NinaA
New member
MOONLIGHT
July 1, 2004 - August 6, 2016
Her apple green eyes captured my heart. She was born on a farm in the middle of a corn field in Iowa, thus the name Moonlight Graham (from "Field of Dreams" one of my husband's favorite movies - his compensation for giving up his turn to "have a dog of his own", and he did get one later). She was her own little girl. Not stubborn, but determined. Stunned the trainer who said Newfoundlands are hard to train because they're lazy and just want to lay down. Ha. Showed her. She was brilliant in obedience work. Had a spectacular sense of humor. Loved to tease, harass and push my husband's buttons, all with what could only be described as a smile on her face. Was the best behaved dog we ever had. Could take her anywhere with my finger hooked under her the corner of her ear. Cool and calm, but large and in charge of a pack of 5 sisters. The most amazing part was that I swear we talked. She talked to my husband, too. People who saw it couldn't believe what they saw, but it was like she had a little balloon over her head and could give you a look that explained exactly what she thought. People who don't have Newfs would say that I'm crazy, but I think you know what I mean. She could give you be best all time Stink Eye and my husband was her usual recipient. Everything was his fault and I could do no wrong. He loved it, and he loved her. She first had a bad knee (hips were always great), then spondylosis, then a severe kidney infection brought on by a hooded vulva and repeated UTI's which we did get under control. We had everything under control and were looking forward to at least one more year until the 4th of July when she started fainting - four times in an hour. Scared her badly. Terrified us. Spent the biggest part of the day at the ER. Ultrasound found a huge tumor in her heart. They gave her a few days to live. Wanted to put her down then. No way. We called our magnificent vet and decided to try medication. It would either work or it would kill her. It worked but it would only work a short time. A second ultrasound and four vet consultation verified it. Now there was fluid building in her pericardial sack. I was not ready. She was not ready. We never were, but it became apparent on Aug 4 that she was struggling to breathe and the joy was gone. She visited with our neighbors and we stayed up all night, last night watching the Olympic opening (did I mention she loved to watch TV, almost anything). At the vet's office I sat on the floor and she gave me one last hug right before the injection that would put her to sleep before the final injection. I held her head as she quietly, gently started snoring. I held her head as she breathed her last. We all cried, my husband leaning against the wall and my vet on the floor leaning back against the wall, and me holding Moonlight's head. My vet said she was the practice's all time favorite patient. I said, "Of course, she's a Newf."
July 1, 2004 - August 6, 2016
Her apple green eyes captured my heart. She was born on a farm in the middle of a corn field in Iowa, thus the name Moonlight Graham (from "Field of Dreams" one of my husband's favorite movies - his compensation for giving up his turn to "have a dog of his own", and he did get one later). She was her own little girl. Not stubborn, but determined. Stunned the trainer who said Newfoundlands are hard to train because they're lazy and just want to lay down. Ha. Showed her. She was brilliant in obedience work. Had a spectacular sense of humor. Loved to tease, harass and push my husband's buttons, all with what could only be described as a smile on her face. Was the best behaved dog we ever had. Could take her anywhere with my finger hooked under her the corner of her ear. Cool and calm, but large and in charge of a pack of 5 sisters. The most amazing part was that I swear we talked. She talked to my husband, too. People who saw it couldn't believe what they saw, but it was like she had a little balloon over her head and could give you a look that explained exactly what she thought. People who don't have Newfs would say that I'm crazy, but I think you know what I mean. She could give you be best all time Stink Eye and my husband was her usual recipient. Everything was his fault and I could do no wrong. He loved it, and he loved her. She first had a bad knee (hips were always great), then spondylosis, then a severe kidney infection brought on by a hooded vulva and repeated UTI's which we did get under control. We had everything under control and were looking forward to at least one more year until the 4th of July when she started fainting - four times in an hour. Scared her badly. Terrified us. Spent the biggest part of the day at the ER. Ultrasound found a huge tumor in her heart. They gave her a few days to live. Wanted to put her down then. No way. We called our magnificent vet and decided to try medication. It would either work or it would kill her. It worked but it would only work a short time. A second ultrasound and four vet consultation verified it. Now there was fluid building in her pericardial sack. I was not ready. She was not ready. We never were, but it became apparent on Aug 4 that she was struggling to breathe and the joy was gone. She visited with our neighbors and we stayed up all night, last night watching the Olympic opening (did I mention she loved to watch TV, almost anything). At the vet's office I sat on the floor and she gave me one last hug right before the injection that would put her to sleep before the final injection. I held her head as she quietly, gently started snoring. I held her head as she breathed her last. We all cried, my husband leaning against the wall and my vet on the floor leaning back against the wall, and me holding Moonlight's head. My vet said she was the practice's all time favorite patient. I said, "Of course, she's a Newf."
