My dog Kody passed away tonight

The few of you who followed my “40 Days In The Desert” writing project are aware that while I was in Florida recently, my dog Kody became very ill suffering a near kidney failure and had to receive i.v. treatments at the vet for two days.  It turns out the cause of his kidney failure was a large, fast growing tumor pushing up on his kidneys which kept them from filtering properly.  Since Florida he had been in good health again and was back to his chipper self, but then two nights ago he was suddenly in great pain, yelping upon moving, and moving very slowly and delirously.  Today we took him to the vet and at first they though he had a small tumor on his spleen and decided to operate.  Once inside his belly, the doctor discovered he was full of internal bleeding, and that there was a massive tumor all along his backside pressing up on his kidneys.  It was inoperable, and the doctor doubted he would even survive the night.  Euthenasia was the only reasonable option.  They did sew him back up and woke him from anesthesia so that I had an opportunity to be with him before they put him to sleep.  He tried to lick me but didn’t have the strength.  They administered the euthenasia drug as I laid my head on his, caressing him.  

Kody was an incredibly handsome, sensitive, smart, and loving dog.  Every morning that we woke up together he would plop into me and we would snuggle and kiss for at least ten minutes before getting out of bed.  He was originally a rescue that had been abandoned on the side of the road by a divorcing couple.  We’ve been through a lot together.  He’s been to many music festivals, onstage with me for some.  He has swam in both oceans and the gulf of Mexico as well.  He has seen a wolf and nearly caught a coyote.  He has also seen buffalo, elk, moose, antelop and deer.  He traveled with me on two trips out west, including this last van journey where we saw most of the country.  I’m happy that we were able to return to what Kody considered home a few weeks before he passed, where he was able to play with his canine buddy Reno and be spoiled by my parents. His last days were happy and light. I was so proud of Kody for enduring his early life trama yet still remaining the most loving and gentle of creatures.  Kody was a saint and his passing leaves a giant hole in my heart.  My whole family loved him and feels the great and sudden loss.  

God bless you, Kody.  You were a good boy.  I’m so proud of you.  I love you forever.  I will always hold you in my heart.