Before the Sun Closes Her Eyes

Posted on May 22, 2014 by The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

A very valuable post, especially in light of our discovering that Lady’s appetite is leaving, singling that our days with her are numbered. It is with a heavy heart, yet a grateful heart that I share this. And I pray for as many good days with Lady as possible, that she may continue to open her eyes to the miracle of the gift of life.

About The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, United States Secretary of State, expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for "gross indecency" under Britian's recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When the news of Wilde's conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wildes' imprisonment. It is chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing. Paulette Mahurin, the author, is a Nurse Practitioner who lives in Ojai, California with her husband Terry and their two dogs--- Max and Bella. She practices women's health in a rural clinic and writes in her spare time. All profits from her book are going to animal rescue, Santa Paula Animal Shelter, the first and only no-kill shelter in Ventura County, CA, where she lives. (see links below on Ventura County Star Article & Shelter) To find out more please go the The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap on facebook or Amazon or e-mail us at the gavatar addresses. Thank you. (photos: of Paulette, her family, and a reading at The Ojai Art Center, July 2012)
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63 Responses to Before the Sun Closes Her Eyes

  1. tazzielove says:
    May 22, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Beautiful post. And yes are days with our new elderly girl are precious. She has been given the warmth of a bed and loving family to ease her from this life, whenever that time arrives. And who knows when it will be.

    Reply
  2. Ruth Rainwater says:
    May 22, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    At least she is spending her days in a loving home instead of a cold and sterile kennel. Blessings to you for giving her that love.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 22, 2014 at 4:44 pm

      Exactly! We stopped the medications she’s on and hope that helps. We’ve down this road many times before. We feel blessed to have her with us for whatever time and to be there with and for her when the end comes. She’s showing her gratitude. No better reward. Hugs to you, Ruth. ❤

      Reply
  3. 68ghia says:
    May 22, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    I really needed to read this tonight.
    Feel myself doubting the good things I know is out there.
    Hope Lady is still OK p…

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 22, 2014 at 11:22 pm

      I needed to read it also, G. I was feeling sad about Lady and read this then it seemed as if time suspended. Lo and behold she ate a burrito later on. We’re just taking it one meal at a time, trying to figure out what food to get to her because she takes two bites of something then doesn’t want it. All that said, she appears pretty extroverted and comfortable (sniffing around and observing the happenings.) Hugs friend. ❤

      Reply
  4. FlaHam says:
    May 22, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    Paulette, this is what I passed on to Sheri, thank you for leading me t here.

    Sherri, What a beautiful message, so true, so rich in spirit. My dear I do wake each day grateful that I have done so, I extend a kindness as often as possible. And I am always pleased when I wake to see the flowers from the right direction. Take care, a beautiufl work. Be safe. Bill

    Reply
  5. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    May 22, 2014 at 8:52 pm

    Thanks for the share, Paulette. This is indeed an excellent message.
    I do hope LL is not suffering and that the days left to her are gentle and happy.

    Reply
  6. Barbara says:
    May 22, 2014 at 10:02 pm

    This is always a tough time Paulette, but she has you by her side, feeling loved and secure to see her through what has to come. We are all thinking of you. ❤

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 22, 2014 at 11:28 pm

      Thank you so much for your supportive words. Very appreciated. You know how it is, Barb, an emotional roller-coaster. At breakfast she walked away from everything. Terry went out and got her a burrito which she ate. That was such a beautiful sight. And so it’s one hour at a time, the good with the bad, and we hold her in our hearts of gratitude for whatever time we have with her. Right now, she’s hanging in the living room, nestled on the comfy floor watching Max & Bella pouncing each other with all their teenage energy. Hugs! ❤

      Reply
  9. sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches. says:
    May 23, 2014 at 5:06 am

    Paulette – Always sad when we lose one of our rescues and we try to remember we made the best choices we knew to make. We knew they were loved unconditionally, were warm and safe or cool and safe (which ever they needed), had the food and drink they wanted/needed – and still I often wonder – was there something more I could have done.

    Sheri’s blog is beautiful. I always admire her work. It never fails to brighten my day.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 23, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      Thank you for your kind and compassionate words.

      It’s so good to see you here, Sheri. what you wrote about our rescues is so true. There’s just no escaping that when we rescue a dog, cat, animal, we know we’re embarking on a love affair whereby they will most likely leave this earth before us. With Lady, when we read she was 12 (the Humane Society’s posting age) we figured we’d have some time with her but when we met her (and our vet confirmed it) she looks closer to 15. Now, it’s all the comfort measures and the hit and miss with finding things she will like to eat. Of all things, she’s eaten a burrito yesterday and this morning and if my eyes aren’t deceiving me she looks like she may have even put on a pound. (probably more wishful thinking).

      I agree with you about Sheri’s site, very uplifting.

      Hope all’s well with you. And that you have a good weekend. ❤

      Reply
      • sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches. says:
        May 23, 2014 at 5:59 pm

        Pauette – Thanks for being an absolute gem. The ICU where Tom is a patient allowed his rescue Shih Tzu, Scooter to come to the hospital to be with him. The hospital is very progressive and the minute I placed Scooter in Tom’s arms, they both relaxed into each other and went sound to sleep. Scooter hadn’t slept in well over a week.Tom didn’t have to have any extra injections for pain last night and he and Scooter both look and act better after having been reconnected. I so wish all critical care facilities had the ability to do this.

      • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
        May 23, 2014 at 10:47 pm

        I love that Scooter was allowed to be with Tom. That’s so lovely and must have helped you as well. I’m so happy you shared that with me, even though it brought me to tears (good tears of gratitude). Love to you, Paulette

  10. Helen Devries says:
    May 23, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    It’s hard and it never gets any easier…but gallant old lady tucking into her burrito!
    She knows her life is worth living.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 23, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      So true, Helen. But hey, anyone who can, and wants to, eat a burrito still has some life in them. That’s my story and I’m sticking by it. We’re just taking it one day at a time and today she is alert, comfortable, able to move, ate something, and is looking at me with the look to fill a million hearts. Have a good weekend. ❤

      Reply
  11. jmsabbagh says:
    May 24, 2014 at 12:27 am

    Brilliant prospect,beautiful words and thoughts.Since l had my heart attack few years back,every day is a birth of new life for me and people like me.I am grateful to live every day to see the sunrise and sunset.Greetings.jalal

    Reply
  12. LadyBlueRose's Thoughts Into Words says:
    May 24, 2014 at 2:21 am

    my heart goes out to you and your Lady…though she will leave with the heartfeelings of love…
    I have one beside me that is leaving soon
    Take Care…You Matter…

    Reply
  13. Fabulous Fur Friends says:
    May 24, 2014 at 7:31 am

    Thinking of you and hoping the sun continues to shine for Lady a little longer so she can feel more of your love and kindness xx

    Reply
  14. sagedoyle says:
    May 24, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    You’re such a beautiful person. I love the care and compassion you have for animals. You’re a blessing to the world.

    Reply
  15. Kev says:
    May 25, 2014 at 9:27 am

    A truly amazing post. 🙂

    Reply
  16. petspeopleandlife says:
    May 26, 2014 at 6:13 am

    Stopping the meds is probably a good thing especially if the meds are for arthritis. I will write what I’ve used on Lady, my son’s Border Collie. I only give her thyroid meds crushed into her food. She eats feline Royal Canin LP to help ease strain on her kidneys. Some days she’ll only eat feline Fancy Feast (primavera) with garden greens. But she also likes Subways with grilled chicken. She is a small BC only weighs about 25-30 pounds so I give her Ringers Lactate 250-300 ml sub cu per day plus B comp and B12 about every 5th day to keep up her appetite.

    I hope that Lady surprises you for “our” Lady suprises me each day that she gets up from her bed to totter outdoors for bathroom calls. I know that at any time she won’t get up. One other tip is that I vacuum her entire body with a strong suction and work her legs, hips, and back for a good 7-10 minutes. The suction acts as substitue for accupressure or accupuncture.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 26, 2014 at 2:25 pm

      With all you have going on your end, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and lend your support. It’s very appreciated, especially things that help me keep Lady comfortable and with good quality.

      Bless you for taking such good care of yours. She ate yesterday but this morning didn’t want to touch food. We’ll see how the day progresses. I have ringers lactate and IV set ups here for dogs and have kept all our elder ones comfortable until the end. And you’re so right about she could get up and surprise us. She already has. She seems to want to live, takes an interest in looking at the things in nature, comes over to be near us, and I feel in my heart she’ll let us know when she’s had enough. They usually do.

      Hope you have a good Memorial Day, Yvonne.

      Reply
      • petspeopleandlife says:
        May 27, 2014 at 12:34 am

        Paulette, please get some B com and B 12. Your vet will likely sell you a few syringes full. For a lab she’d probably need at least 1.5 ml- just guessing about her weight. S/he would know. The B vitamins really help to pick up the appetite and if you have not begun the Iv or SC Ringers it too helps the appetiite to come back. It is worth a try. Was her thyrpid tested? Hypothyroidism in dogs makes them lethargic and with little desire to eat. Lady is on thyroid meds and it has made a huge difference as well.

      • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
        May 27, 2014 at 2:31 am

        Thank you so much! We went to the supermarket today and got a bunch of really good food. Steak, chicken, etc. and she ate close to 1400 calories today. She had another bath and massage and is in good spirits. Today her energy is okay. It changes daily and sometime hour to hour. Last night she was confused. Right now she’s perked up. She’s had a full work up and physical exam by two vets. Again, thank you so much.

  17. runningonsober says:
    May 26, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I was going to suggest Fancy Feast cat food as well, so I smiled when I read Yvonne’s comment above. Something so tempting to dogs about cat food. 🙂

    Lady (Luck) is beautiful and she is so lucky to spend the rest of her life with you. May she have many peaceful sunrises ahead.

    Love, Christy

    Reply
  18. Clowie says:
    May 28, 2014 at 10:15 am

    That’s a beautiful post.
    I’m sure that Lady will enjoy whatever time she has with you.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 28, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      Thanks, Clowie. She took a turn for the better but for how long who knows. We have to feed her something different almost every meal, human food, or she won’t eat. There were a couple of days she turned away from everything, including braunschweiger. That’s never happened with any of our dogs before. Live and learn, and fingers crossed she continues to have quality. ❤

      Reply
  19. Sage says:
    May 29, 2014 at 4:26 am

    I was truly blown away with both the incredibly beautiful post and the many caring comments, Paulette. Lady is blessed to have you.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      May 29, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      Me too, Sage. It’s such a wonderful, caring, supportive cyber community we are all connected in. Since Lady has come out of her depression and seemed to have turned a corner, choosing life, I have to wonder if she has sensed/picked up on all the incredible energy and love being sent to her from all over. It wouldn’t surprise me if the heart of a dog is capable of this. Now our fingers and paws are crossed that she continues to have many more good days. ❤

      Reply
  20. littledogslaughed says:
    May 31, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    What a lovely post and reminder of the abundance that is present in our lives if we choose to see it-and you certainly are with this beautiful girl-what a gift-we are thinking of you both and hope that Lady enjoys the abundance of her family’s love for many days-

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      June 1, 2014 at 1:08 am

      Thank you for this beautiful comment. Lady has been having a very good day, starting with a pizza for breakfast and hot dogs for dinner. She’s been out for her walk on the grass and hanging with her new family for the rest of the day. She’s a really sweet dog and we’re very happy to have her in our lives for however long. Again, thank you so much. ❤

      Reply
  21. natuurfreak says:
    June 12, 2014 at 9:05 am

    Lovely warm words Paulette

    Reply
  22. CMFowler says:
    August 11, 2014 at 12:37 am

    I shall be thinking of you and of your sweet Lady. Each day so precious. I just lost my longtime companion but he went suddenly. Although I am grateful he did not suffer, I often wish I would have had one or two more days with his soft head on my lap; looking into his brown eyes. Still; every day – a gift. My thoughts and love are with you both. You are both so blessed to have each other.

    Reply
    • The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:
      August 11, 2014 at 1:41 am

      What a poignantly lovely thing to say. Bless your sweet heart. It’s never easy to lose our dear companions. Lady is still with us holding her own but her frailty shows with each passing day. A sweet loving girl. And as you so beautifully say each day with her is a gift. I’m so sorry for your loss. Our lives are richer for our animal friends, companions, and family. Love, Paulette

      Reply

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