A Good Day to Die - Uma

Yesterday, Friday, July 30, 2026, my neighbor, John came to walk my big dog Uma. She is a blonde Labrador retriever, about 80 pounds. Fortunaely my kind neighbor walks her every day because I can't walk very far anymore due to my bad back and knee and it is hard to catch my breath due to heart disease.

Uma came home and had a nice breakfast and then we drove to Clarksboro to pick up my sister to take her to the bus to go to work. She lives on Platt's farm and it is a good ways from the farm to the main street where the buses are, so we often pick her up and take her to Gloucester City for the bus. Uma loves this ride - windows down, taking in all the smells and sights and the fast moving air!

We came home for lunch, I did some chores, then later, we picked Sue up at the bus stop and drove her to the farm, another ride for Uma. Back home, dinner! She had her special food since she was diagnosed with pancreatitis last summer: Science Diet prescription canned food mixed with white rice and mixed vegetables with a sprinkle of dry prescription diet dog food on top.

My sister had said she thought Uma was breathing heavy, and I had thought for a week or so she was panting more than usual, but I thought it might be the heat. But in the evening, she threw up a couple of times, then she wandered from place to place - the sofa, then under the piano, then into the corners, lying down and then getting up and wandering with her head low and her tail down. She seemed lost and confused. Finally she went to her bed in the bedroom.

Every night I put her out around 9:30 to go to the bathrooom before we go to sleep and the cats all get a night time treat in their little dishes in the back room. It is a ritual. But last night, she didn't want to get up from her bed, so I left her. I thought if she has an accident in the night, I will jsut clean it up.

In the morning around 7:00, I went to check on her and I thought she was dead. I called my sister, my nephew, my neighbor, John, and my neighbor, Mark. Mark was the only one who answered. He came right over and he said she was definitely dead. I drove to the farm and woke my sister and she came back with me and said that rigor ortis had set in and Uma was cold and hard. She had died in the night

Mark and Sue dug a big grave for her in the backyard, then Sue wrapped her in a piece of cloth and John came over and they buried her. John brought a piece of flagstone that he had to put on her grave and tomorrow, at the farm, I will buy a dog statue to mark her grave.

I have closed off my mind from thinking of anything, put up a protective blank because it is too painful and I can't face it yet. I still have to go and get my sister and give her a ride to work. I took her home after the grave digging so she could get cleaned up and dressed for work today.

First Booty dead, and now Uma. It is all just too painful. I have to protect myself until some time goes by and I can process it. I am afraid I will have a heart attack from the pain and stress of the emotion.

My comfort is that she had a good day - walk, rides, food, and she died in her own bed, loved and sheltered and put to rest by people who loved her. I will have to find a way to cope. I just feel too crushed right now.

On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine......

wrightj45@yahoo.com