Our Little Libby Love

Our sweet Little Libby had to be put to sleep today. She is just shy of her 5th birthday (she would have been 5 May 19th, Amber’s birthday). It has been a rough day. A rough couple weeks actually. As many or all of you know, Libby was born with many challenges, the biggest being cataracts, glaucoma and hip displaysia. She went completely blind about a year and a half ago. She’s been doing well up until about two weeks ago when she started shaking uncontrollably and was panting non-stop. She wouldn’t leave my side and had a look of terror in her face. It was so sad, and it worried me. Matt came home and took her to the vet that morning. Our vet did a full check up and couldn’t find anything wrong with her, but said she must be in a tremendous amount of pain, most likely caused by her eye pressure or her hips. He gave us some pain medicine and sent us off. We gave her the pain medicine but it wasn’t helping. She continued for the next 24 hours to pant, shake, and would cling to us. We called our vet and told him the pain meds weren’t working, so he got her on some heavy duty narcotics. We gave her the dose, and still she wouldn’t stop shaking & panting until about 24 hours later. She was doing better and went another week and a half with no incident until last night. At midnight she woke us up panting and shaking again. She was trying to jump up in bed with us, and her eyes were bulging out like she was scared to death. We gave her pain medicine again, but it never kicked in. She was a mess all night long, and so were we thinking this may be our last night with Libby. We called our vet first thing this morning and made an appointment. Matt the tremendous trooper took her in to have her put to sleep. It was so incredibly sad. I had a little chat with her before she left. I cried so hard, saying my last goodbye. I felt so bad for her. She was so miserable. I feel very peaceful about our decision today. The fact that she had a full physical including blood work that indicated she was a healthy dog other than her eyes/hips, tells me that her pain was too much. If her pain medication would have been effective, we would have gone that route, but nothing worked. She was suffering so badly. Matt and I both miss her so much. It is amazing how much our lives revolved around Libby. She truly was one of our children! Every second today I’ve thought of her. I’ve even felt like I’ve heard her going through the doggy door or down the stairs. I keep expecting to hear her whining for her food, or stomping down the stairs to come find us. We only had her for five short years, but it seems like we never have known life with out her. She really was the best dog. She never ONCE bit us, and never growled at us or the kids. The kids could climb all over her and she wouldn’t even flinch. Libby LOVED breakfast/dinner, and would scarf her food down within seconds. If Parker or Amber grabbed her food bowl mid-scarf, she wouldn’t do a thing. She never barked either. That is rare for labs! She was friendly with everyone. My sister Joan and her husband would take care of Libby occasionally when we’d leave town. Joan and Libby had a special bond. Libby LOVED Joan. She would get super excited when she’d come over. Well, after Joan moved to Texas, Libby didn’t see her obviously for a while. Joan came back to visit one week, and I’ll never forget Libby’s reaction. She of course can’t see, but smelled Joan immediately. She was searching all over the house until she found Joan. Her nose was high up in the air, trying to figure out where Joan was; meanwhile her tail was frantically wagging side to side knowing her friend was here somewhere. Anyway, we love our little Libby “Libbs” so much. We hope that she is running and playing her heart out, and can’t wait to be with her again!








Libby would get so hyper, and "scoot" around our yard. It was so fun, and would make us laugh so hard!


This is so typical of Libby, just a sweetie, and showed so much affection.

This was Libby's favorite spot-on our couch. No matter what obstacle's I'd put in her way she'd always find a way back up to the couch.


Libby LOVED taking rides with us, and looked forward to our Christmas tree adventures every winter. She'd hop through the snow and get so tired, she'd usually sleep for 24 hours straight.


Libby also loved fishing with us. She'd chase all the fish Matt would catch, and would bark like crazy when Matt caught one. She'd wait in the water, stick still so she could hear the fish when Matt would reel them in. We loved watching her swim, and she loved it too.


We'd always give Libby a bone at Christmas. I'm sure as the years go by we'll find them throughout our yard. She never finished them, she'd bury them every time.

This is Libby's best friend Timber. They played all the time together when they were puppies. We met Timber at "puppy kindergarten." They were instant friends!