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A Very Sad Story
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By Ron Munden
June 12, 2023 – The day Hunter’s time ran out.
On the morning of June 7 my wife took Hunter, our new dog, to a local vet because he could not put any weight on his right-hind leg. The vet said they would need to do x-rays to determine the problem. We were told that we could pick him up after 5pm that afternoon. Sometime after 5pm we returned to see the vet. A vet tech gave us the news that Hunter’s leg was out of the socket. She said to take him home and keep him in a crate. She also said that the vet had sent the x-rays to Dallas for consolation. The vet would call us when they knew more.
We carried Hunter home, put him in his bed in an enclosure. Every four hours we carried him out to pee and poop. With difficulty Hunter did both. Hunter was a trooper even though he was in pain.
We were surprised when we did not receive a call from the vet on Thursday. Even more surprised when we received no call on Friday. Of course we received no call on the weekend. When we received no call on Monday morning Deloris called the veterinary office and asked for the vet. Instead she got a vet tech that told her that the case had been referred to a vet in Dallas and nothing could be done for Hunter in Marshall. Not wanting to put Hunter through any more. We ask for an appointment to have Hunter put down.
Hunter is gone but not forgotten. This afternoon he was put to sleep. I stayed with him to the very end – the sticking of the big needle into the heart. Thankfully he was asleep and felt nothing.
It is strange, over the years we have had to put many animals to sleep, but this was the saddest time. Perhaps it is because Hunter was so young and the others were all old.
I am thankful that Hunter went peacefully. Once I told the vet that more talk served no purpose Deloris left the room. She was emotionally drained after almost a week of watching Hunter in pain.
At this point the vet and the vet tech left to prepare for the procedure. It was just Hunter and me. There was a blanket on the exam table. I layed Huner on his side on the blanket with his good leg on the blanket. I massaged his head and chest. In a few minutes he relaxed and he fell asleep. For the next 5 minutes or so he laid there showing no signs of stress.
The vet tech returned. When she administered the first shot he gave a little whine once but put his head back on the blanket. The tech said the shot would take about 10 minutes to take effect. I continued massaging Hunter and he just laid there peacefully.
After 10 minutes the vet tech came in to check. A minute later the vet came in with a syringe filled with a greenish-blue medication and a 3-inch needle. She asked if I wanted to leave before the shot – I said “no.” She warned that there might be a final gasp when the liquid was injected into the heart. They positioned Hunter on the table for the shot. I held Hunter’s head as the vet administered the drug. Hunter did not move when the needle went in or when it was removed. Hunter would suffer no more pain. I left to pay my bill.
This 20-pound three-month old stray puppy with a bad leg showed up at our doorstep on May 19, 2023 so we only had Hunter for less than 30 days. During that time we spent almost $1000 in vet bills. I don’t regret giving Hunter a home or even spending the money on him. Hunter was a good dog. He never growled at any person or animal, never peed or pooped in the house and alway had a wagging tail. Even after his final injury he hobbled around the yard doing his business and then waiting for me to carry him back into the house.
I know that Hunter knew he had found a loving home – sadly for a very short time.
I do sit here second guessing myself. Could I have done more for Hunter?
Seeing Hunter in pain took an emotional toll on Deloris. She can’t stand to see any animal in pain. Every day got more difficult. It had almost been a week of waiting to hear something from the local vet or the Dallas vet – the phone NEVER rang.
Finally, I decided that I had to have Hunter put down. All vets know how to do that.
RIP Hunter – you were a good dog.
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