DYLAN IN MEMORIAM

Dylan was the last of the 3-Ds to arrive in our home, and he was the last to leave.  He passed peacefully at home yesterday with the assistance of a kindly veterinarian.

This is my favourite picture of Dylan and how I would like to remember him.

It all seems to have come on suddenly.  Dylan appeared to be fine and then on Sunday he disappeared into the basement for more than 24 hours.  We needed help to ultimately find him, and my son finally did -- hiding inside a box (of which there are many down there).  We blocked the basement after that so we could monitor him, but he kept to himself hiding under the bed in the master bedroom.  At least we knew where he was.

A couple of times he came out for a nibble, and even jumped on top of the cat tree.  He could still move and run very quickly.  However, it was soon obvious that he was really out of sorts and I felt that he was suffering.

We hadn't been able to get Dylan to a vet in many years because he is so terrified of everything; especially the carrier and the car.  He would always hide and be impossible to find, and even if you did he would struggle mightily and make it impossible to proceed.

When I called the vet, they gave me the number of some mobile veterinarians who thankfully could come to our house the same day.  I knew Dylan was suffering and it broke my heart.  They were remarkable; so professional yet exceedingly compassionate at the same time.  They had to crawl under the bed to sedate him before bringing him downstairs to me.

The lady vet had performed an examination of Dylan and the diagnosis was made, along with information gleaned from me, that this was end-stage renal failure.

The vet assistant carried Dylan, wrapped in a blanket which they brought, and placed him beside me on the sofa.  He was heavily sedated, so could hear me tell him I loved him, and feel my hand as I stroked him.  His passing was swift and painless.  I felt such relief because I knew he had been suffering badly.  It was appropriate that Dylan passed at home because this is where he always wanted most to be.

However, now he is with the other 3-Ds, and there is a big reunion on the Rainbow Bridge. 

Dylan, Domino and Dante are all in their forever garden, just hanging out and having fun.

And the love keeps keeping on ...

P.S.  As with Domino, I will continue (for a while) to post some of Dylan's best pictures as a memorial to him.