MelodysMum Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 (edited) We have owned beautiful golden cocker spaniels for twenty years. We bought our first cocker Rusty a month after we were married, and three years later, Bonnie joined our family. Rusty and Bonnie gave us two beautiful litters. We kept one of their sons born in December 1990. Clowny as we called him because of his happy nature and comical antics has been a treasured member of our family, our only dog for the past seven years. When he was a baby Clowny had difficulty walking. All the other puppies were up and wobbling around and he just sat there. The vet said he had weak tendons in his back legs. Eventually they strengthened, and boy did he make up for lost time! One day my husband was working on the roof when he heard a noise behind him. He turned to find Clowny sitting behind him, tail wagging furiously. Not only had he climbed the ladder, but he went back down it again when he realised he was not welcome! Over the years Clowny has been our kids' best friend. Now 19 and 16, they can't clearly remember a time when he wasn't there. Everyone loved Clowny. Whenever we took him for a walk people always stopped us to talk to him and children loved him, always flocking to him to give him a cuddle. Last month we lost our last beautiful boy Clowny, when we had to have him put to sleep. He was 13 years old and the most beautiful dog. He had been on medication for congestive heart failure for 18 months. He had had to have fluid drained from his abdomen every few weeks for about 6 months. He never complained with all the needles. The vet said she had never seen a dog like him. It didn't matter what they had to do to him, he never complained, and he was always smiling. On Wednesday, April 7, it all got too much for him and the vet said it was time for us to let him go. We were all (me, my husband, son, 19 and daughter, 16) there with him as he went. He looked around and saw us all, and tried to get up, but he was too weak. At least he knew we were with him and we loved him. The vet said he probably wouldn't have lasted the night, but it would have been a terrible death and he would have suffered. Even the vet was crying as she said goodbye to him. Needless to say, we are all devastated. We have photos with him, taken in those lost few minutes as we said goodbye. They are very precious. He loved us until his last breath. Clowny was my special baby boy. I have loved him since the second he was born. I will always love him. We will never forget you Clowny! Edited May 6, 2004 by WendyH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tornado Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Dear Wendy, What a special boy Clowny was. I sure don't know how he got up and down that ladder!!! At least you will always have memories of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatevah Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 I loved hearing about his antics of climbing up the ladder and down again, that is amazing. ) Any other antics you would like to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted May 6, 2004 Author Share Posted May 6, 2004 It was pretty amazing when Clowny climbed the ladder. He went down backwards, without looking where he was going. We couldn't believe it! Not to be outdone, his older brother Toby who was still with us, decided that he would show he could climb the ladder as well. He got to the top all right, but made the mistake of turning around and looking down. He was overcome by a fear of heights. He had gotten up there somehow, how was he to get down? With my husband on the roof and unable to reach him, and me on the ground, Toby tried to go back down head first and fell before I could catch him! Although not injured, he never tried it again and neither did his ladder-climbing brother! Clowny did however climb the ladder to our aboveground swimming pool. Whenever the kids were in there he would climb up and walk around the top, except for one time when he fell in! We never left the ladder on the pool when it wasn't in use, we couldn't risk him climbing! So much for a dog with weak back legs! We often found Clowny asleep in the strangest places. He had a beautiful kennel, which he used when it suited him, and a trampoline bed as well, but we often found him asleep under outdoor chairs, or in tiny corners of the garden. In this photo taken on January 25, he went to sleep under a pile of rubbish from a tree that came down in our yard! We don't know how he got under there or why, but he certainly wasn't there when the tree branches were put there! He was a funny boy! We never knew where we would find him. For the last couple of years of his life Clowny was deaf. If he was looking at you he could read your lips if you said walk, biccy, good boy etc. but if he was out in the yard somewhere he couldn't hear us if we called. That didn't stop us calling him, we called him, and talked to him all the time. Sometimes, especially in winter, I would go and find him when we were going to bed, and get him to move from his spot in the vege garden (or wherever he happened to have gone to sleep), to his warm kennel. I knew he would go back as soon as I came inside, but it made me feel better! It was hard though, searching the darkness and calling out to a dog in the freezing cold, when he wouldn't wake up until he felt your hand on him! Many times we hunted for him, feeling silly waving a torch around in the darkness. Last year just before the Sydney water restrictions came in, we put turf down in the backyard. Clowny thought we put it there for him, and it became one of his favourite places to fall asleep. Even up to the day before he died we always knew when he was feeling really happy - he would be out there on the grass doing a good old Clowny-roll with a big smile on his face. In spite of all the attention Clowny paid to the grass, it is the only grass growing properly on our entire property. It is green and lush, as if responding to the affection Clowny showed it. In my original post he is on that grass in the photo. It was taken six weeks before he died. We buried Clowny in his favourite corner, under the lush green turf, and it has grown back like a beautiful green blanket over him. I say "hello" to him every time I go by. There will never be another dog like my Clowny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mai Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Every time I read one of these posts in the Rainbow Bridge section, my eyes are always full of tears. They all remind me of one thing or another about my own princess who died at the age of 3.5 years - almost 9 months ago. I am sure Clowny will wait for you, Wendy, at that Rainbow Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted May 20, 2004 Author Share Posted May 20, 2004 (edited) I found another gorgeous photo of my special boy, and had to put it on here. Edited May 20, 2004 by WendyH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tornado Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 aww!! He is gorgeous!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted May 20, 2004 Author Share Posted May 20, 2004 Thanks Tornado! It still makes me sad to look at photos of him, it's almost two months now since we lost him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARF_Katie Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Clowny looks and sounds like such a great dog. We miss them so much when they go. What a special boy. Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted May 20, 2004 Author Share Posted May 20, 2004 Thanks Katie! He was the best dog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBobsMum Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Clowny you are one special boy! Love Colleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Wendy, You have just had me bawling my eyes out.... Clowny reminds me of my first dog Dusty. She was a beautiful black cocker which grew up with myself and my two brothers. I was 12 when we got her, brothers 9 and 6 and she was the best dog. I remember when my 6yo brother picked up and dropped her down the inside stairs. Up she got, shook herself and pottered off. She had such tolerance that girl. When my father had her put down (about 4 years ago) he was the only one there. My mum was overseas and I had left home and never knew about it. He said he cried and it was like losing a part of our lives and a very important part of the family. He also lost a part of our childhood. Dusty was 14 when she was put to sleep. My father rang me that night to inform me of our loss and invited me over for the weekend. At that stage I had Mai and she was about 10months old so I think that helped the grieving process, having a bouncy, naughty black and white cocker around. No dog ever replaces another but puppies help the grieving There will never be another Clowny or Dusty but we will have other personalities to love and who will love us twice as much. Holly (who has been sprung crying at work) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelodysMum Posted May 28, 2004 Author Share Posted May 28, 2004 Hi Holly! It's nice to hear that someone understands, thank you. Owning a cocker (or being owned by one) is a very special experience. Clowny was a very special dog and I miss him every day. Our new little girl Brianna has helped to ease the pain and we love her to bits, but she will never take Clowny's place. They are all special. I know Clowny would have loved Brianna, and guess where she sits when she goes outside? Right where Clowny is buried! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundangel Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Wow he truly is beautiful and the expression on his face says it all... Wendy, I'm glad I finally found this post and could see pictures of your special boy, what an absolute darling... Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 WendyH, You really got me in the heart. Seeing the photo of his favorite spot did it! Little darling.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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