My best friend in the whole world died at 6:15MST on 8-21-2006. Betsy was a wheaten terrier -13yr. 2 months when she died. I came home Monday from a half day at work and she was doing great. We played for awhile then hung out until around 2:30. I went downstairs then she came down around 4:30 with an enlarged belly. She barely made it down to my room (God bless her, but she wanted to see me). I quickly rushed her to the hospital and was told she had to have surgery to have her stomach turned. It was cutting off her artery to her heart as well. I decided to have the surgery but waited too long. I wanted to have my mom and dad come down before I did it and I blame myself for waiting longer. She died at 6:13 MST. My problem is that I keep telling myself that if I had not waited for an hour or so she would have made it. I don't know whether she would have survived but what was I thinking. I feel absolutely terrible about what I could not do. I loved her more than life itself and when the time came to make a decision I hesitated. The doctor gave her a 50/50 chance but because of her age, it was real risky. I decided to have him do it but she never made it to the operation. Five minutes before going into surgery I got to give her a great big hug. Her heart rate shot up from 150 or so to 225 when she saw me and I hugged her. I buried her that night in my backyard in her favorite part of the lawn. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life. I laid next to her for an hour before hand. I surrounded her grave with 4 large rocks and placed roses on her grave. Her favorite treat was an oatmeal cookie which I placed on top. I also spelled her name out with rocks. The happened so sudden and I am crying every half an hour or so. I can't stop. I keep thinking about her and the mistake I made. I really feel like I caused her death by waiting to long.

I know she will be in Heaven and I will see her again but I feel very bad for what I did not do. What have I done is all that goes through my head. Words cannot even begin to say how much I loved her. She was the greatest.

Here is a picture of Betsy taken 2 months ago

(((((((Hessier33)))))))

I'm so sorry to hear about the passsing of your beautiful furdog, Betsy .

I know in my heart that she is at Rainbow's Bridge and is happy and no longer in pain...... She knows that you love her very, very much...

Please don't blame yourself for anything -- that type of surgery is highly risky... there are no guarantees with any kind of surgery.....

But, always know this, Your precious Betsy LOVED YOU VERY, VERY MUCH and she will always remain in your heart.....
She is always near you.....

Sending you many hugs at this very difficult time...

God Bless You & Yours,

Denise

I"m sorry for your loss, Heisser33.

Betsy is beautiful. She's still with you. She sees how much you loved her and is with you in spirit. She's pain free, youthful and frisky again.

You showed her an incredible amount of respect in her p^^ing and her burial. Take comfort in knowing that her spirit is free and that she will always be with you.

Peace be with you.

Dear Kevin,

Thank you for your kind words! I am very sorry about Betsy. I know the gulit you are feeling. Ikeep thinking to myself that if I had not brought charlie to the vet for the sedation for xrays and blood work he would still be here today. But if he would of survived this only for me to be told he has advanced pulmonary carcinoma and probably only a week or two to live I would have had to make the dreaded decision to put him down. So Betsy was very sick and she did not want you to have to make this awful decision, she went on her own terms, as did my baby Charlie. It has been @ weeks and 2 days without him. I still cry everyday. I know he is with me. I was going down my stairs yesterday on there were 2 little spots of a rainbow on the wall, then and there i knew Gizmo & Charlie are here with me. I will keep you and Betsy in my prayers. Take care.

Michelle

Ahhh...what a beautiful pic of Betsy....please be gentle with yourself. You did what you could. This was a great trauma on her body. Try to not second guess and replay in your head...it was her time. She is at peace now.

Your memorial to her on her grave - the oatmeal cookie and name in rocks was so heart warming. She knows how much you loved her.

dear Hessier33,
I am so sorry for your loss of Betsy.(I wish I knew how to post a beautiful pic like yours.)
Your storey is not alone.
I feel like I caused my Maltese's death by feeding her the doggy frozen raw meat pellets.
She got ill later and died.
The guilt is overwhelming at times.
I realize feeling guilty will not help so I -TRY!- to tell myself I was doing my VERY BEST to take care of her since she was so delicate and small.
I know you were trying to do the very best for Betsy and sometimes we are not the perfect parent or it was just time for them to go.
You are lucky to have had so many years with Betsy.One or 13 years does not make the pain of lossing them any different.
I pray our pets are happy now and we will be okay.
p.s.
I liked your idea of donating to the humane society in her honor.
I thought about donating star's crate but I can't let go yet.
............................................... star's mom