Losing Our Fine Fellow

On May 6th, 2015 David, Mae, Norm and I lost a best friend. The two days before and after Harvey's euthanasia were four of the most unbearable days.

I miss Harvey terribly, but as the days go by, I remember all the happy times, and there were many. His slap happy grin remains foremost in my memory.  Common to many dogs, he was crazy about food and was a notorious, albeit a polite beggar. Even though his begging drove David and I nuts at times, we fed into it. We secretly loved it. He knew the sound of the can opener the second we pulled it out of the drawer. It meant tuna water and he'd run enthusiastically into the kitchen. He LOVED carrots, so much in fact that when his Nonna was visiting she gave him so many he literally pooped carrots. He waited by the stove every morning for the last lick of David's eggs. Harvey was so easy going and game for anything. He moved with me six different times during my rotations for PA school before we finally settled in SLC. Above all, he was an avid hiker. He thrived on the trails with or without snow and he loved the scenery, often taking breaks to enjoy the views. He was almost twice the age of Norm, but his energy on hikes was "puppy like" and contagious.

Norm and Harvey. Harvey and Norm. They were the best of friends. Now as I finally feel ready to write about our loss of Harvey, we unfortunately are faced with also having to lose Norm.

Norm is probably most known for his licking. He expresses himself through his tongue. He groomed Harvey multiple times a day. Norm is a lover. He loves to snuggle. He is so devoted to his family, barking at the quietest noises to "protect" us. He gives the best greetings. He is obsessed with Mae and follows her around everywhere. He also has many neuroses, which at times are frustrating, but we love him just as he is. Some of his neuroses include a major fear of fireworks and all things that smell like fire,  only drinking water from the bathtub faucet (something I'm sure we enforced), plastering his tongue on smooth surfaces for minutes at a time, vomiting at the sight of our suitcases, rolling in smelly substances (carcasses or fragrant foilage alike) and necessitating a belly rub before agreeing to come inside.  Oh, Norm!

For unexplained reasons, Norm developed shortness of breath in January.  He was diagnosed with a pleural effusion from a lung lobe torsion and underwent emergency lobectomy. He seemed to be recovering well and returning back to his normal self when about six weeks later he developed shortness of breath again. His pleural effusion had returned.  The cause of the pleural effusion is still in question, but most likely it is related to the thoracic duct being lacerated during his surgery. Conservative management includes a low fat diet to decrease the amount of lipid that drains through the thoracic duct, allowing the duct to heal. Surgery to ligate the duct is an option, but it is not very successful (50% success). Since March, he has had three pleural effusions drained, the last one 9 days ago, only for the fluid to build up again more quickly each time. He's been on antibiotics, low fat diet, steroids, and Rutin to no avail. We are faced with continuing to drain him, surgery, or euthanasia.  All options pretty much suck.  So right now, we are waiting and hoping for the best, but unfortunately it doesn't look good.  So for now, I concentrate on our time left together, cuddling and squeezing him so tight.

 I'd like to think that Harvey and Norm were meant for each other just like a couple who has grown old together, unable to live without the other, die within a short time frame of one another.  Norm was not meant to live without Harvey and vice-versa.

We have all lost a best friend and it is unbearable to think we might lose another so soon. The thought that tears me up most is Mae not knowing either of them.  When the time is right, maybe we'll experience this intense love again with another dog. But, for now, we are too hurt inside to even
consider that possibility.

I sometimes hear Harvey singing tunes in the night, but then I realize it's Norm. When I start to feel sad, it's all these little things about Harvey and Norm that I remember.  That's when a slap happy grin takes over my face.