Yesterday was the saddest day of my life. The day I said my final goodbye to Wiggle.
After having celebrated his birthday last week, Wiggle's health and well being declined so quickly it came as a shock to me. Thursday and Friday he only managed short walks and wasn't very hungry, only eating a few chunks of his tinned meat.
On Saturday I made him some pancakes with maple syrup but he didn't want them although he had always enjoyed pancakes before.
I helped him up a few times and we tried to go for a walk but Wiggle only went to the end of the street and back. By then, I was fearing the worst and my heart was breaking but I knew I had to do what was right for him.
On Sunday I called the vets and made an appointment for Monday afternoon. I got Wiggle into the car and took him to my parents to say goodbye. Still not wanting to eat much, I got Wiggle lots of tasty snacks to see if he could be tempted to eat and he did manage some ham and smoked salmon.
By Monday, Wiggle wasn't able to get up by himself at all. I'd been sleeping downstairs with him since Friday and he had been trying to get up in the night so I helped him get to his puppy pads as he didn't want to go outside. We didn't sleep much and after it had gotten light and Sofy had eaten her breakfast, I helped him outside but even that wore him out.
I knew it was the right time to let him go. My handsome, special, loyal, clever Wiggle was too tired to carry on, even for me. I put his harness on to be able to help him on his feet and he spent some time in the garden, sniffing the air.
Then it was time to leave. Sofy said goodbye, licking his face and watching him as I got Wiggle in the car. We stopped at Maud Heath on the way, Wiggle laying in the car feeling the warmth of the sun on his soft fur for one last time. I hugged him and cried and told him how special he is and how much love I would always feel for him.
Once at the vets, Malcolm agreed it was the right decision and helped me get Wiggle up on the table. Wiggle didn't struggle, just lay with me holding him, crying into his fur, stroking him and telling him how much I loved him. His passing was peaceful; it was the right time.
Now my heart is breaking for the loss of my one in a million boy. He arrived in such a neglected condition and despite not being loved, he was ready to give love. We had so many wonderful adventures and he was a great ambassador for Labrador Rescue South East & Central.
But he's gone, free from pain. The pain left now is mine but in time the happy memories will take over.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Wiggle, chatted with him on Twitter and shared his life with us.
Wiggle, 28.09.2002 - 03.10.2016
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