Dexter dies

Dexter is my beagle, my very first pet (if you don't count the goldfish Marcie & I shared when I was 5ish) and my furry baby.  I got him in July 1999 when he was about 5 weeks old. That dog. The stories I have on the things he's done or that have happened to him are so funny and something that never happens to other dogs apparently!  In fact, when I went to see the Marley & Me movie, I kept thinking "this is nothing compared to Dexter"!  Anyone that's ever met him or spent time with him seem to have their own stories too & no one has ever forgotten him! I'm glad he's memorable!  This dog has outlived everyone it seems. He just wouldn't ever die every time we took him to the vet I would think, this is it, but he always came home. Today he didn't. He turned 15 on May 30 and for about a month he has had a cough. This past Sunday I said to Jon, I don't think Dexy's doing to well & Jon agreed. We took him to vet today &the  main reason was his cough was CONSTANT, the only time he wasn't coughing was when he was sleeping. It's only getting hotter out & he needed some relief. His regular doctor was on vacation & I didn't want Dex to suffer needlessly for another week until she got back so I had vet on staff see him. We knew it wasn't canine cough, that he had tumors all over him. Vet tried to listen to his lungs, but she couldn't hear them because he was coughing so much.  She said it was either a tumor pressing on his throat or fluid, etc. Vet said they could give him medicine, but it wouldn't take effect for another week. Or we could put him down as this wouldn't get better. I couldn't put Dexy through this another week or longer. So through my tears, I said yes, let's put him down. Lordy did I cry!  My very first baby. For some reason with Jon's dog Sebastian I just remember 1 shot that turned his brain off & then the heart stopped later, but with Dex, they gave him a shot that made him sleepy. It took about 15 min for him to completely fall asleep & even through his sleeping, he was coughing. Then when Dex was in la la land, they gave him a 2nd shot that stopped his heart. His little tongue stuck out & that bothered me as I knew it was over, as his tongue NEVER stuck out, even when he was sleeping. They brought us a black garbage bag just like with Sebastian, except that Dexter is bigger & didn't totally fit in it. I drove home while Jon held him for me. Jon dug a hole in the backyard same as Sebastian. When Jon picked up the bag with Dex in it, because he didn't fit in it all the way, Dexy's head flung out backwards making me moan. Jon buried my furry baby & that was it. I hope I gave him a good doggy life.  I'm so glad he's in Heaven with Jesus & everyone now. He'll be on my welcoming committee when I get there & I love that thought!  Mommy loves you so much Dex!