Liberty Silver Bells Brucklay

 

Libby has been to Edinburgh for her scan and blood tests. She has stage 4 cancer (anal gland carcinoma) and she has tumours on several lymph nodes and it has also spread to her lungs. We have discussed surgery, radiotherapy and drugs with the vets. We have made the impossible decision not to go down that route but to let nature take its course. The treatments would only have given her a few extra months (not guaranteed) and she's happy and oblivious just as she is. She has 4-6 weeks.

We had only had her a couple of weeks when we had a holiday planned. The breeder agreed to have her back for the week. Holiday over hubby went to pick her up. She was in a kennel with her sister. But which one was Libby?? Luckily we had already chipped her. A quick visit to the vet confirmed he had successfully recognised his own dog! Good start lol.

We started training straight away. Sitting and waiting for her food - her little back legs going 10 to the dozen but not going anywhere as we held her back. She looked like a cartoon! But within a week she was sitting and waiting for the command. On more than one occasion we have forgotten to tell her to eat and she's patiently sat there for ages, looking lovingly at her food! I taught her that when I pointed 2 fingers at her and shouted 'bang, bang' she'd roll onto her back and play dead. I thought her to read - A4 flash cards with 'sit', 'come' and 'please'. She learnt the words and would follow the appropriate instruction. She is so clever. She will walk round my legs and sit down between them. She can stand on her back two legs. And most recently (and our proudest trick) she has learnt to shut the living room door. This one took a while but she can do it no bother at all now! 

We have so many memories and thousands of photos. I have no words to express how much we'll miss her! I desperately want to stop her from dying but I simply can't. I'm just wretched and inconsolable. But I also know that this is the circle of life. I'm so grateful to have had her for these short few years and she has been the perfect dog. We all love her so much. Like my sister said 'everyone should have a Libby in their lives'.

If you're going through hell, keep going.