Our Beloved Matilda Has Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

 Today we had to let Matilda go.  Matilda was 14 years and a few weeks old.  Despite a number of health scares over the past few years, and some recent mobility issues, Matilda was in generally good health until about 6 months ago.  

Matilda relaxing on the lawn at home in NC last week

One day in late November last year while we were living at our winter home in Florida, Matilda awoke with a severe limp involving her left front leg.  We first assumed that she had perhaps fallen and injured her leg.  Entering and exiting our motor home is always an adventure, not just for Matilda, but for me as well.  She has had arthritis for some time, and lately we have been helping her up and down these steep steps.  We sent a video of her limping to our veterinarian at home in North Carolina, and she said we should immediately take her to a local veterinarian.  It was a Saturday, but we called Parkway Animal Hospital, Matilda's local caregiver, anyway.  They were booked solid and were one vet short because Dr. Riley had an automobile accident that morning, but they said they would call us back if an opening came up.  Sure 'nuff they did have an opening so we rushed over.  It turned out, Dr. Riley is very dedicated and had come in to work after her accident.  She performed an exam and took some X-rays.  The diagnosis was not good.  She suspected that Matilda had developed a bone tumor in her left shoulder, but without conducting a biopsy she could not be sure.  Given the cancer would not be treatable and Matilda's advanced age, a risky and invasive biopsy which would involve general anesthesia, did not make sense.  Dr. Riley suggested there was a small chance what she had seen on the X-ray could be an infection or osteoarthritis and prescribed a regimen of pain medications and an antibiotic.

Miraculously, Matilda's mobility improved significantly over the next few weeks.  She was walking as well as she had been before the recent episode, and we were encouraged that maybe it wasn't cancer after all.  Maybe the drugs had been effective in treating the infection and/or arthritis and Matilda was on the mend.  But such was not the case.  In the following months her mobility declined, and she was unable to put any weight on that leg.  Additionally, going into March and April her breathing became labored, she developed a disturbing cough and on at least one occasion, spit up some blood.  Ironically, she seemed to be in fairly good spirits. She was sleeping a lot, but was otherwise alert and in no obvious discomfort except when walking.  She spent most days sitting in the sunshine in front of the coach napping or watching the world go by.  She always seemed to have the energy to bark at the dogs and people walking by that she knew, and would on occasion, get excited and even break into a semi-trot.

We returned home from Florida on Friday April 22, and took Matilda to see our local veterinarian, Katie (Dr. T) at Mt Tabor Animal Hospital, on Wednesday the following week.  Katie performed an exam and took an X-ray.  Unfortunately, it was determined the cancer had metastasized to her lungs, and the end was very near.  We made a plan to bring her back to be euthanized on Friday April 29.  That gave us a precious day and half to say goodbye and let her go.  Dorcas and I were both holding her when she took her last breath.  We brought her home and buried her next to Izaak, so they may continue to play and roam in that great puppy hereafter.  We have ordered this memorial stone and will place it on her grave when it arrives

Taking a hike down memory lane, here are some pictures of Matilda taken during here first year:

Matilda in the Country Coach at age 7 weeks

Dorcas and I have been blessed that we were able to retire at an early age and do the things we wanted to do and go to places we wanted to go. Matilda came into our life shortly after we retired, and she was able to go with us wherever we went.   Izaak had passed a year before, but Dorcas and I had decided then we were not ready to get another dog immediately.  We wanted another dog very much, but thought it best to wait, and when the time was right, the perfect dog would come to us.   So, about a year after Izaak passed, we told Katie we were ready.  Coincidentally, she told us one of the vet techs at Mt Tabor had just had a surprise litter of two Aussie pups.  Katie thought one of these puppies would be the perfect pup for us.  We were not so sure at first.  Australian Shepherds are known to be high energy animals, and Dorcas and I are not so much.  But Katie twisted our arms, and made us an offer we couldn't refuse.  We brought Matilda home and found that Katie had been right; Matilda was a perfect fit for us.  

Matilda was born on April 10, 2008, and we brought her home when she was only 6 weeks old.  The very next day we departed in the motor home for a 2 1/2-week trip.  A few weeks after that trip we took her on a 3-month adventure to the Boundary Waters.  She literally grew up in the coach.  Since then she has traveled with us everywhere we went: multiple trips out west, twice to Alaska, over a dozen wilderness trips in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, numerous river camping trips and river day adventures.  She has had close encounters with all kinds of wildlife in the wild including alligators, brown bears, black bears, wild turkeys, coyotes, manatees, Northern pike, feral rhesus monkeys, and numerous birds and reptiles, and she never expressed any fear or aggression.  

Matilda's first hike

Mommy and Baby Girl bond

Matilda at 10 weeks with daddy in Iowa

Matilda's first canoe trip: Kettle River Minnesota

Matilda's first and last intentional out-of boat experience: Kettle River Minnesota

Matilda's first trip to the Boundary Waters September 2008

Napping in the Boundary Watters

Watching Daddy catch fish

Not many weeks after this photo Matilda's ears suddenly flopped

Following are some pictures of Matilda as she matured and continued her adventures:

Hiking in the Tongass National Forest near Sitka Alaska

Waltzing Matilda

Removing burrs in the Boundary Waters

On the lookout on the Buffalo River

She was a nimble pup

Manatees are BIG fish!

Matilda could walk on water

Paddling is HARD work!

I love our gopher tortoise

Such a prima donna

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

Matilda, you have lived a long and happy life.  Our life has been enriched and blessed to have you in our family.  We miss you and will always love you.