Happy Birthday Kuma!!!

Last year on October 5 you spent your first day away from home. Your continuous seizures caused by the anibiotic pill Simplicef finally stopped at 5am which was even earlier than the Vet had hoped for. You were now lying peacefullly sleeping in the hospital on the day you turned 17 years old.

When I arrived early in the hospital, and kissed your head, you took a big sigh and you yawned and licked your dry lips. You knew daddi was there and you relaxed and slept peacefully. I sat on the floor with you from 7 am until after 10 pm, holding you, petting your head and back and holding your paw. You were sedated into an induced coma and it was planned to let you sleep for another two days. I remember just being with you and feeling your warm body and hearing you breathe was the greatest feeling and it was all that was expected of you that day. Things were finally under control and going better than planned.

Yet for some reason unknown to me, the Vet on the night shift before called your mother at 3 am to say that you should be put to sleep. This crazy vet had no idea what was going on and what the plan was and that you were doing great. Thankfully, you mom said to wait and talk to me first. When I came in she mentioned to me that she had called, and I told her that you were doing fine Kumi and everything was as planned. She understood then. I also texted you mom to make sure that if any other vets call her to ignore them because they don't know what is going on. You were just sleeping well. All you vital signs were being monitored and they were perfectly normal and healthy. I checked your charts and everything was being done as it should have been. You only had a slight seizure at 3 am and then at 5 am and that was finally your last one.

The next vet that came in for the day shift again seemed to want to stop everything and just kept telling me stories of other dogs that didn't make it. I have no idea why she was so pessimistic and negative when your first vet was optimistic and positive and had everything under control. Why do some vets just want to kill old dogs in the name of merci, even when they don't know anything about them. I just don't understand why they are vets if that is how they feel. Old does not mean the end. In fact, Kumi your last 3 "old" years were the absolute best years of your life and our relationship. Why do vets not understand this and why do they not do even the minimal to help an old dog recover?

I called this same vet over and asked her if she knew how to empty your bladder while you were laying down. I knew that your bladder was full and that always caused you to feel uncomfortable and sometimes tremble holding it in while little amounts were starting to come out. I knew you would relax more if you could pee. Everytime at home when you seemed stressed it was because you had to pee and after you did, you always went back to bed and slept very peacefully. I asked the vet to empty your bladder. She felt around and said it was empty. I said, "no, it's hard to reach because her stomach muscles are so strong it's hard to find it behind them." the vet tried again and said, "no, I feel it and it's totally flat". I knew she was wrong. I should have tried myself. The proof was when you died, at least a liter of pee was released. I knew you were stressed holding it in all the time. Of course I knew, because I knew you better than that vet did, yet she was just so confident and beyond reproach.

Kumi I was so proud of you. Hearing you breathe, feeling your heartbeat and feeling your warm body and soft fur were the most important things in my life that day. I will never forget.

At 17 Kumi you now broke all records just for living so long. But more than that, you were the most loving, happy, kind, compassionate and energetic being I have ever met. You always enticed me to do something you wanted by trying to play with me and getting me to go over to where you wanted me to go, whether it was over to your bowl, the cookie bag or to go outside for a walk. It worked every time. Your playfulness was irrisistable. You fooled me into it and made me smile no matter how tired I was.

Happy birthday Kumi, my little poopie girl. I love you so much!!!

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I detest the stupidity, the arrogance and the selfishness that caused such horrible pain and prologed suffering and death 30 minutes later to such a sweet, gentle kind being. I don't know how such evil treacherous uncaring people can live with themselves. Kuma's entire life was playing joyfully and loving and trusting people. Why did she have to be killed in such an evil painful way. You don't live such a long beautiful life to have it end in such a horrible way.