ebony


I am not sure what I would do. You need to have a good heart to heart with her owners. I think dogs have their own way of saying good bye. They enjoy seeing places they hadn't been for a while, they just seem to want to do as much as they can for as long as they can.

Val

[shilohsmom]

Val, thank you so very much for posting her picture. That means a lot to me.
I really appreciate everyones feedback. Anne, Ebony's owner, is like family to me and thankfully I'm always welcomed.
I'm tending to lean on the side of me staying here. One of my biggest concerns is how emontional I get and I do know this would not be good or helpful for her (and probably not for Anne either).
There is a part of me that just wants to hold her and tell her everything is going to be alright, but I know I'd fall apart the moment I got those words out. Heck, I'm crying now and she's not even with me.
No, I should stay here. I put some money aside from my last paycheck so tomorrow I'll go get a bunch of goodies for her and send them to her. Maybe I can write a letter to her for Anne to read to her.
I do love her so much. I can't help but to think she is dying because she gave life to so many others. What I mean by that is if she was a pet per say, maybe she would have been spayed earlier and then maybe she wouldn't have gotten this cancer. But she was a great mother and was retired a couple of years ago where she's been able to run and play as much as she's wanted.
She is just such an amazing dog. Thanks for everyones understanding. She's not 'just a dog' and I know you all know what I mean. There is no such thing as just a dog, and this little girl will remain in my heart forever.

[shilohsmom]

Kathleen, you are so right...I couldn't leave my dogs, not even for a few days anymore... we need eachother way too much for that.

[shepherdbydesign]

Rosa, This is a hard thing to deal with as an owner alone. It might be better to remember her the way you seen her last and not have that haunting vision of her now. You know we can't wonder what if, cause that doesn't change what is. And maybe by you visiting her and getting sad around her may tell her that its almost over and then she just may give up. You know how dogs can sence your feelings and thought. What ever you decide to do will not change her health and she knows how much she was loved by you and others and specially her owners. Good luck with your decision and we will be in your thoughts

[BJDimock]

Rosa,
Ebony is a canine who lives with a very loving family. (As your own fur kids do!)
If you decide to go, know that it is for her human family that you choose to show support for.
Ebony will always know you as a friend; that is why we love the dogs in our lives so. She will be happy to see you, and she will wag for you, and she will ask for treats.
Her family, I'm sure, is in heartbreak.
If you feel that you should go, then be sure it is to help her family. If you think you can't, then that's ok too.
Keep in mind that we all weep when we loose a close companion.
If you can't go, thats understandable!!! But be sure to send your human friend some hugs along with the treats for Ebony.

[shilohsmom]

Thanks again for your thoughts, it has helped me. I would rather remember her as I saw her last. I'm sure she knows I love her. I have tons of pictures of her and the best gift of all-I have two of her babies. Shoshona has her eyes.
I've given this a lot of thought. I will be staying home. I'm sure I can be more supportive of my friend Anne here than I would be to her there. And as much as I'd like to think about seeing Ebony again, everyone's right-it wouldn't be best for her. I'll just have to love on her from a distance for now, but there will always be that special place in my heart that will always belong to her. Thats something I can take with me everywhere I go.

[middleofnowhere]

Actually, I'm going to say go because the dog would probably love to see you. I know my dogs perk up when long time human buddies come to see them.