Goodbye, Oberst · 9:24pm Nov 2nd, 2016
So I just got home from work a few minutes ago, and the first thing I learned upon walking in the door was...that our Boston Terrier, Oberst, had passed away while I was at work.
The past few days he'd been having some fainting spells, and then he'd been coughing up a storm. My parents took him to the vet yesterday, and they indicated that he was having heart trouble. When they got back from the vet, they administered the medication given to them, one pill to get the fluid off of his lungs, and another to treat his heart. And then we waited.
All throughout the night I could hear him coughing in the next room. His cough was worse. This morning, when I got up, he was laying on the couch, his breathing quite laboured. He didn't look to be in a good way. I pet him and told him to hang in there, and then I left for work, fearing that I might return home to such news. It was a good day at work and I kinda got lost in the work, having put my worries aside to get things done, only to be reminded of them when I stepped in the door.
Apparently it was only about an hour and a half, or thereabouts, after I left that he took his last breath, dying in my stepfather's arms. They'd long since taken him to the vet for cremation by the time I got home. I'm not sure whether I'd want to have been at home when it happened or not...but I think I might want to have been to have given him a proper goodbye.
Oberst was, if I recall correctly, 13 years old. He lived the expected lifespan of his breed, which is 13-15 years. He is survived by me, my mother, my stepfather, and our 5 year old Cairn Terrier, Hamish. Surely he must suspect something is up...I wonder if he'll be looking around for Oberst, wondering where his pal is. I...it's just too sad to think about right now...
Here is a picture I took of the little rascal about 4 years ago:
I'm going to miss him a lot. Of the two dogs, he was the one I got along with more. Oberst and I understood each other, I think. We were both nervous, anxious individuals who craved affection. I would pet him and he would 'groom' me, licking my hands and my legs. It was very comforting. He was a bundle of nervous, zany energy, and would aggravate me one minute with his clinginess only to make me laugh heartily at his antics the next. I've borne witness to the passing of my fair share of pets in my lifetime, and it isn't an easy thing to deal with. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to drown my sorrows with some sake.
Goodbye, Oberst, our crazy little Boston. You will be missed. 
Damn, that sucks. My condolences.
I still remember back when my parrot died ages ago.
4283206 Thank you, hun.
I didn't cry as much as I thought; perhaps it was the shock of it. Still...everything feels off. I'm so used to waking up and hearing him snuffling about, seeing him wiggle that silly little stump tail of his, putting down two dog dishes instead of one. I feel I'm going to keep looking for him/expecting to see him for a while until it really sinks in. :/
I bet the same applied to your parrot, yes? We really do get used to having our pets around that when they go...our 'routine' with them lingers and we get all confused and sad.
You will be missed