Chances are you're
going to outlive your pet, and when you do, you're going to cry.
Of course, that
has yet to stop anyone from actually getting a dog, but when the inevitable
happens it's still very sad.
C.K.'s fellow
comedian Sarah Silverman had 14 long years with her pet dog Duck, who was
already 5-1/2 years old when she found him in a no-kill shelter in Van Nuys.
Duck passed away
this week at the age of 19, and though his health had weakened over the years,
he remains a happy dog, and was very much loved by Silverman.
To mourn Duck's
loss, Silverman wrote a truly moving obituary which she shared with her fans
last night:
Duck “Doug”
Silverman came into my life about 14 years ago. He was picked up by the State
running through South Central with no collar, tags or chip. Nobody claimed or
adopted him so a no-kill shelter took him in. That’s where I found him — at
that shelter, in Van Nuys. Since then we have slept most every night together
(and many lazy afternoons.) When we first met, the vet approximated his age at
5½ so I’d say he was about 19 as of yesterday, September 3, 2013 .
He was a happy
dog, though serene. And stoic. And he loved love.
Over the past few
years he became blind, deaf, and arthritic. But with a great vet, good meds,
and a first rate seeing-eye person named me, he truly seemed comfortable.
Recently, however,
he stopped eating or drinking. He was skin and bones and so weak. I couldn’t
figure out this hunger strike. Duck had never been political before. And then,
over the weekend, I knew. It was time to let him go.
My boyfriend Kyle
flew in late last night and took the day off from work to be with us. We laid
in bed and massaged his tiny body, as we love to do – hearing his little “I’m
in heaven” breaths.
The doctor came
and Kyle, my sister, Laura and I laid on the bed. I held him close – in our
usual spoon position and stroked him. I told him how loved he was, and thanked
him for giving me such happiness and for his unwavering companionship and love.
The doctor gave him a shot and he fell asleep, and then another that was
basically an overdose of sleeping meds. I held him and kissed him and whispered
to him well passed his passing. I picked him up and his body was limp – you
don’t think about the head – it just falls. I held him so tight. And then
finally, when his body lost its heat, and I could sense the doctor thinking
about the imminent rush hour traffic, I handed him over.
14 years.
My longest
relationship.
My only experience
of maternal love.
My constant
companion.
My best friend.
Duck.
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