Saying Good bye to our Mackie Boy

We had to put our little guy down today.  It was a very sad day for us as we have had him for 8 years.  He was such a cute little guy and so smart.  He was over the top on barking and was afraid of people he didn't know.  He also had a nipping problem from puppyhood but he was our dog and we loved him.  We had originally got him for our daughter who was 4 years old at the time and was begging for a dog but he ended up adoring Rich.  He was a little bit to busy and anxious to be a good little kid dog.  So Mary never bonded with him.  A little over 2 years ago, Mary's piano teacher gave her a beautiful cat.  She was half Himilayian and was the sweetest thing.  By this time Mac was 6 years old and had been our only pet.  He routinely chased all cats out of our yard.  So, sad to say he never accepted Mary's cat, Ellie.  So, we had to keep the two in separate parts of the house.  This added to Mary's unhappiness with Mac.  

Rich retired in 2017 and Mac followed him around like a shadow.  He got to be with the one he adored all day! 4 1/2 months after Rich retired Mac got a neck injury from jumping off the back of the couch.  We took him to the vet to be examined and he bit the vet.  We were so shocked it all happened so fast.  It ended up being a nightmare because we had not kept up on his Rabbies booster shot.  So we had to keep him at home for 10 days with no medical attention.  He was in horrible pain, we didn't know whether he would recover or not.  I was so glad Rich had retired so he could help me with his care.  So when he pulled through, he even became closer to our hearts but his health problems began.  He would not let us groom him without putting a plastic cone on him and a horrible fight from him.  We were as gentle as possible but he turned vicious and would bite us if we tried to do anything without the cone.  He got really shaggy.  He still liked his bath but would not tolerate any grooming.  If we weren't grooming him, he was loving and nice.  So we took him to the vet and told her our problem and she prescribed some calming drugs.  We were so hopeful and tried them out.  He didn't respond well to them.  They made him drowsy but as soon as the grooming stuff came out he still turned into a tasmanian devil.  We tried a couple different kinds of medicine and they didn't work.  He has always been sensitive to medication and has had a weak tummy.  So, we gave up.  We did get his back end shaved but we couldn't do his head because of him trying to bite us and also with his jerking around we were afraid he would get hurt.  So his little face and chest just got full of hair balls and mats that made him scratch and he could hardly see.  His nails got really long and we knew his quality of life was ebbing away.  We couldn't trust him around anyone he didn't know for fear he might bite them if they tried to pet him and touch him.  Poor little guy he just a had a bad genetic code from in breeding and he couldn't help but be so anxious and bite.  We just couldn't have a dog like that.  It wasn't fair to him or to us.  The great big owey was that we loved him and felt so sorry for him.  Today we had to take him into the vet to be put to sleep.  Rich took him in and held him.  Mary and I stayed out in the car.  I was crying and Rich had tears streaming down his face when he came out.  It was so hard to come home and he was not there.  He had been such a big part of our lives but we knew we had done the right thing and that Mac would not be suffering any more.  

Good bye Puppy Boy, we tried the best for you and it just didn't work.  We know you were an innocent little guy and couldn't help your bad breeding by your first owner.  We loved playing with you and your favorite pink rabbit.  How I longed for you to be the calm loving little family dog that we wanted for Mary but it just didn't work out that way.  Maybe when I get to heaven, there will be a little you without all your anxiety problems.  Good bye little boy.  Hugs and kisses from us.