Saturn In Virgo Small Animal Report: Geriatric Dora
Astrology in real life
I have been dreading writing this. We recently were informed of the math and it seems, Dora is at least 20 years old. She had a rough winter in a number of ways.
She is now utterly and completely both deaf and blind. Due this, she no longer runs down the hall, she walks. She is no pain but this makes her seem a real granny. Physically she is fine. She has no pain, she just can’t see a damned thing and I mean not a damned thing.
She makes it around the house just fine. She has no problem getting into her bed or onto the couch where she sleeps at night, however she does weirdo (even for Dora) things now, like she can’t tell where the soup in the bowl starts. Yep, my husband set his bowl down for her to finish and she started taking licks up way to high, her tongue darting out. She also has trouble in the back yard.
The house has a layout but the yard is wide open so she gets out there and loses direction. She always finds her way back but it’s not the easiest thing. I yell her name even though she can’t hear me, just in case and have tried stomping my feet so she can feel it and get her direction but really none of this helps. She just finds her way in eventually and at this point I don’t go out and get her because I don’t think she would like it one bit.
Not being able to see, she is more stressed and less peaceful and has very little tolerance. The fact is she doesn’t know what is going on and she has taken to biting indiscriminately.
By that I mean, she walked up to me out of blue sky and bit me in the leg – HARD. That was 10 days ago and I still have a dark bruise that I can see will last the better part of the month. Yesterday she did the same thing to Vid, she broke the skin and he likely going to be as bruised as I am, I don’t know.
She’s biting with all her might and I am pretty sure she’d have taken a chunk of skin out of our legs if she had more teeth, as it is it hurts and I mean mightily.
I guess we all know we are going to have to put her down and no one wants to do it so I don’t know how it is going to be done but I also don’t think we are likely to see anything improve and so I have to write this.
Right now she is sleeping peacefully next to me as always and when my husband comes home tomorrow, she will be glad to see her and we really don’t want to kill her, see? Because all she is doing is acting like a dog… and old dog who can’t see and is a little pissed about it, do you blame her?
We will definitely have to put here down before next winter. She is too old and it is too cold, she gets lost outside, especially in the snow so she like to crap and whatever else in the house now which…
Well I don’t know what to say. We all want her to have her natural life span and so this is where it is.
55 Responses to “Saturn In Virgo Small Animal Report: Geriatric Dora”
Oh man. {{{Elsa and family}}} Poor Dora, too.
at least Dora has a good home. I have a small white dog, he’s deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, only 3 legs, no tail, castrated, answer to the name of “Lucky”
Elsa, my heart goes out to you.
I’ve lost three very much loved pets in the last 3-4 years, two during the last round of Saturn in Virgo. After nurse-maiding all of them through illness I had to make the gut-wrenching decision to have them put down. My cat was slowly dying from a variety of ailments common to a 15+ year old cat. Both my dogs were healthy mid-life creatures stricken with out-of-the blue diseases (one had a bone cancer of the skull, the other something akin to ALS).
I kept hoping and praying they would go peacefully in their sleep, but instead was left contemplating my power over their lives and witnessing the decay. I hated that I had to essentially play god to stop their suffering. I wish it didn’t have to be that way 
The best I can say is you’ll know in your heart if it is time, when it becomes humane, for you to intervene.
((((((Elsa)))))
I’m right there with you…I’ve had to put 3 of my cats down due to declining health – two were 16, and one was 21 yrs. old! Lived half my life with that feline – still miss him *teary eyes*. He comes to see me in my dreams sometimes *bright smiles*.
You’ll know when the time is right…sometimes the animal will just “tell” you…
Oh, Elsa. That sucks.
Old age can be rough now matter what animal. Poor Dora!! My heart goes out to all of you. We had to put my dog down before his time due to paratinius (sp?). That was one of the saddest days of my life. He was like my little brother and I felt I lost a soul mate. If she is not harming herself and you don’t mind the bites, I guess it’s up to fate as to when the timing is right. ((Elsa/Dora/family))
Ohhhh Saturn in Virgo go away come again another day….geeze Elsa, sorry for all of you. These little creatures become part of our hearts, and it can be heartbreaking
Gentle thoughts to Dora and your family.
Oh no . . . not Dora the Googly-Eyed Wonder Dog.
I sure feel for you guys and Dora too. Your stories have made her so real, esp. when you quote the Soldier and what he says about her.
Quality of life for animals is what counts the most to my mind. I don’t doubt you’ll do the right thing for her if/when the time comes– I’m sorry. I look at my animals every day and the love is palpable and mutual. I know that day will come evenutally when I’ll lose them–
Well she sleeps most the day and all the night (unless she is up shitting) and she is very good company for me. Bottom line, my husband, my son and my other dog are all gone A LOT so it is me and Dora and if she is not here… well then she won’t be here and she has lay next to me all day while I work for going on 2 years.
Now my husband has had her for 19 years and Vid has never lost and animal in his life and either has Clunk.
I don’t think Clunk is going to take it lightly. He is also old (at least 14 and he’s big and has a supposed shorter life span)so I just don’t know.
I do know that if she is going to die, I’d rather she do it in her bed, in her sleep but really, she does not seem ill at old, just old and blind (and deaf) and cranky as hell.
See, the painting around here… well I drug the hose out and she walked over it, pissed her off. She also walked blindly into the wide open end of a laying down tomato cage and that was a nightmare.
It sounds as if we are irresponsible but it’s not that. Dora has a traffic pattern in the back yard and the cages were laid out of her way – WAY out of her way but she wound up walking into one anyway, with me screaming, No, Dora, NO! She can’t hear me, see?
Do you know how long it takes a dog (like Dora) to walk into a tomato cage? a split second.
So after that happens, think she wants to go outside? Hell no. So she just messes where ever she wants – it’s as if she thinks she’s old now and earned the right.
Anyway, blah.
Blah blah blah
*hugs to the Elsa family, human and furry a like*
The only pets I really feel terrible about are the ones that I waited longer than I should have to do what needed to be done.
I don’t have any answers for this particular case because there’s no pain – as yet – involved.
Or maybe there is. Could there be some undiagnosed underlying condition that is causing Dora to bite and she’s doing this to get your attention? I think a vet consult might help here.
((elsa))
same here with a kitty. yeah, blah. ((elsa and family))
Oh, this is so hard I know – I have put animals down, but they were ill and dying, so this is different. Just sending love to you all, I have no idea what the right answer is.
It’s very clear she is agitated because she can no longer see. Going blind and blind are 2 different things. There is a step to get in the back door and she starts trying to step on it, 3 feet away. I am sure it is frustrating.
She prefers to just be home with me… as opposed to my son and a friend and big ol Clunk, etc. It’s just too much running around and rigamarole for Dora when she can’t see what the hell is going on.
Both times she has bit, it’s been when my son and I were at the computer and I think she thinks she is biting him. He’s a high energy kid and annoys her. He treats her well but he hops around with his wii and she has no patience for him.
Anyway, if she wants attention, she just nudges with her nose and she still does that. She has the habit of attacking (Clunk and other dogs she has known) when she thinks no one is looking and it is just getting worse.
She has actually bit Vid a half a dozen times (she thinks he is another dog like Clunk) but prior there has always been some kind of something – let’s say he was jumping around or something. But now you’re sitting at the computer, it is the last thing on your mind and all the sudden her razor sharp teeth are embedded in your leg.
I think it has come to a point where it is impossible not to irritate her because let’s face it, is irritating to lose your sight!
(((((((Elsa)))))))))
((((((Dora)))))))) Poor old girl.
Hope She Could Talk and say what She wants to happen!!!
I Think with all the technology there should be ways to communicate with this great Souls !!!!
She Must be afraid !!!
Best Regards !!!
Yes, Jorge, I am sure she is scared which is part of the problem. We have no way to make her un-scared. He world has closed in and she’s getting to the end of her life no matter what we do.
I sometimes pick her up and just hold her. She likes that some but not too often and not too much. 
Right. And then I look over at her and she’s sleeping just fine. Vid is gone with his dad for the weekend. They took Cluck. Her dad will be home tomorrow… why should she miss this?
Vid is standing there with blood running down his leg saying he does not want us to put her to sleep.
She still does her Dora weirdness… just everything. She is herself except for very, very geriatric. She’s a trooper too, finding her way in from the back yard with her head held high. She really doesn’t know she’s old where Cluck seems resigned.
It’s like she things the lights are going to come back on tomorrow or something and we don’t turn them on so she’s pissed. Sort of like when someone leaves something on the couch in her spot. She hates it, it makes her irritable.
Elsa, when it comes time to make that decision there are mobile vets who will come and euthanize your pet in your home. She could die peacefully in her own bed even if you have to choose the timing.
I know what it’s like to get bit and I hate it for all of you.
Thanks, Lupa, I didn’t know that and it would definitely be best since she has no desire to go anywhere
I’ve just got home and started catching up.This is terrible. I’m so sorry to hear this – truly agonising. She really is a top dog. Thinking of you all and sending my love.
((elsa and family))
I have to add that as I read this post I am just amazed at her life. What a great life she’s had after such a rough start. Old Dora enjoys the kind of wealth young Dora could never have dreamed of. May we all be so lucky and so adored.
the soldier adopted her as a stray right? i hope you guys at least take some comfort from knowing how much better you’ve already made her life. pet adoptions just melt my heart.
(((dora, elsa and family)))
aww damn!
venus – far more elaborate than a mere stray. The soldier was lying on the beach in Puerto Rico. Not a civilian beach, he was there with the military and Dora (no hair at the time, she was sick) climbed on his back. He was on his stomach and she literally climbed on top him and freaked him out because she was covered in sores and hairless except for a strip of hair on her back.
He was tired, thought he was dreaming but eventually figured out she was a dog and got a medic to help her. Medics in SF are cross-trained at Vets because they go in and help people take care of their animals.
So Dora lived with him there on the beach where they were doing some drills I think – got to know everyone and when they left my husband smuggled her home on the plane in his coat and she went on to make his life a misery (he says) since.
I should also say if Dora dies we will have no one to blame or hire because as-is she is responsible for everything as in dropped calls.
“I didn’t call you and hang up, that was Dora. She called you,.,,”
We also send in her resume a lot, for example we think SHE should write the health care bill.
Thank you Lupa, for mentioning the mobile vet option. I was reading everyone’s posts, while thinking the same thing, especially since Elsa and family would be more comfortable keeping Dora at home.
(((((Elsa and family))))) I am a lifetime animal-person, and I feel so deeply for all of you right now. Please don’t infer that you’re in any way irresponsible, Elsa. Your dog is blind, and you love her very much. You and your husband will hopefully acknowledge that she’s had a great life with and because of you — and your family has because of her. Namaste
Animals know. I have always believed that they choose us!
“She’s skippin’ around today. She’s all happy. How can you kill a dog that is skipping around?”
“She’s happy because Clunk and Vid are gone. She doesn’t like Clunk because he eats. She doesn’t want anyone eating in the house but her and she doesn’t like Vid because he fucks with her. He doesn’t mean it but he spins around in the chair and she hates his ass for it. Yeah, he spins in that chair and she says, I’m going to get your ass, later.”
My husband also brought home one of those GIANT German rabbit animals – he saved it because it was a baby running across the battlefield where they were practicing and going to get run over by a tank. But apparently they get reaaaaaaaal big and don’t get along with dogs so that one had to go back into the wild.
((((dora + her people)))))
Aw, Dora!
Hey, I just kicked-off a gig, today, walking another dog . Max is in his teens, near-blind, near-deaf and slim. I carry him up and down the stairs, to and from his apartment. He can only walk about a block and hobbles and poops really slowly, but I really enjoy time with him.
I’m so sorry you are faced with this decision. It is never an easy one to make. Good luck and much strength to all of you…
Ditto what Lupa said. You and Soldier have given her the best possible life.
She has had an excellent long life with people she loves, and she may be ready, as we become ready in an advanced old age.
When she goes, she’ll be with her loved ones, and you can’t ask for better than that.
All of my furred animals are ancient. We had to put down two of our family cats last year within a few weeks of each other: one was 18, one 16. Only one cat is left and he turns 15 this year. My bunny is 9; their lifespans are 8-12 years, so he could go at any time, really (and rabbits don’t usually telegraph illness so it’s likely to be sudden).
So, yeah… I can sympathize to the nth. ((((Elsa, fam, & animals))))
Our big ol’ Pit Bull/Great Dane cross went blind not too long ago. She’s dealing, but if she was deaf too? Man…that would be horrible for her. And us.
I’m so sorry, Elsa. It’s damned hard to know the right thing to do, but I agree that if it comes down to it, call the vet and ask them to come to the house. It may cost a little more, but so worth it to allow them to go in their own space without the stress of the car ride (“where the hell are they taking me – oh SHIT – it’s the VET!”) and with someone she loves, who loves her, holding her as she goes.
It doesn’t make it easier for you, but it makes it easier for her. And because we love them so damned much we’d walk on hot coals for them, we do the best we can and savor every moment we have with them.
Sad face.
I was thinking what Jorge wrote as I went down the comments- I wonder what Dora would think if she knew she could “opt out”? We have the advantage of knowing it’s an option with a sick pet- and we make the decision over and over, day by day, to do it or not.
It must be so hard for such a beloved dog. Especially when you want her around to soak up whatever love she can, whatever bits and pieces, to try to make up for the suffering over her lifetime. And of course you can’t, but naturally you still want to love and care for her.
Dora O in her coat! :*(
She looks such a sweety. What a utterly heart breaking decision to make. It’s an awful responsibility to have and the feelings of betraying them and the doubts I know can be terrible.. But, one day you just look at them and all you see is suffering. Thats when you know in your heart that it is definitely the right time. When that moment arrives Its almost as if they tell you.
(Ps, Im having trouble putting messages on so appologies if Ive repeated my self elswere)
Elsa, as far as whatever it is that is used to ‘put them to sleep’, years ago, i read somewhere sometime that it’s painful to the animal.i hope i am wrong, but i can’t stand to see that show on television animal cops, i’m glad there are those people who do this job, but i couldn’t do it, my heart is absolutely a bleeding heart for all animals and i could actually hurt someone if they hurt an animal.God bless Dora and you and your family while you go through this. She looks a grand old lady.
xxoo,beaute
beaute, I was holding my cat when the vet euthanized her and she didn’t seem to feel any pain whatsoever. They used a high dose of anesthetic.
(((Elsa))) I’m sorry to hear about Dora. Would limiting her space help the situation, or just piss her off more? Perhaps using a dog fence to simplify her life, even around the couch area so she can have her favorite space but not bite you unexpectedly. O poor baby, getting old’s a bitch!
@beaute – it’s *not* painful for the animals. it sucks enough to be in the position of putting an animal to sleep already, without the implication it’s somehow unkind.
goddess, i didn’t mean to “imply” anything. i was just adding what i had read in case it made a difference in a decision. i sincerely hope that i am wrong, since it’s a common practice today. i agonize myself over the time, when it comes, and i’ve had different animal friends throughout my lifetime. i’m sorry i made the comment and ironically, when i first wrote it, it didn’t post, and i thought that was a sign it should not be said, but when i came back later, it was there, somehow. anyway, if i could remove it now, i would, because, well, it’s apparently been misunderstood. [can't find a remove button]…i’m truly sorry if i hurt anyone. i did not intend to be insensitive.
beaute
I’ve been present with two dogs as they were euthanized in recent years. It was not painful. Both went very peacefully knowing they were not alone.
beaute – i appreciate you had no ill intent; it’s a raw spot for me. i just had a kitty put to sleep.
<3 Lupa <3
i’m so sorry, goddess.
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I sympathise with Dora as to the indignities of old age; I would bite someone if I could (dentures, ya know). Besides, if I did, someone would for sure put me down.