I remember back in 2007 when I lost my dog of 11 years. We basically grew up together, since I was 10. I remember when he first walked into the house, scared and looking like a little puff ball. We basically grew up together as I was pretty young when I got it. His name was Ponky. I know, pretty awkward name, my cousin picked the name up... I know.
He used to leave the house and walk around the neighborhood to do his thing and visit other "doggy friends" and then come back home.
One day we went out for a Hindu wedding, I remember, and when we came back home, someone left the garage door open and thus he went out. It was unusual that he would take that long out and usually when I would whistle at him or call his name, he would come rushing in. This time, he didn't but after awhile he responded.
I remember it was the most painful thing I have ever seen. His jaw was dislocated, like if someone hit him with a baseball bat or kick him in the face. He could not close it. It was so painful and tad disturbing to see. For a tiny French Poodle toy, it was pretty shocking to see as they are so compact.
We brought him in as I called all emergency services and they told me I needed to bring it to a pet hospital not 911. His usual doctor was called and he said he could attend him in the morning.
We took him to a emergency pet hospital that we found nearby and they ran some tests and stuff. they concluded it was either a car or someone really hated him and gave him a beating. I didn't hear any car or dog crying, and thus I concluded that it was something very strange what happened to him.
Long story short, they told us they needed to do a surgery that would cost, like anything health related in the US around 3k and that he would need a lot of therapy and drink/eat from a straw. Also that something could have been damaged in his brain due to a little blood in his eye and the fact that one or two times his eyes went to the back of his head. So he basically wouldn't be back to be the dog he was.
The next day we took him for a second opinion to his usual doctor.
And I can say it was the most painful and sad moment I can recall in my 27 years of life.
The doctor said that he needed a lot of stuff done and that it was better to put him to sleep.
I remember, I hugged my dog, and I spoke to him, it was my best friend of 11 years, my best companion since I was in middle school until I became a young man (21), he was there for the good and the bad times. I told the doctor to please put his mouth close together and they tied up with a red ribbon, I asked him if putting him to sleep would hurt, he said that they would put 3 injections. One to numb the area, one to make him sleep and then the lethal one.
I am tearing up as I write this as I am already sensitive for my other situation (current). I remember they put the first injection, I held his little head and looked at his eyes, kept talking to him, and all I could think was "what is he thinking, is he in pain, will he hate me for ending his life". Then they injected the heart stopping injection and slowly he passed away, I can recall the images vivid in my head, I cried so much in front of everyone there, my mother also.
I hugged him so hard and put my head on top of his lap, kissed him and said good bye. I remember the staff gave me this picture of a "heaven dog" in which it said that he is happy, playing with other dogs and waiting to be together with me once again" I just couldn't stop mourning and crying. It was so painful.
At home, I would lock myself in my room and cry. I would put music and talk out loud to him and cry again, but a cry that was so deep, so full of feeling, one that could not be stopped even if I tried.
Everyday from that moment until almost a year I would cry sporadically and remember my Ponky.
It is definitively one of the hardest feelings in the world to lose your loyal companion, it is amazing how humans can get so attached to these little creatures and viceversa, to the point that we mourn them and love them almost or more than other humans in our lives.