Thursday, March 8, 2012

Goodbye To Dr.Zira

This morning Zira had a breathing attack and passed away.  My husband was with her.    Last night we thought the diagnosis of pneumonia was a positive thing as she was on antibiotics and this morning when I left for work she had eaten and was wagging her tail.   I am still somewhat in shock.  The vet thinks something else was going on, possibly cancer.  We had done every test conceivable but I still feel incredibly guilty that we couldn't help her more, her decline was so sudden.


All in all Zira's story was a happy one.  She was 9 when we adopted her from a women with over 50 dogs.   She had been neglected and ignored for years.   Zira had kidney disease, awful teeth, and a mangy coat.     She was not a pet, in the same ways my other dogs are.  She was never cuddly or affectionate and she didn't like going for walks or playing with toys.   Even with attention and care she never really got over the trauma of her early years.   However, she was always at the door to greet me with a wagging tale and she cried to be brought up the stairs with us at night.   She loved to beg for bits of people food and never tired of chasing cats.    




Goodbye Zira









42 comments:

  1. We are so sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Miley and Maggie

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  2. Oh what a precious face. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

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  3. We are so saddened to hear about the loss of Dr Z. There is no doubt you gave her the very best part of her life. We are thinking about you during this time.
    Love,
    Payton

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  4. RIP Sweet Zira :(

    Blessings and Love to all of you,
    Mom, Maggie Mae and Max

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  5. I am so sorry to hear your sad news about Dr. Z. A rapid loss is a difficult one. The dog my family had before me (Sophie) passed away in three days, and it was very hard for my family to deal with. So, they made a "memory box" for her, and filled it with all things Sophie. This helped them to cope with her loss. Thinking about you during this hard time.
    Stewey

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  6. So sorry.
    Love to all of you.
    Bertie and Gail.

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  7. I am soooo sorry for your loss of Dr. Zira! Thankfully she lived her later years in your loving home! R.I.P. Dr. Zira!

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  8. We're very sorry to hear the bad news about Dr. Z. It sounded like it all happened so fast. You definitely gave her a wonderful life in her "golden years" which I'm sure she appreciated. We'll keep you all in our thoughts.

    Love,
    Sid (and Brian and Jenn)

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  9. So very very sorry. Run free sweet girl. You gave her a wonderful life
    Dachshund Nola

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  10. So grateful that you gave Dr. Z a wonderful life for the time you had her. Every dog (and every person) deserves that love.

    Peace to you all and Dr. Z.

    ♥♥♥
    Meredith & Scarlet

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  11. Incredibly sad and sorry to hear about Dr. Z's passing ... we were so hopeful that she would recover. Please try not to torture yourself with what you might have done differently, because the reality is, I know few people as committed to giving their dogs the best possible vet care, nutrition, etc. as you are. I am sure you feel blessed to have had Z in your life, as well you should, but Z herself was truly blessed to have come to live with you. You opened your heart to an older, neglected dog who needed someone to love her and a place to belong, and you gave her compassionate, responsible care and lots of love. Feeling the sadness and pain of Z's loss is inevitable, as you loved her dearly and her departure from you was sudden and very unexpected, but please don't EVER feel guilty!

    Sending you lots of hugs!

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  12. Words can not fully express how sorry I am for you and your whole family. It's such a shock to the system when they go so fast. You did everything you possibly could for her, although I know from experience, it never feels like enough.
    Dr. Z seemed like quite the spunky lady though. Doesn't it seem like her to go at her own pace, letting no one else make her choice for her? The way you describe her sounds like Isabelle, although I don't think she suffered like Zira did. But she's not affectionate, she doesn't like to be on the couch or to be held. She wants what she wants when she wants it. I imagine that she will go in a similar fashion. At her own pace, on her own time.
    Bless you for giving her a space to grow old and comfortable in. Although she may not have been cuddly, she loved you.
    Peace to you and your family.

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  13. Oh Katherine
    I am soooo sorry!
    I am sending you all of my love and hugs.
    Dr. Zira was so lucky to have all of you.
    She loved you with all of her heart.
    She is a very special soul.
    Thank you for alsways sharing her with us.
    I am always here for you!
    xoxoxo
    melissa

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  14. sorry to hear the news..at least you have peace in knowing you were her saving grace.

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  15. You did all you could, and you gave Zira the best life a dog could ever wish for, because you loved her truly and deeply.

    Dear Zira, rest in peace. Run free in Heaven.
    When you see Keisha and Daisy, please tell them we love them.

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  16. I am sad that Zira did not make it. I am sending over some Pug hugs and kisses your way.
    Love Noodles

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  17. Southern Fried Pugs said it all; bless you and your family for giving Dr.Zira a wonderful life in her senior years!

    Gampy

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  18. RIP sweet Dr. Zira! She is going to be misssed! Love Zoe, Peyton, Webster & Liberty

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  19. Oh were all so sorry....thinking of you <3

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  20. Our deepest condolences. It is hard to not feel guilty when things of this nature happen so suddenly. You did the best for her during her last years on earth. Bringing her home to your family changed her life for the better. Sometimes life just happens to quickly for us to comprehend. Although there is uncertainty as to her diagnosis it was just... her time. God needed her home and she will be waiting for you when God calls you home.

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  21. I was so upset to hear about the loss of Dr Zira, she was such a cutie and I will miss her deeply, I am so glad that you rescued her and that the best part of her life was spent with you having all the love you had to give her. My love goes out to you all and everyone is thinking about you during this difficult time, Im sure she is happy over the rainbow bridge looking down on you all! Love, Hugs and Tummy Rubs from Frank xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  22. We are so sorry, run free Dr. Zira
    Benny & Lily

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  23. WE are so sorry about Dr.Zira, but at least he knew lots of love at the end. He was very lucky to find all of you. Woofs and hugs coming your way. Take care.

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  24. This message is from Daisy who is having trouble posting a comment.

    To Urban Hounds: We're so sorry to hear of your loss. Take some comfort in knowing that you gave sweet Zira a new, happy take on life after you adopted her. I'm sure she's smiling at you from the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Blessings to you for your kindness and love.

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  25. So sorry to hear about Dr. Zira! So nice he was able to live out his best days in a loving home. I'm stopping over from my mom's blog, "Basset Momma". My thoughts are with you!

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  26. Oh gosh, I am so very sorry about Zira ...I wasn't online yesterday so I only just found out. It sounds like you gave her a lovely life - how lucky she was to find you so that her final years could be filled with love and light.

    My thoughts are with you ...Run free, dear Zira.

    Pip & Kristin

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  27. Sorry to hear your sad news about Dr.Z. You gave her a wonderful forever home. Hugs Dexter

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  28. So sorry to hear about Dr. Z. I hope you take comfort in the life you gave her, which no doubt prepared her for an auspicious rebirth :) Lots of warm hugs and cold noses--

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  29. My name is Tweedles. You do not know me, but I was reading Melissa and Archies blog and I saw that Dr Z had died.
    I am so sorry. I know your heart is breaking and you are so sad. I read how you rescued Dr Z, and gave her all the love in the world. You did everything you could for her, and I know that she knew it.
    I will keep you in my hearts,, as your heart heals.
    love
    tweedles

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  30. I am so sorry that you have lost sweet Dr. Z. She was so lucky to have spent her last years with you....

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  31. We are sorry you lost Dr. Zira. But I believe those days she'd spent with you was one of her best, so grieve if you must but remember that Dr. Z wouldn't want you to be sad for so long when she was happy with you all those times.

    Huggies and Cheese,

    Haopee

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  32. Hi. Just came over from Basset Momma. Sorry for your loss. It's good there are people like you to look after poor dogs like Zira. Deccy x

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  33. You have my heartfelt sympathy. How wonderful that Dr. Zira had a loving home with you and some happiness in her life. Sending hugs your way.

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  34. Hi we came over from Bassett Momma. We wanted to say how sorry we are for your loss of Dr. Zira.
    Run free with the wind in you face forever Dr. Zira!

    Big Nose Pokes
    The Thugletsx

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  35. We are so very sorry to hear Dr.Z had gone to the bridge. She was such a beautiful lady and I loved seeing her funny face on the blog. We send your family many hugs.

    The Girls and Jenn

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  36. I apologize for our delay. I haven't been online all week. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Zira. She was very lucky to have you as her humans to enjoy life free from neglect and receive all that love and yummy home cooked dishes you prepare. I wish none of us ever had to lose a loved one. Our prayers are with you.

    Emma

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  37. I'm sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Dr. Zira.

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  38. Bless Zira - and the rest of you. What a shock it must have been. I am so sorry for your loss.

    You gave her a good life and she was clearly very happy with you.

    Love and licks, Winnie

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  39. I don't think there are the perfect words one can say over the loss of a dear pet. The heart aches, the tears flow, the rememberance so bittersweet.

    I am so sorry for Zira to have left your loving arms but she is at peace over that Rainbow Bridge...take care each of you.

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  40. We are so sorry to hear this sad news. Our hearts and thoughts are with you. Zira was very lucky to have such wonderful family and warm home.

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  41. I am so so sorry to hear about Dr. Zira. She was such a pretty pup. Never once did I see a picture of hr sweet face without wanting to pick her up and smooch her! Our hearts and thoughts are with you at this very sad time.

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