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Tili
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21 years of age |
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Breed: Perfect
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Good Night,
Tili, Love You, Sleep Well
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With deep sadness and heavy hearts, our beloved Chantilly Lace started
the next leg of her journey Thursday, August 26, 2004.
Some of you know that on August 17, she suffered yet another acute injury
to her hock. Tili's hocks have been a source of concern since we first met
her. Initially, the problem was thought to be a viral infection, but as the
days went by, it was apparent that was not the case.
On Monday, August 23, the vet offered only 3 options for her: 1) Continue
the bute (horsey aspirin) and cause her other problems with certain complications
from that. 2) Take her off the bute and within a short time the vet would
expect her to fall down and be unable to get back up. 3) The 'other'
option.
Having always tried to do 'right' for our animals, the only real option was
#3. The vet explained the process, and was told the arrangements would be
made Tuesday. Monday night Abi learned of the situation.
Tuesday, arrangements were made to have Chantilly put down on Thursday,
August 26 at 4 p.m. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday preparing ourselves and
Tili for this. We increased her pain medicine as strongly as possible, to
give her relief in her final days.
Thursday began raining and cloudy, matching the heaviness we felt.
Tili's day began bad, with a great deal of pain. Consulting with the vet,
we doubled her pain meds. Even that didn't alleviate her suffering, so in
the early afternoon, after another vet phone consult, we gave her another,
stronger fast acting, drug for pain.
The rain stopped and the sun even peeked out a bit and at 3 pm, we
took Tili to spend her last hour in the fresh air, grazing on
her favorite clover. During this time, she was more comfortable than she'd
been in over a week. She'd been denied apples and carrots for 10 months due
to her 'diabetes'. Needless to say, we brought plenty of these treats for
her last day.
In all the time we've known Tili, we've never seen her overly anxious about
food (strange thing for a horse we rescued from starvation). Well, that all
changed in her last hour. She dragged Abi along, from her lead line, almost
'chasing' whoever had the apples. She ate, and ate, and ate. Most of you
will think this gross, but watching the juice from those apples dripping
from her mouth had us laughing out loud.
She was so very happy in her last hour, those who loved her and that she
loved best at her side, eating those apples, one after another non-stop.
Seeing her happily munching and moving almost pain free was very
comforting for us.
She knew it was 'time' and she was very prepared for it to happen. She was
at peace and anxious for the pain to end. We were also anxious for her to
finally be out of pain, yet, knew we'd be left with such sadness for 'our'
loss.
The renderer (picks up the bodies) arrived 30 minutes early, and, Tili
kept trying to head to the trailer. Heck, she was so used to moving from
barn to barn, guess that was normal. He was wonderfully discreet.
Picked a beautiful spot for the final injection she'd have to endure. Loved
to walk her each night to a place on the property with a pond, surrounded
by lovely willow trees. It was a peaceful, picturesque location, and, to
boot, loaded with clover for her to munch.
The vet arrived and pulled his truck about 30 feet away. Spoke with him and
he walked to Tili. Hating needles by now, she attempted to move away from
him. We told her it was time and the needles were about over. She stopped
and sighed and he gave her an injection of sedative. We hugged her and told
her we loved her for the last time. We cried and our hearts were breaking.
But, we knew she'd had quite enough. The vet brought the second syringe that
would bring the end. He asked if we were ready and we looked at Chantilly.
She said 'yes', and so did we. Moments after the chemicals entered her, her
back legs buckled and she went down. It was graceful and there was no distress
in her eye. There were some spasms and a few sighs, then she was gone. We
sat by her and stroked her for the last time and told her to take care until
we meet again. The vet was stunned as her heart just kept beating. Finally,
he gave her a third injection, which caused her heart to stop.
Our beloved Chantilly Lace went out with dignity and a true sense of
peace. Her spirit left her body long before her heart stopped pumping and
she will live on with us forever.
So, until her next mission on earth, she will be pain-free and joyous in
the afterlife. We have been honored to spend these years with her and, in
time, these tears and the heart-break will heal. This pain we now have is
minimal to the wonders of the years we had together.
To Chantilly, aka Tili - thanks for the dance, the lessons, the love. Just
wish we'd met sooner, perhaps your legs would've lasted as long as your heart
would have...until we meet again...love you, goodnight Tili, sleep
well.
Debi
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Chantilly Lace 
