For Nic.b And Her Senior Boy Old Ray

[Rescue List]

This thread is to celebrate the life of one of the most wonderful dogs I have had the pleasure to meet & foster. Old Ray a beautiful Shepherd who has touched every part of our hearts, home & our lives in the most intimate of ways.

Ray was surrendered to the pound at 12 years of age as his owners had three new puppies & they decided Ray was getting to old.

When the Staff spoke with the owner they suggested there was a good chance he would go to a rescue group, also that he may be pts. Rays owner was angry that he would go to rescue & wanted him pts. The Staff suggested that she should take him to her vet, though she refused to do this.

When I met Ray I thought he was one of the most dignified dogs I had ever met. My best friend as a child was my Shepherd Smokey Joe & I adored him.

We worked franticly on the thread for Ray, though the oldies often do it tough. Save a Shepherd outstandingly decided to take him on if someone could foster Ray, so I put my hand up.

The first step was to take him straight to the vet to assess his quality of life. While he had some arthritis his quality of life was good. When I asked how long we would have with him it was anything from a month, a few months & he was put on medication for his arthritis. Everyone loved him at the vet & the Dermacare rep gave him a gift of Aloveen products. I think Ray has been here close to 12 months.

I will never forget the beautiful soft gallop he did on the lawn when we got home, all of our bunch loved him instantly. Old Ray Loved it here and we all adored Ray.

Anyone who has met Old Ray will never forget him.

Unbelievably the owner rang to check he was pts & then demanded the vet assessment I paid for…I refused other than to say he had good quality of life for now.

It took me weeks to remove the mass of undercoat & god knows how many bags filled the bin. Ray was nearly half the size when we finished & he developed a beautiful glossy coat after a few weeks. Ray loved his tucker, soft toys & loved being inside with us on his bed. He was quite intrigued with the cat….I don’t think he would have been great with cats as a youngster, though Peppa is far too clever & quick for Old Ray.

Probably the most touching part of this story is that my youngest Hannah who is now 4 & Ray became inseparable. Hannah is selectively mute & will only talk with people she knows intimately. Mind you she never stops talking at home….

Ray followed Hannah everywhere, she sang him songs, read him books, had tea parties & carried his toys around in the basket on her bike. He listened to her every word & showered her with affection. I would often see Ray following Hannah a few steps behind on her bike, occasionally she would throw his toys for him & he would bring them back to her & put them in her bike basket.

Within two weeks of Ray arriving Hannah’s speech therapist was astounded with her speech development & it just got better & better. Hannah no longer needs speech therapy.

Ray loved waiting for me at the gate while I ducked up to the local shop. When I got home & opened the gate he would escort me into the car port ever so carefully & stop where I needed to stop the car. This was done at a painfully slow pace, often Billy our Foxy would join in on the act so I would see big Old Ray and this tiny tubby Foxies backsides as I slowly followed them in.

About a month ago Ray began becoming incontinent while asleep. I didn’t mind this at all, it was easy to clean up, though I became worried.

During the past few weeks Ray found it very hard to get up off his bed near the fire, I would have to lift him up…wait for him to get his creaky bones together, make sure we had a clear runway to the door & support his mobility to go to the toilet.

During the past week, although still very happy within himself & loving his tucker, company & toys I had to carry him inside & out. We both knew it was time & I called our vet to asses him again & discuss pts. It was very clear Ray was ready to go. I selfishly wanted to hold onto him for another few days though knew with all I am that I needed to offer him dignity.

Ray was pts in my arms at home on his bed in front of the fire, I spent 30 mins with Ray after he went & before he was buried in his favorite place in the garden. Poor Ray was soaking wet with my tears.

I have a beautiful Crepe Myrtle planted above him & he is wrapped in his favorite blankets.

I am sorry for the emotional post, though I wanted to share how special our Darling Ray has been. I also hope that people will consider older dogs just like Ray in the future.

Run Free Darling Ray, you have taken a part of my heart with you. I am so blessed to have known & loved you, and miss you so very much.

Nic xxxxxx

[schnauzer]

Nic

Thank you for being there for Ray in his twilight years. I lost my beautiful rescue GSD boy 15 years ago and have never been able to get another. He was truly a special gift - just like Ray. :p

A wonderful tribute, thank you so much for sharing it.

;) Ray

[Meea]

;) :p

what else to say..

[graysmum]

Run free darling Ray with no more aches and pains. ;)

Join in the fun and games with all the others that have gone before you. :p

I am thinking of you Nic.

[k9angel]

Oh Nic

R.I.P. Old Ray ;)

He sounded like a very special boy who came to you for a very special reason.

Thank you to you and your family for making this boy part of your lives and loving him the way you did, right until the end.

My thoughts are with you all. :p

XXX

[Kajtek]

Sometimes one gets to meet a very special being - Ray sounds like one of them.

RIP Ray. If there is a forever after, you will be with those you've loved.

[Guest Ams]

Nic

[Loving my Oldies]

Thank you so much for that wonderful story, Nic. May Old Ray truely rest in peace under the crepe myrtle.

How is Hannah?

Blessings to you all.

[_PL_]

Take care Nic. You've given Ray a beautiful gift by caring for him through the hardest part, and given him a dignified send-off.

He will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Old Ray

[WillowGirl]

what a lovely tribute... RIP Ray.......hugs to you and your family

[ninahartland]

Big hugs for you and RIP you gorgeous boy. You did a wonderful thing and what awful people those last owners sounded.

The oldies are truly special. xxx

[Cheyd]

An amazing tribute, so beautifully written, from the heart

RIP Ray, run free

Thank you for sharing Nic, my thoughts are with you and your family

[Ms Genki]

What an utterly gorgeous dog, thank you for sharing his story and I hope you know that you and your family gave him the best 12 months of his life. Seniors are certainly one of a kind and after seeing so many end up in pounds and rescue, it is my personal preference to only adopt and/or foster adult dogs in the future.

[bazilybazbaz]

a lovely and special tribute to Ray...RIP to a gorgeous boy

hugs to you and your family and what a special thing to do giving him a home with lots of love at the end of his life.

[Nic.B]

Thank you so much for your thoughts & tributes for our Darling Ray....God I miss him so very much & loved him so.

Nothing is the same without him.

MM when I pickd up Hannah from pre school today they said she was not herself & they needed to take her temp which was fine.

I spoke with her teachers in the morning to make them aware of her loss & they were very understanding. They have a special book in the library which we can borrow tomorrow with a story of a special loved pet like Ray going to heaven.

I was honest with her regarding Ray going to heaven & she spent a lot of time with him in the morning.

It is the only time in all these years I have seen my Husband cry. He came home early to help me.

I am going to buy a special seat to put above Ray when I need to feflect upon things.

I am still very upset, so forgive me if I am not able to reply.

Ray was simply heaven on earth, so cherished & the greatest gift for each of us in every regard

Nic xxx

[kidspirit]

Oh Nic what can i say?

you are such a generous soul thats why Ray found you

[Cosmolo]

Oh Nic- Ray was so lovely and your tribute to him so very moving. He was so lucky to have such a gorgeous family to spend his days with and those photos of him with Hannah are simply beautiful.

We are thinking of you during this difficult time- love and hugs from Stu and I as well as Dexter, Georgie, Gilbert, Cosmo and Jessie xxx

[Toots]

Nic, I share your heartbreak with you. Old Ray was a very special man, a hero among dogs and man.

Thank you for taking him into your heart and home and giving him the life he deserved and bringing to him the job he had to do with Hannah. It was meant to be.

I feel for Hannah now and hope that she will find her peace soon.

Your family has lost a treasured member, and at this time for you it must be doubly hard.

I'd love to sit in that seat one day.........

[lisa ann]

What a gorgeous tribute. I often wondered what had happened to him. So happy he had you and you beautiful daughter. Love the picture of her reading to Ray. RIP gorgeous boy and lots of hugs to you and your family.xxx

[poodlefan]

You know, I didn't shed a tear in the "veteran's" post in the show thread but this sure produced the goods.

What a wonderful tribute to a clearly treasured dog.

What a wonderful chance this boy was given to live out his days with dignity and love.

Run free Ray.

My sympathy to your family Nic - Ray has clearly left a big hole in your hearts.

Edited July 22, 2010 by poodlefan