We love you, Pooch!

Pooch's Last Day 

Our amazing puppy, Pooch, passed away yesterday after a short 2 1/2 years of life. He was the best dog a family could ask for. He never ran away, he'd stay with us while working in the yard and on walks without a leash. He'd happily bark at us from the backyard whenever we came home to tell us hello. Pooch never jumped on kids, loved to play fetch (and keep away at the same time), and was very obedient now that he was finally growing out of his puppy stage. 

Unfortunately, he was recently diagnosed with Pemphigus foliaceus which is a life-long autoimmune disease that attacks his skin cells, causing them to slough off. If untreated, it is lethal. Treatments are available, but the normal treatment was not working for him. We would have had to take him to a specialist up in Salt Lake City and put him on a rigorous treatment schedule. The treatments shut down his immune system to that it will stop attacking itself, leaving him vulnerable to any illness or infection that may occur. And he'd have had to take this expensive medication his whole life. Not only could we not afford such a treatment, we didn't like watching him suffer through the process. The only choice left to us was to put him down before his body began to shut down after taking him off the medication. This has been THE most difficult decision in our lives, and the hardest to live through.

Knowing that our poor dog, Pooch, would have to be put down later that afternoon, we took him to play with him and enjoy his company one last time yesterday.

 Pooch and Mama Meow. They've known each other practically their whole lives. While they had their disagreements, they tolerated each other well.

Rose never knew what to think of this big dog who just wanted to sniff her, but she was beginning to let him come closer and closer each day.

Instead of playing with Pooch once we got outside, Quinn went to sulk on the swingset for a few minutes first. This look pretty much sums up all of our feelings.

Logan loved Pooch. He was never bothered by the kisses or fur in his face.

Quinn finally decided he wanted to pet Pooch and say goodbye.

Pooch got to eat lots of the ham he loved so much, a bird, play fetch, and lick up all the crumbs in the house he could find (one of his favorite activities) on his last day. I think it was a pretty good one!

Pooch loved his Mommy. I think he knew something was up, and he kept coming to me for reassurance.

We will really miss this face (minus the illness on it)

Daddy and Pooch sharing loves.

Goodbye Pooch! We will sorely miss you! We may get another dog, but it will never replace the spot in our hearts that you have filled so well over the years.

We bought some orange lilies in his honor, and plan on planting them in the same spot that he tore my original lilies from a couple years ago as a puppy. It just seemed to fitting.