December 30, 2008
Yesterday was a very difficult day for the children and me. Our beloved German Shepherd Attila passed away. He died peacefully in our backyard.
Attila was almost 13 years old. I gave him to Ana as a birthday present back in 1996.
Yesterday after lunch I could tell he wasn’t feeling well and I wanted to take him to the vet. I was organizing how and where to leave the kids when suddenly Chiara yells from the backyard “Daddy come quick, Attila is very sick he’s lying down with pee pee all around him”. I went running outside, got down on my knees right next to him and was able to hold Attila in my arms while his body twitched for the last few times and became lifeless.
Chiara, Eric, Sophia and I started to cry. I’m very sad about Attila; he was such a big part of our lives. The children were really shaken up. They were already under enough emotional stress and now the dog that’s been part of our family even before they were born is no longer around.
Last night I couldn’t sleep, our house seems so empty. Ana has been at the hospital for more than a month and now Attila is gone. He has been a huge source of personal comfort over the last month. Lately it’s not been easy to sleep and just lying down on the couch with Attila pressing his weight into my chest has been my “sleeping pill”.
He was an incredibly loyal and good friend to all of us. He was a very beautiful, big, strong and a tremendously dominant alpha male. Even though he was not as active as he used to be, every time he saw another male dog, he still wanted to pick a fight. His bark was quite imposing, so if you didn’t know him you really didn’t want to ring our doorbell. On the other hand he was very affectionate, warm and loving with all of us, as with any friend of the family who would walk in to the house with Ana or me. If we accepted you, he automatically accepted you. We never ever had a single incident of him being aggressive to friends, acquaintances or other children.
Our children could literally take the food out of his mouth, pull his tail, yank his ears and he wouldn’t even complain. At the most he’d get fed up and simply stand and walk away. In fact the biggest hazard for the children was when he got up and walked away. His weight was close to 100 pounds so over the years he did knock the kids down a few times but never with the intent of hurting them.
In Argentina they say if a dog’s owner is very sick and the dog passes away during that illness what is really happening is that the dog is enacting the final act of love and loyalty. The dog is really taking his master’s sickness with himself, thus helping his master to recover. It’s too much of an incredible coincidence that Attila passed away on December 29th exactly one month after Ana was admitted to the hospital on November 29th and at the same time of day that the ambulance picked her up. If this Argentine belief is true, Attila’s life and his years of friendship will have acquired a whole new significance, far greater than ever imagined possible. He will live on with us for many more years.
His life and Cancer are a very entwined.
When I gave Attila to Ana, I had to retrieve him from the breeder earlier than normally allowed. We were living in Argentina and my dad was in Illinois going thru his second battle against Cancer. I was leaving home for more than a month to assist my dad during the most intense part of his cancer treatment. During that month Attila became Ana’s most loyal friend. Attila came to us during my dad’s cancer treatment and he left us during Ana’s. If his leaving us will result in the same outcome as my dad’s, his loyalty and friendship will acquire legendary status.
Goodbye dear friend I will miss you deeply. I’m in peace that I was there with you when you parted.
A few people have already offered us puppies. As much as I love dogs, I have to say no and will turn down any future offers for the time being. First of all we need to get over Attila’s loss first. Second I’m in no position to accept the responsibility of taking care of and raising new puppy right now. I really appreciate the offers but please not for now.
Ana is responding very well to the cancer treatments. She’s not really suffering the side effects of the chemotherapy or the radio therapy. Her blood count remains very strong, her skin is not getting damaged and her hair is not falling out.
The big tumor in her right breast has shrunk and softened significantly.
These are GREAT steps in the right direction and give us hope that Ana will continue to improve.
Best regards
Victor
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