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Bud, Odie

Mark:
We lost our beloved Cocker Spaniel “Bud” on December 27th. He was almost fifteen years old and had him since he was 6 weeks old. In November he was diagnosed with cancer. He was upbeat until the end. Our other Cocker “Odie” who has Addison’s Disease is taking this pretty hard. He’s seven. On Christmas Day Odie starting throwing up blood. I spent most of Christday Day at the emergency Vets office. The next morining we picked Odie up and took him to his Vet’s office. We took Bud with us. The Vet left the room after examining him and said she would be back in a few minutes. When she returned she asked if we had made a decision? I asked what she meant? She said that she was surprised that he had made it through Christmas. I told her with Odie in the condition he was in I could not make a decision at that time, We took Bud home.

In the early morning hours of December 27th I heard Bud having a hard time breathing. I got up with him and tried to confort him. Soon it became evident that things were going down hill fast. I woke my wife and told her we needed to get to the emergency Vet’s. I had owned many pets through my 59 years, but had never had to put one down. Outside of losing my parents – I’m an only child – this is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do, but realized that it needed to be done to put Bud at rest. I couldn’t see him suffer.

The Vet was very compassionate and explained to us what was going to happen. My wife and I were with him. It has been a difficult time over the last few weeks and we still think about him and miss him very much as does Odie. We had Bud creamated and plan on spreading his ashes in our yard where he used to love to roll in the grass. After Bud died my best friend sent me a copy of your book. I just finishing reading it and I must tell you that even though sad it is very uplifting. As Sean Hannity said you can’t read it without crying. I cried like a baby. My wife had gone to bed last night and I got to the part where Sprite had to be put down and I could hardly see the pages through the tears. Even before Bud got sick my wife and I had taled about doing a book about Bud from an autobiograhical perspective. We are still talking about it, but since we are bankers and not writers we are uncertain as to how it would turn out. She’s retired. I’m still working, but think we might try it anyway. The good news is that so far Odie is doing well. We are trying to decide if we should get anothet puppy to keep Odie company. We’ve been to the animal shelter once, but still are undecided. It’s almost Midnight and I know I’ve been rambling, but I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your book. Bless you for your love of dogs and your caring nature.

Gill from VA.