A Farewell to My "Chocolate Moose"



On Wednesday October 23, 2013 I said my teary goodbyes to yet another of my best friends - my "Chocolate Moose" Browni. His death was sudden and unexpected, apparently a heart attack, and it ripped me to my soul. I'm just thankful that it was relatively quick. It didn't make it any easier, but was a good thing for him.

Browni was a Chocolate Lab who entered into my life in November, 2005 when he was placed with me as a difficult to place foster dog. I have no idea how old he really was, but his paperwork said he was about a year old. He seemed older in some ways, but he was a playful pup most days. I adopted him in January 2006 and I know he's had a great life with me and the rest of the gang. He had a special spot for my daughter Tina, and enjoyed a short visit with her early this summer after not seeing her in almost 4 years after we left Ontario and moved to Nova Scotia.

Browni has been having a difficult time lately. He had eye surgery this year after injuring one of his eyes on one of his rare (now) "jaunts" into the woods. We think he may have gone looking for Thunder (our Bernese Mountain Dog who left us a year ago due to a mast cell tumour that spread to his vital organs and brain. Browni's ACL joint was acting up and he had a growth on his chest. In July he had a his booster shots and a check-up and was doing fine. I had made an appointment to have the growth on his chest looked at, but we had cancelled it when the girl's were spayed, opting to wait until they were all healed and well again.

We have been running back and forth to the vet with them between taking them in to be spayed, going to pick them up, taking them back again after Baie-Leigh's near death experience. Then they had infections, so we were back again. Each time, Browni sadly waited at home while the girls got to go for a drive with us. I've also been going for physiotherapy on my right shoulder twice a week, we went out to see the Irish Rovers on Sunday, etc. Anyhow, we were pretty sure he felt like he was missing out on something fun, so on Tuesday night we took them all for a drive. Browni LOVED going in the car and he was so excited when I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride!

On Monday, Browni was outside with Neil, I and the girls and Annie had an old red t-shirt of Neil's that she likes to play with. Browni snatched it out of her mouth and ran around the yard like a spunky pup! They played tug of war with it a bit and he was really happy! Wednesday we picked up some large marrow bones for the "kids" at the grocery store and he was in his glory. We haven't had them for a long time because they would upset Thunder's tummy so I know Browni just loved his special treat.

He wanted to go out when he was finished with getting all the marrow from his bone so I let him out. I told him firmly "Stay in that yard!" because he had actually left on Sunday morning before breakfast (which was very, very unusual nowadays) and was gone quite a long time. Anyhow, he was still pretty stiff and sore from his little trek on Sunday even by Wednesday, plus he'd had that lovely treat of a marrow bone before supper, and then he was laying in the sun on the back porch while Neil was doing chicken chores so I didn't think he'd go anywhere. Once again he proved me wrong and disappeared for about 45 minutes.

When Browni came home he was wet all over. I assume he went over to the lake for a swim. I didn't condone it, but I understood. After all, he is a Labrador Retriever! All the geese are stopping over as they head south and it IS very tempting! When he came home he just walked up to the back patio doors as if he'd been here the whole time. I shut him into the laundry room because he was so wet, and I admit, I ignored him for awhile because I was ticked off that he left the yard and didn't come when I called him.

 



He seemed uncomfortable in there, which was evident by some groaning and struggling to find a good place to lay down. I thought it was from his little jaunt. I let him join us again near supper time. He ate his supper, then he was hanging around in the kitchen as I finished making supper for Neil and I. We happen to hold "fire drills" in our home for the dogs. When the smoke alarm goes off they race to the back door. After we shut the alarm off and tell them it's okay they are allowed to leave the back door area and are rewarded for going to the door and staying there. Well, when I opened the oven, the heat set off the alarm. The girls jumped up and ran to the back door, but last night Browni just didn't seem to want to go. I made him get up and go anyhow, assuming he was stiff and sore from his two jaunts over the past few days. When we ended the drill we rewarded the "kids" with raw carrots, which they love, and they help make their breath sweet after eating the marrow bones.

Usually after supper Browni goes upstairs and sleeps on our bed. On Wednesday night he didn't. Instead, he stayed close to me. Neil and I ate supper in the family room while we watched a show we had taped. Part way through supper Browni cried out as he laid on the floor between me and the fireplace. The girls ran to him but I could tell it was serious, so I pushed them away from him and Neil took them to the laundry room. I don't know how, but I knew right away he was dying. I started to cry and I said, "Oh, Browni!" He wagged his tail twice and then he was gone. We pet him and talked to him and he did let out one more breath about 30 seconds later and that was it.

I felt so horrible that I had shut him into the laundry room, but in retrospect I know he probably spent his last days exactly how he'd want to. He had had some playtime recently, had 2 long runs, had a swim, went for a drive, had a marrow bone, ate supper, had a carrot, was close to us all, and died with us all there as he laid in the warmth of the fireplace. I know it was a good way to go and Neil said he obviously heard my voice as he died, which is why he wagged his tail. Once we got over the shock of the situation we allowed the girls in to sniff and say their goodbyes before removing him from the house. We will take him to the vet in the morning to be taken care of.

I love every one of my pets deeply, but Browni was special. He didn't trust or bond easily, but he was deeply bonded to us... unless he wanted to go for a run! He overcame so much since joining our family and it was such a special treat to know he lived a good life. If I hadn't kept him he would have been euthanized because until I worked with him he was food aggressive, suffered from severe separation anxiety. When I took him in he ran away several times a day if given an opportunity, fought with other dogs, stole food, tore apart people's garbage, counter surfed by actually climbing onto the counters, escaped cages by ripping them apart, fought being groomed, had to be medicated to trim his nails or leave him more than 1 minute and more. After awhile he was still a bit anxious when you trimmed his nails, but other than that, he was a great dog with few hang-ups. He could be boarded and groomed with no problems, left alone with no stress, etc.

 



Browni will be in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. He brought many laughs and fun to our days, loved to moan and groan while getting a cuddle or scratch and became an incredibly obedient boy. (Well, except the odd running away incident, or the day he and Thunder got into the flour... or when he and Thunder ate all the bulbs for my garden!) He was a great dog and I am so glad I was the one who rescued him from the life he was living and became the one he trusted and loved so very much!

Browni was my moose... my Chocolate Moose... a ruffian, yet a gentleman. I will miss him so much!



Goodbye my sweet boy. We WILL meet again....