Sad Day at our House!

Samson taken in April 2009.....just knew I needed to get a current picture of him not knowing he'd be gone soon!

Doesn't this picture just make you want to go watch a Beethoven movie? What a cute puppy !

LeJoy and Samson......giving him a bath...just 3 mo. old here!

With tear stained face I write this article.....

Samson (Sammy) ~ March 25, 1997 - May 25, 2009 ~ 12 Years and 2 months old.

Our beloved Samson (see pictures on April 13 post ) began to loose his hips and back this weekend. David stayed home because of his HS sports events here in town and because of the 3 dogs who are hard to leave alone for 4 days.

Samson's hips and probably back went out Sunday and David had to help him out of the crate. Once out of the crate ~ he couldn't walk very far before he was down.

St. Bernard's have a life span of 11 - 12 years and hips going out is the main reason they don't live any longer.

When we got home Monday morning, David told me about Sammy and we knew it was "time". Of course, it being a Holiday Weekend our vet was closed so we called the emergency number and there's a 24 hours Emergency Vet in Houston. We were able to contact them in order to have Samson Euthanized. Of course, they don't come for house visits and we don't have a truck.

When Lexis and Landon woke up, we all rallied around to make a plan to get Samson to the Clinic. Landon found a piece of plywood (Samson weigh over 100 pds.) and Lexis tracked down a pick up truck for the trip to the Clinic.

Around 1:30 pm the 4 of us put Samson on a beach towel on the plywood and carried him to the truck together. We all 4 were dripping tears as we carried him and we couldn't say a word .... it was one of the hardest days of our family lives.

Lexis sweetly wrapped Samson in another towel and Landon brought the outdoor cushion that we had put under his head in the yard and put his head on the cushion in the truck as well. It was sweet to watch the kids comfort their buddy from their childhood to their young adulthood.

The drive was a LONG one for us to the Clinic I guess because we dreaded it so badly....we got to the Vet and Sammy was quietly barking and wanting to get up. His mind was working, but his body wasn't working any longer and there's nothing else you can do for them. We drove him to the back door and they brought a cart out with a blanket on it and we all helped put Samson on the cart. Then we told him goodbye at the back door....we just couldn't take any more so we opted to not to watch him pass away. I left a "peace rose" with him....it was the only bloom on the bush and was beautiful.

His body will be cremated as he's too big for us to bury in our back yard.

I have pictures, but, will not post them on the blog as Samson wouldn't want anyone to see him in his last moments. He was really a beautiful dog and loved us to the end.

Samson we love you and you will be greatly missed.