Braddick

 I love this picture he looks so healthy.  He was such a cute dog.

 Braddick and Daxter loved to lay by each other on the couch.

For a couple of years Braddick has been having bowel trouble.  This last year it has been worse.  He has lost a lot of weight.  He hasn't been able to make it outside and he goes out so often.  He has to take a long time and he just leaks.  He ended up 12 lbs of skin and bones.  He has been suffering.  We took him Tuesday, April 02 to the doctor.  We had been telling the kids it was going to be time.  The morning before we left for the vet we let the kids say goodbye.  They all cried, even Lance and that was hard for me.   We went into the office and waited for the doctor.  Braddick still had all of his mental facilities. This made it harder for us.   He was his normal smart alert self.  He sniffed around and came up for loves.  He went up to the doctor and his assistant for loves.  We kept petting and loving him.  We kept telling him what a good dog he was.  I hope he could understand.   Dr. Ryan Roundy came in and told us about the procedure.  He reassured us and we could tell he felt badly.  He was very respectful and kind.  We put Braddick up on the table with a white towel under him.  He didn't fight us and he was so well behaved.  He trusted us.  That really bothered me.  He normally gets upset at the vet.  Dr. Roundy tried several times to get a vein in several places.  Braddick's blood pressure was so low that it wasn't possible.  The normal treatment they do that takes only a few minutes was now going to take longer.  He sedated Braddick which took about 6 minutes.  Dr. Roundy then came back and put the other medication into his thigh.  He twitched and moved and after a few minutes his heart stopped and his spirit left his body.  The entire time we just gave our dog as much comfort and love as we could.  We cried.  I really understand what it means to love and to be so broken hearted.  Our family has been crying for days.  I really can't remember the last time I felt this sad.  I can't even explain the pain and the feeling.  This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.  I am glad we were there with Braddick to the end.  I think people owe that to their dog. Dumb things set us off.  We see the toys he loved, especially his blue racket ball.  We got him a coat and sweater because he got cold easily.  Seeing his special food and not knowing what to do with any of it.  Braddick was a loving dog.  He loved being with us.  He would follow us around.  He liked sleeping in bed with you when you were sick.  He wanted to protect us and always barked at the door.  He didn't play fetch well...he wouldn't give the ball back. He knew how to shake play dead when you said bang, hands, high five, roll over, dance and he understood hand signals and English.  You could always feel his love.  He always came to the door to greet you when you came home.  We will miss him so much.