What to do when a corgi loses a partner...? A sad topic, but maybe important.
When a dog dies, is it advisable for its partner(s) to witness the death and/or its body?
A recent (sad) photo essay in Harper's magazine showcased a wolf/dog hybrid rescue shelter in New England, run largely by veterans (these dogs -- possibly not the best idea to begin with -- sometimes don't work out well and are often abandoned). They form packs at the shelter, and when one dies or is euthanized, they leave its body for awhile so its pack members can see it -- sort of like a human's wake -- they believe it's more stressfull for them when a pack member simply disappears.
But how could any of us really know? Could this be anything more than an opinion?
We have two corgis, Al, 9 y.o., and Gwynnie, 12+ y.o. Gwynnie may be showing early symptoms of DM. Al has been with her his entire life.
When she leaves for the bridge -- which I hope she can do at home -- is it better to hide this from Al, or for him to be there with us to help send her off?
I'm hoping we still have quite some time together (she was still climbing mountains last March). I will know it's time when I turn on the vacuum cleaner, or the garden hose, and she does not attack it. Although she has gone deaf, she still attacks the vacuum -- nonauditory cues betray the activity of her favorite prey.
EDIT: I should add that we don't know it's DM -- and the only reason she hasn't been climbing little mountains this summer is because I've been totally saturated with other priorities. She has many miles in her yet. We will take what comes, and never give up. Life is like that.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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A very good question indeed. I'll have to give it some thought..... curious to read others responses.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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I believe it is better for the remaining dog to be able to see sniff lick the dog who has passed. When my Livvy lost a pup a couple times I always put it by her for 30 minutes to an hour. We also have had a vet come out so our animals could be euthanized at home and the other dogs were allowed to see them. Even though animals don't have the same feelings (or at least that we know of) they may have an understanding of something and I feel good about doing it this way.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Unfortunately, I've lost them in all the possible ways. I think, as with people, it does depend on the personalities involved. When i lost Sparty a few years ago my vet came to our house. We had a good day with Sparty, short walk and dish of bacon. Izzy, my other corgi, was there and able to sniff Sparty after. I think she did pretty well with all of it. Now Izzy was not as attached to him as he was to Buffy, my prevjous corgi. When we lost Buffy it was suddenly. She became ill and passes away at the vet's office. Sparty was sad for months after and it took him quite awhile to bond with Izzy when we got her. It all worked out in the end but i wonder if it took longer because there was no goodbye. If i have a choice i would always do it the way we did with Sparty but sometimes there isnt a choice. Wishing you the best of luck, John. Its so tough to lose them.
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Permalink Reply by susan on
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Very sorry to hear of Gwynnie's possible DM. I hope she has a few good hikes in her yet. Love seeing the pictures of her scaling the cascades.
A very interesting question. I've had multi-pet households, both dogs and cats, and I don't think I have ever had a situation where the healthy pets experienced their compatriots departure. I've always had to take the sick or old one to the vets for euthanasia. I know the ones left missed and looked for their old buddy, but I have no idea if they would have a better understanding of the situation if they had actually experienced the death first hand. I think they do understand old age and sickness, because they seem to behave with some empathy... maybe? Hard to say. Could be a projection on my part. But, having an old pet die at home, in the environment it knows and is comfortable in, and with the beings it loves nearby, would be a heck of a lot nicer than taking them to the vet on their last day. That last vet visit is so stressful for all concerned. Its a terrible last experience for them, and memory for me. I know I will have to face this again in the future, and I hope, for my pet's sake, I do it better.
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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Good question. I have 2 senior corgis...13 and 11. My 13 yo, Max, is healthy other than some weakness in his back end. I am afraid if it gets worse we will have to make a decision, so far Katie has no health issues. He and Katie have been together for 8 years..both are rescues. They weren't close play buddies but as they got older I noticed that they always slept near each other. When one has to go to the vet and stay (surgery or such) the other the other has to check him out immediately upon arrival home. We always take them together for annual checkups.
I have been thinking about this question myself for a while.
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Permalink Reply by Steph Bussema on
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I have 2 corgis, and when one goes to the bridge I will try very hard to allow the remaining one to say goodbye. There are many stories from the animal kingdom of social animals spending time with the body of their dead loved one. A zookeeper once told me about 2 river otters that were very attached to each other - when one passed away, the other called for her over and over until the keeper brought her body in for him to see and sniff. After that he stopped calling for her. I think when animals have a bond, it helps bring them closure to see their friend's body.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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Regardless of how things end, I do think something from the surviving animal's humans and pet loved ones should be saved and given to the surviving pet, such as a blanket, collar, slipper. I think that would help with closure and adjustment.
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Permalink Reply by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on
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Thank you for the thought provoking question. Until now, i have always been a single pet household. All i know is that when I took Tucker to get neutered and came home without him, Redford was very confused and seemed lost-he kept looking for his buddy. Just based on that, I think when that time comes (and I hope it is a long time from now), I will try to make sure the others are present.
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Although this may not be the proper place to fully answer your question "But how could any of us really know? Could this be anything more than an opinion?" I will say that it is part of a much larger question, that being does anything survive the death of the body? I have been studying Afterlife Science for close to 20 years, it is a branch of Parapsychology and research in Parapsychology has now been carried out in Universities across the World for close to a Century, so there is much good evidence on the subject. Most of the studies have been done with respect to Humans, but there is a wealth of information on after death contact between people and their deceased pets, as well as between pets and a deceased person they loved. I have not come across much however on the "animal to animal" experience, which we can only surmise. That is the part I find so intriguing about your question, John. Many books have been written on psychic awareness of animals. Rupert Sheldrake, in England, has an extensive database he maintains on this type of story, to which I have myself contributed. Studies on after death communication from pets are also being gathered at Windbridge Institute by Research Director Julie Beishel, Ph.D. among their many projects. I have contributed there too.
Here is a link to a past Windbridge Institute Newsletter article on the subject:
http://www.windbridge.org/woc/DiscarnateAnimalsWCRMs2011.pdf
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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I have read about elephants standing around the bodies of dead loved ones, obviously grieving.
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Same for Hippos....
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Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on
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Unknown to me.
However, I believe that dogs do know when a companion has shuffled off this mortal coil, even if they don't see it happen. Anna the German shepherd figured it out real quick when I came home from having Walt the Greyhound euthanized, sat down on the living room floor, and wept for half an hour.
It was obvious she knew something bad was up and probable that she knew what was up.
I had no clue that Walt was effectively filled with cancer at the time I schlepped him to the vet, btw -- I thought he had Valley fever.
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