Alex came to my life when he was only less than 2 months old. He was given to me as a gift in 2002. My friend, Roselle who I got him from, had named him Alex and I decided to not change his name. I believe he is not completely weaned from his mom so I let him use my bedroom as his new residence. I had vivid memories of his very first night with me. Soon after the light was turned off, he found himself alone in a strange environment and without a single dog scent anywhere he starts a barely audible whimper and then to full-fledged crying. He yips and cries. I cant make him stop. I got up, carried him and put him on a soft Jollibee pillow beside my bed. I lay down on the very edge of the mattress with my arm dangling onto his pillow, he reached for my finger and suck it like it was his mom’s nip. With him already comfy, we both drifted off to sleep.
Weeks became months and months became years and Alex had grown to be an adult dog. I used an old hand towel to play tug-of-war with him and was surprised how strong he is. It did not take him long to discover how to throw the other end of the towel to my other dog Maica and they would play tug-of-war like kids. Sounds crazy, but it was an amazing thing to behold. Another thing he loves doing is clenching his teeth on my socks that he got from the laundry basket and scattering it all across the house. He was often scolded of this habit but you wont break him from doing it. Whenever we have a visitor, he love to welcome them with licks to their arms.
He’s acting fine up until last quarter of 2005, Alex caught a respiratory virus that affected his nervous system. I sent the vet to our house to check him out and he was diagnosed to have distemper. The doctor said it is incurable. His body tremors uncontrollably and has grown so weak that sometimes he could not stand up on his own. When the disease progresses, he acted so strange. It seems like he’s confused and tired. He wanders around the house and wont sleep. He had been medicating but he doesn't show signs of improving. I really tried to hold out hope for that sparkle to return to his eyes, for him to somehow come back to his old self but it never did. Alex has a very expressive eyes, you can tell by just looking to his eyes how he feels and I’m so torn to see him suffering.
On the advice of the vet and some friends, I finally took the courage and had to make the saddest decision in my life. I made the arrangement with a vet and spent his last day special. I took a picture of him (in addition to some I kept for years) to remember him by. I hold his face and told him how much I love him. When the vet came, I scooped him up and put him on my arms. I wanted to make sure he knew I was there and I was holding him. I gave him lots of kisses and said "sorry for doing this". The process is not something anyone wants to see. When the vet is about to give him the final doze, I said goodbye, walked away and cried. I came back when he’s already laid down peacefully and buried him in the house backyard.
Forgive me Alex and Thank You for all the memories.
