03/12/2024
A Tribute to Waffle 💜
I write this with so much sadness and my heart is broken 💔 Waffle’s dad had to make the bravest decision today and say goodbye to him 😭
The pain someone feels when they have to end the life of their beloved dog is devastating 💔 But when it is due to behavioural illness I think the pain is worse in so many ways 😢 Waffle’s issues were genetically and socially embedded and, despite the ‘Walter’ incidences getting further apart, the intensity was getting significantly worse 💔
We’ve been working solidly for 12 months and it has been exceptionally difficult for the whole family 😔 there has been considerable strain on their relationships and they have all had periods of time where each individual was at higher risk from ‘Walter’ which was a huge ask of all of them 💔 there have been phenomenal highs and devastating lows, we have had bust ups, there have been lots of tears and lots of laughter, and I was treated as part of the family which has been an honour 🥹 It may sound odd, but I have been privileged to be on this journey with them all 💜
I am so grateful to Waffle for -
🐾 Challenging me - Waffle has made me think well outside of the box, constantly 😂 Frankly at times the box hasn’t even been a bloody concept 🙄
🐾 Teaching me - I have learnt an immeasurable amount that tiny psychopath 🥺 he broadened my knowledge, connected me to specialists and changed the way I do my job every day 💜
🐾 Making me laugh - my god has Waffle made me laugh 🤣 with the absolute absurdity of his behaviour, when his dad gave him the ability to ‘fly’ and even today when he ate half a block of cheese and laughed in the face of every medication known to the veterinary world 🤣
🐾 To never be complacent - Waffle has humbled me more times than I care to count (I have the scars to prove it) 🙄 he reminded me never to get too comfortable or let my guard down because he was always 10 steps ahead 🥷
🐾 To find the positives - even on the crap days, when he was at his worst, there were always positives to be found in the toughest moments 🥲
🐾 To always forgive - I have never met a dog as willing to forgive as Waffle 💜 when we first groomed him, ‘Walter’ was out in full force 🫣 once the muzzle came off, Waffle ran over and gave me a kiss 😭 he never, ever held a grudge!
🐾 To love without judgement - I adored the bones of Waffle 💜 even when he ate me, even when in the worst Walter moments, I still bloody loved him because he was honestly the most phenomenal dog in the most screwed up way 😢
Waffle’s dad has tried so so hard, he has loved Waffle endlessly and done everything I’ve asked of him (begrudgingly at times 🤣) he has dealt with the curve balls, the moving goal posts, cross continental consultations and the immense emotional pressure of managing a dog like Waffle 🤯 if sheer adoration could have saved Waffle then he would still be here as his dad’s love alone would have done it 😢 I am so exceptionally proud of him 💕
Ultimately, behavioral euthanasia was the only choice left to be made for everyone’s wellbeing, especially Waffle’s 😞 his world continued to get smaller despite everyone’s best efforts and the risk was just getting too high 💔 the kindest thing was to let Waffle go before anything truly catastrophic happened and we were able to make sure that Waffle left this world with respect and dignity 🙌 Waffle had the most glorious last few days full of adventuring, chicken nuggets, snoozing in front of the fire and pup cups 🥹 he left this world happy, full of cheese and surrounded by love 💜 something his dad will be able to carry with him forever 💕
Sleep tight Waffle 💔 I will so truly miss you ###
