We all look so happy in the Halloween photos, but we were hiding some supreme sadness. I felt like Mr. Roarke from “Fantasy Island,” who used to command, “Smiles, Everyone. Smiles!”
Maggie the Dog, Beloved Boxer and Killer of Chickens, died peacefully on the operating table at the vet’s office Saturday afternoon.
It was very unexpected.
Over the past week, Eddie and I were finding little pee spots on the carpet. It wasn’t like either Mona or Maggie to pee in the house, and we weren’t sure who was the culprit. During a costume dress rehearsal, I found a new spot, leading to this Facebook post:
Later that day, we found another fresh spot, but Mona was outside. So we knew it was Maggie. I figured she had a bladder infection, so I made an appointment with the vet for Saturday morning.
During the exam, the vet noticed something off in Maggie’s abdomen, and recommended an X-ray. This is what she found:
See that football-shaped mass? Yeah, that’s not good. And whatever it was grew to that size over just four months — since June when Maggie got the cancer all-clear after the removal of lumps she had on her leg and side.
The vet thought it was either a splenic hematoma or hemangiosarcoma and recommended emergency surgery. With the hematoma, the vet could remove it and the prognosis was good. With the other, she could remove it and the prognosis was not good — likely a few months to live. Either way, I thought I’d have time left with Maggie.
I got the call during the boys’ soccer game that afternoon. The mass was a cancerous lymph node. A lymph node had grown to that size! There was nothing the vet could do.
Maggie passed peacefully while under anesthesia. I hate that I didn’t say goodbye, but it probably would have stressed her out to see me so upset.
We buried her Sunday next to her friends Tommy and Stanley.
Rest in Peace, Mag-a-Pie.
2002 (?) - Oct. 30, 2010
Observe and report 
Oh Beth I am so sorry to hear this about Maggie. It was better for her that she didn’t really suffer – she was still eating chickens until just recently right? I know it’s so hard for you and Eddie and the boys but what a joy that you enjoyed her company for so long. I am just heartsick for you guys and am praying for you all. Do you think it’s a coincidence that Jeanne just laid her first egg? Maybe in memory of Maggie?
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Maybe. Or maybe she finally felt safe enough to pop one out.
Thanks, Kelly! It’s been hard, but she didn’t suffer.
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Oh, no! I am so sorry to hear this! Despite her history of homicide, Maggie deserved a nice, long life with her loving family.
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I’m so sorry for your loss.
I saw this story on Tumblr a while ago:
As a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Shiba Inu named Sadako. The dog’s owners were all very attached to Sadako and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Sadako and found she was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for her, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for Sadako in their home. As we made arrangements, it was suggested that it would be good for the families four-year-old to observe the procedure. They felt he could learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Sadako’s family surrounded her. The four-year-old seemed so calm, petting his friend for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Sadako slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Sadako’s transition without any difficulty or confusion.
We sat together for a while after Sadako’s passing, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
The little boy, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me – I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, “Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody and being nice.” The four-year-old continued, “Animals already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
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That’s a really sweet story. On the way home from soccer, as the boys and I were bawling, Dominic said, “I guess Jesus is her new owner.”
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Oh, man. I’m glad it wasn’t too hard on her, though I can imagine what it’s like for your family. Everything that happened with Dale made me realize just how crazy fast this kind of thing can happen and how jarring it is.
I wish all of you the best of luck.
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