We adopted Bernie when he was one year old from a "backyard breeder" and he was in bad shape. Terrified of people, especially children, stayed outside in a wire pen unprotected from the weather. We bought Bernie, took him to the our Vet, where we discovered he a severe case of mange, which took 3 months to cure. During the first few days we realized Bernie had been abused. It took Bernie 6 months before he would come inside and eat with the other dogs. After several years Bernie finally would come to our commands but always coward down with hind legs down and crawled to us.
Just when Bernie was having a good time running on 3 open "fenced" acres and chasing Harley and tearing up toys daily, Bernie goes blind at the age of 3 years old. At first it was hard but he figured very quickly where everything was, getting through the dog door and even ran through the yard, unfortunately not missing every tree in his way. Bernie had such will to live and was happy with his family. When ever you pet one of the other dogs, Bernie would run up and push his way in and demand to be touched and loved. Bernie and Harley did not always get along but Bernie just wanted to be loved. Bernie is one of the most sweetest dogs you could ever imagine and trusted us so much. Like when we clipped his toe nails, he would get so excited just to be touched. Bernie was nicked name "Weiner Pig" because he would try to eat the other dogs food. Bernie would eat so fast, sometimes he would choke on his food.
Bernie contracted "Lymes" disease in July 2010 and was treated for it and the Vet told us it would be cured. Unfortunately, that wasn't true as we discovered later on. Even though Bernie was blind, he was fearless which ended up being his demise. Bernie jumped off the sofa a few days ago, landed hard and appeared okay. The next morning Bernie was dragging his rear legs while trying to do his business. Knowing the potential outcome after cleaning him up, he eat his breakfast as though nothing was wrong, even though he was panting hard, body quivering and stiff as a board. I spent some time with him and took his picture just in case this was the last time and cried.
Bernie responded within hours of receiving cold laser treatment, pain medicine and steroids. Hopes were high. Bernie stayed over night since it was now the weekend. Seeing Bernie the next morning, he was not doing well at all. With his calcification of vertebrates, herniated disk, his inability to urinate on his own and his kidney levels spiking in the wrong direction and testing positive for advance stages of Lymes disease, which is causing his paralysis, we made that dreaded decision, we could not let him suffer any longer. I'm choking up just writing his story. We will have his ashes this week and put them in his own personal keepsake box with his picture. We have lost one of our family members and will change us all. We all will miss Bernie and are saddened that we couldn't do more for him in is short life of 4 1/2 years.
God bless Bernie and he will live forever in our memories.
Love Mom & Dad
Bernie Loved the Snow
See mom, I'm not chewing on your rug!
Hurry up Dad, I need to chase Harley.
See, I can sit still. Not long but I did.
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