This was a letter sent to my sister the day that I had to have my Patou put down which was yesterday. I thought that the letter resounded my sentiments and I have not the energy or strength to sit and write out a detailed account here so please accept this letter with my heartfelt blessings. I know ALL of you here are going thru or have gone thru the same thing. You are ALL my heroes. This is one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. I have had all of the usual life stresses, but losing those dearest animal friends that have touched our lives is one of the hardest things to endure. RJ in the letter is referring to my new fiance whom I met right after I found out a month later of Patou's dx of cancer. He has been a blessing in my life and he bonded instantly with Patou. He has been my greatest supporter and I know that he is the person who I want to spend the rest of my life with after 20 years of being a single mother. Patou helped me thru my singlesness and hardships of being that single mother…. I owe him a thousand time over for which I can NEVER repay him. I only wish to see him in heaven waiting for me when I get there!!

 Warmest Regards,

Janet and Angel Patou

A letter sent to Donna and forwarded to all of you… just thought you would like to know… thanks

Janet

Louise…. Patou was my Great Pyrenees male of 6 years. just lost him today…

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: janet rhoades janetandjr61@xxxxxxxxx

Date: Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Subject: Re: Hi

Hey Donna,

  Well to put it lightly, this will be a day that will live in infamy to borrow the famous words from Winston Churchill or at least his clever writer.

   This day I had to put down my closest companion I've ever known (excluding RJ of course.) I had to put down Patou today. 

  I was put on call at the hospital .. THANK GOD… and I put Patou out at around 5a.m. because he wanted to go out. He had started to have less mobility in his remaining leg a few weeks ago but when I went to get him in this a.m. , I noticed his leg was about 5 times it's normal size. It was huge and hot and tight. I'm sure it was painful and I had not noticed any swelling I hate to say until now. I have been busy with work and cleaning the house.  Anyway I took him to the vet and of course she did xrays but she thought the swelling might have been a local infection of some kind because of the nature of the swelling and of course also in the back of her mind that the cancer had returned to that leg. The xray confirmed the cancer and the bone was proliferated or had evidence of outer layering of the bone trying to repair itself where the cancer was eating away. It was again on the distal end of the femur of the remaining leg. She even as a weak suggestion, suggested a cart for him and amputating again but how horrible that would have been for a two-legged dog with no back legs. He had been thru enough and I promised myself and him I would not do anymore to him.  RJ was with me THANK GOD and has helped me in more ways than I can even recount. The decision was immediate to put him down and I let RJ go to the Ford tractor place to order a bushog part so I could spend a little extra time alone with Patou and the vet and staff gave me the time alone behind doors with him until RJ got back. Dr Kim was wonderful of course and actually within seconds of a venous injection, me and the assistant laid his head down and he was gone. I got to hold his head tightly in my arms and feel his big polar bear head against mine for the last time. I just tried to think that his leg didn't hurt him anymore and just hoped that there really are dogs in heaven, and that he would be waiting for me.

   Mom, Cindy and Jennifer and of course Josh already know. It will be hard to come home and not find him waiting for me with his squinty smile telling me that he was glad I was finally home. THAT will be the hardest part. I am SO glad that RJ got to know him in the last 7 months of his life. I am just sad that he never knew him whole and well, although his personality never waivered.  RJ said months ago that we will always have a Pyrenees because of their wonderful personalities. I suppose I gave him the PYR fever!! Dudley is here with his simple innocence and that is comforting but labs love everyone……Lucy will always be my first faithful guardian of the sheep but Patou was always my loyal guardian to the end with me and I with him. Funny thing that I finally got the courage to watch the movie Marley and Me the other nite. I never thought I could watch it's sad ending.  Perhaps it was a sign that I finally had the courage to endure this today. I told Dr. Kim that my 6 1/2 year relationship with Patou was the longest and dearest I had ever had with a male, and we both agreed that it might possibly be the best too!!! ( no offense RJ….. you were a lifesaver today… let's beat that 6 1/2 year mark times 5) (and Dudley… you have many faithful years to make up for all my shoes you ate)

  This letter is half informative and half a Goodbye letter to my loyal companion of 6 1/2 human years and in dog years that is 50 years…. ironic that Patou and I were the same age.

  Goodbye to My Dearest Patou!!! Dearly Loved and already  Dearly Missed ……. til we meet again…. so they say at the Rainbow bridge in doglover speak.

Warmest thoughts,

janet 

   So terribly sorry for your loss. I know how painful this is. Give yourself time to grieve and scream and cry. It just never seems fair. But I know that you will appreciate and cherish all the time that you did have with Patou even though it was cut way too short. Praying for peace and healing for you as you move through this incredibly hard time.

Oh Janet . . . I am so very sorry to learn of your loss (but Heaven's gain) of your beloved Patou.  I have so loved reading about your big, gentle guy.  My heart breaks for you (as it does for all here who love and lose their best friends and soulmates).  How very, very lucky you were to have such a gentleman in your life.

Run free over the bridge, big Patou!  We'll miss you but are better for having known you.

- Karen and Sweet Sylvie

Janet, we are very sad to hear of your losing Patou, I know how much you loved him and what spirit he had. Warms thoughts coming your way and hopes of peace in the coming days.

Angel Cooper and family

Janet -

I am so so sorry to see Patou passed away….It is so hard to lose a beloved pet and my heart is breaking for you…

Sending hugs….

KaCee & Riley

Patou was a beautiful dog. I am sorry you had to loose him so soon. I totally agree with you about what dogs bring to our lives and our hearts.

I am so sorry to read that Patou's journey has come to an end here, but he is at peace now – playing at Rainbow Bridge with all of our other fur-babies. You gave him such a wonderful life, and you let him go with dignity. You were there for him, even at the end-which shows hows deeply you love him.

Allow yourself the time to grieve. In time, wonderful memories will bring joy to your heart, and will soon allow you to love again…

Sending you many, many golden hugs…

Cathy