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| We got "Benji" from the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Dayton, Ohio. |
Benji Lincoln
© By Abraham Lincoln
Benji Lincoln had to be put to sleep yesterday, the 12th
of October 1994. He has had a bad heart, which we knew about, and he had lost
nearly all of his teeth. He could no longer hear and had some real problems in
seeing. His heart caused him to have a cough for the past year or two. It got
worse on Tuesday, and he coughed nearly all day and all night. Becky, myself
and mom (Patty) held him during the day and at night. He was having difficulty
in breathing and on Wednesday we called the vet and made an appointment to have
him put to sleep.
Mom took him over and went in with him to comfort him while the vet put him asleep. Then he came back after a few minutes and finished the task. Pat brought him back home and we buried him close to the garden in a place where he used to run in circles around the yard; and he is laying next to Cuddles.
We all told him “good-bye” before he went, and he was in so much discomfort that I knew he wanted to get some relief. I have no idea if there is a place for animals in the hereafter, but I am comforted in believing that Benji is with Cuddles, Puppy and finally met are Toy Fox Terrier, Autumn Eve Lincoln.
Benji was an excellent dog all the time we had him. He made some messes on the floor now and then but all dogs do that. He was a poor little puppy that Pat picked out at the animal shelter in Dayton. He was a mess, in a cage, with long legs that wobbled when we stood him on the floor. Pat said she wanted “this dog” even if the rest of us didn’t. The attendant came out and said, “Oh, you picked, ‘Smiley’.” It is true, for years afterward, he would smile, like a person smiles and show his front teeth.
Benji had a bouncing walk like no other dog I have seen before or since. This bouncing walk was especially prominent just after he used the bathroom outside. He knew he would get a treat when he came inside, and he bounced all the way into the house. He was happy indeed!
Benji was 16 years old when he was put to sleep. He was our friend and we loved him dearly. His new friend and our newest dog, Autumn, misses him too. Since Autumn is now gone too, we have another animal shelter dog, Pepper Jax, that we got from the Darke County Animal Shelter.
Mom took him over and went in with him to comfort him while the vet put him asleep. Then he came back after a few minutes and finished the task. Pat brought him back home and we buried him close to the garden in a place where he used to run in circles around the yard; and he is laying next to Cuddles.
We all told him “good-bye” before he went, and he was in so much discomfort that I knew he wanted to get some relief. I have no idea if there is a place for animals in the hereafter, but I am comforted in believing that Benji is with Cuddles, Puppy and finally met are Toy Fox Terrier, Autumn Eve Lincoln.
Benji was an excellent dog all the time we had him. He made some messes on the floor now and then but all dogs do that. He was a poor little puppy that Pat picked out at the animal shelter in Dayton. He was a mess, in a cage, with long legs that wobbled when we stood him on the floor. Pat said she wanted “this dog” even if the rest of us didn’t. The attendant came out and said, “Oh, you picked, ‘Smiley’.” It is true, for years afterward, he would smile, like a person smiles and show his front teeth.
Benji had a bouncing walk like no other dog I have seen before or since. This bouncing walk was especially prominent just after he used the bathroom outside. He knew he would get a treat when he came inside, and he bounced all the way into the house. He was happy indeed!
Benji was 16 years old when he was put to sleep. He was our friend and we loved him dearly. His new friend and our newest dog, Autumn, misses him too. Since Autumn is now gone too, we have another animal shelter dog, Pepper Jax, that we got from the Darke County Animal Shelter.
Now, these many years later, it is time to remember Autumn
Eve, the Toy Fox Terrier that we got just before Benji died. They did get to
know each other and they played together before Benji was put down. It was a
sad day when Autumn came to the end of the road and had to be put down, and I
cried like a baby.
Now we have Pepper Jax, a Jack Russell Terrier, and another animal shelter dog — he is a great addition to our family. It is hard to image that one of these days we may have to have him put to sleep.
Now we have Pepper Jax, a Jack Russell Terrier, and another animal shelter dog — he is a great addition to our family. It is hard to image that one of these days we may have to have him put to sleep.
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