Re: Jo please read!

["Bill & Patti Oftedal" <boftedal@alaska.net>]

Beautiful words to Jo's memory! I bet he met in pet havens my golden girl,
"DATE WITH AN ANGEL" (Angel) 1988-1999.  She had the same illness Jo had, I
watched her go so peaceful. She brought so much happiness to my life, like
they  all do.  Reading this post brought tears to my eyes. She loved me as
much I loved her, she
didn't want  me to cry, she want me to be happy.  So one day like any other
day Renny showed up for a bath, he could go someplace else for a bath, but
he meant to bring back sunshine to my life, because thanks to him I found
Gina, and something bright like a rainbow start shining in my eyes, there
was my way to HAPPINESS again, Goldie and Diablo came to my life. What a
blessing!

God Bless you all Golden families and Golden friends.
I love you all!

Patti,Goldie,Diablo and J.R.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gina Heitz" <brier@oregonsbest.com>
To: <brierpups@fast.cs.utah.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 7:02 PM
Subject: Jo please read!


> I am sending this post along with out permission, I have written for
> permission and I can't imagine Jeff would not want me to share this
however
> till I get permission from Jeff I ask that you not share this post with
> anyone...   This was sent to the big golden list.
>
> IDate: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 16:16:48 EST
> From: Jeff Jeff Jeff
> Subject: Jo
> It's been a week now since Jo has passed.
>
> I just wanted to thank all of those who responded by private or list
e-mail.
> It's been a horrible experience, as are all deaths of loved ones.
> The outpouring of support from this list was amazing. Overwhelming
> sometimes. Most of you said things like "there is nothing I could say to
> make you feel better" and it was true, but by the mere fact that you took
> the time to write the note, it showed that you cared and helped me
immensely
> no matter how momentary it was.
> I have never had a dog necropsied before. I told my vet that it *had* to
be
> done to determine Jo's exact cause of death. I owed it to all of those who
> have his kids, grandkids and on down the line. I also felt like I owed it
to
> the breeders who will evaluate and scrutinize pedigrees to determine the
> worthiness of the line. We all have those things that we would prefer to
NOT
> admit, but then, in the end; we just hurt ourselves if we don't. I
couldn't
> bear the thought of rumors starting about Jo, and I truly despise those
who
> start them about other dogs. What is more appaling to me are those
breeders
> and/or owners who shroud their dogs death in secrecy. How can anyone make
an
> educated decision to breed or use a line when there are unanswered
questions
> in the background? It's something we should all consider. We promote good
> health in life and we should help to promote it in death.
> Jo died of hemangiosarcoma. Jo was literally rittled with cancer. It
> affected his heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and spleen. One of the tumors on
> his spleen ruptured, which caused him to lose half of his blood into his
> abdomen within a matter of hours. Jo went from perfectly healthy to a
> dream-like euphoric state. He never showed any pain and remained
semi-alert,
> but conscious. He looked as though he was just incredibly tired. His gums,
> tongue and nose had lost their color. Within a matter of minutes his heart
> was racing, trying to pump enough blood from his dimished supply. I had 2
> courses of action that I could take, one was to let him go and the other
was
> to transfuse him. I opted for the transfusion, but only 50ml's into it, I
> stopped it and made the decision to let Jo go with dignity and grace. Jo
> died quietly in my arms. No struggle and no apprehension. He had done his
> job here and done it well. It was time for him to move on and it wasn't my
> place to try to stop his natural progression.
> I tend to be a very spiritual person. It's a private side that not to
> many know about me. I felt as though I did right by Jo, as he had done by
me
> throughout the years. He has come by to visit many times since last
> Saturday. Just to brush past and feel his energy, then off again to new
> frontiers. Jo has a zest for life, and I say "has" for a reason. I don't
> believe we vanish into nothingness, we are just transformed into a
different
> form of energy. God help those who have to entertain him now. He was too
> smart here and I'm sure the same is true there, wherever there is.
> One of my dear friends has moved on and I am happy that I had the
opportunity
> to know and love him.
> Thank you Jo,
> Love Jeff and the girls
>