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Today did not start off as planned. The dogs and I got up at our normal time. Spent our quiet time with snacks and outs. Jesse got up around 9am as normal. And then things changed.

Gizmo started howling. Now, she has been howling a lot lately, but this was different, this went on for about 30 minutes before I went to find her. Normally when she howls she is in the hall and it is obvious, this time she was no where to be found and I had to go look for her. I found her crouched under a night table, amid dried up poop. I picked her up and took her downstairs with me. She ran to her litter box and then projectile vomited all over the place. I found two other spots as well.

I did my morning walks with Res and Climber while thinking through what to do. I despise ER vet visits, but I also do not like my current vet that we started using for the dogs when we first moved out here. I got back to the house, we had breakfast, and I decided that I had to take Gizmo to the vet. I already knew what the outcome would end up being, projectile vomiting is never a good thing with her, and I was not going to put her through yet another surgery. It was not a financial thing, she has good pet insurance, it’s an age a quality of life thing.

I made my initial FaceBook post as I always do as I left the vet. No last minute photographs, I don’t believe in that.

RIP Gizmo. 

We will post more later.

Update: Hi all thank you so much for all of your messages and thoughts, but for Gizmo please think some happy thoughts. Seriously I know it doesn't sound right, but she is in a much better space now. I firmly believe it. She has not been happy for some time, she has been sick, she has not been cleaning herself and she has been withdrawing more and more. I make all of our pets a promise when we adopt them, that when quality of life disappears then I will be there with them when it is time. Promise kept. This was not too soon, this was right. This was not a financial decision, she has very good insurance, this was a quality of life.

I leave this post with one last thought

The vet had to sedate her to even place a catheter.  That part was done without me present as I did not want to remember that. But she was still with us when they brought her to me, wrapped in a blanket and when she laid down next to me she started purring. As calm as could be. She purred until right after the anesthesia took hold. She left this word happy.

This is the first time I did not sit with a pet for 10-15 minutes after the procedure. I just couldn't. I really just wanted to remember the last bit of purring. It was as though she was telling me all would be OK.

RIP Gizmo 5/4/2008 – 2/14/2026

Gizmo walked into our lives on July 4, 2008 and stole the heart of Bracken. She was raised by a gentle greyhound that let her lay on him and sleep with him without a worry in the world. She welcomed every greyhound since with open arms and taught them quickly…. Don’t mess with me or I will get you.

She ruled the roost when it came to the greyhounds. She thought she was a greyhound and would do the same things that they would do. She would drink out of the same water bowl they drank out of, despite it being raised off the floor. She was known as the clean up crew…. If you left food in your bowl she was going to come clean it up and if you were eating too slow she might just walk between your legs and help you eat your dinner.

She was the best judge of a greyhound when it came to them being cat safe. We knew within minutes if a greyhound visiting the house or was a candidate to join the pack was cat safe or not. She would disappear and go under our bed and would not come out if the hound wasn’t cat safe. If it was cat safe or workable she would sit in the edge of the door watching and deciding her next move. She never took shit off of a hound and always put them in their place if they thought they were king of the house.

She would sleep in the biggest dog beds in the house and even would sleep in the “golden crate”. The dogs knew that if she was on a bed or in a crate you didn’t bother her. She was sharp and would put you in your place.

She expected the same treats that the dogs got and would give them an evil eye if they were getting too close before she got her treat and don’t even think about taking it from her because before you knew it your nose was sore with that machine gun like paw of her’s…. She would slap sense into you before you knew what hit you.

Over the years she still slept with the greyhounds and earned their respect and they earned her’s. She always looked after the pack even when they were outside. If she saw something that wasn’t right she would let out a growl that would get your attention and make us get up and go see what was going on. She was always right… Something was a miss outside with her pack.

She will be missed on calls as she always let her displeasure with management known and had an uncanny ability to know when everyone on the call was displeased with something…. She would caterwaul at the right time and make everyone on the call laugh.

She will be missed by us and the pack!

After I came home, I needed to just be outside for a while, so I went for my afternoon jog/walk. Went locally because I really didn’t feel like going anyplace distant.

I think I am going to say goodnight for the evening and see you all tomorrow. I am hoping for a better day.