A Very Sad Story

Everyday is a wild card. I suppose it is the unpredictability of each day that keeps us from getting over confident or from operating under the very incorrect assumption that we are in control. As always, I had made sure the gates were closed to prevent the dogs from getting out and that the doors to the house were closed so the cat didn't venture out. It is a beautiful day, so I was outside putzing around trying to figure out which of my wildflowers were weeds. I was on the phone visiting with my friend, and as I meandered by the pool, there was Thelma, my 19 year old schnauzer poodle, at the bottom of the shallow end, not moving. It was horrible. I jumped in immediately and grabbed her, but clearly, it was too late. She had fallen in and was too old, too tired and too sick to figure out how to undo the mistake that would cost her life. I had planned a hundred times how to make the call to our vet to arrange to have her put to sleep when it was clear she was in pain or disinterested in food. That clearly was not the plan. It felt so awful to hold my little office and car companion's lifeless body in my arms and not know how to erase the mistake. I never heard her fall in or saw her wander too close to the pool so I could redirect her. As with all of the pets, I am hyper vigilant and have always tried hard to keep them safe and healthy. The strange part was that Thelma had walked around that pool a hundred times. I didn't know that today would be our last day together in the yard. I am very sad about little Thelma and very sorry I wasn't there to save her.