We sadly said our goodbyes to our beautiful Macey Moo last night as she crossed the rainbow bridge to special animal heaven. Following her 13th birthday last Monday, Macey unexpectedly spent the week in hospital to have a 2.5kg tumor and her spleen removed. It was a difficult surgery with a blood transfusion and her heart was at risk as the rhythm was very irregular. This is common for dogs following a big mass/organ removal but often the heart will settle over time.
She came home on Saturday exhausted, and we’d never seen her like this. But within a few hours she gained her strength to eat and drink and over the past few days she was mostly back to her normal self. ECG tests on Monday showed some improvement to her heart rhythm but the risk still remained.
Last night she unexpectedly collapsed and we rushed her to the vet. It was a shock to see her this way and the vet said her heart was failing – she was critical. They made her comfortable but there was nothing more they could do for her. We said our tearful goodbyes and watched her run over the rainbow bridge to a big endless bowl of food and treats. We know there is a big lake nearby where she can swim all day and then get pats from all the passers by.
Macey was our life, the matriarch of our family and has been through so much with us. There were so many funny times like when we thought she ate a marble as a young pup and we had to check her poo for a week. We found that marble 6 years later hidden under the lounge during our removal to the US. And of course she and Cricket did the big trip to Washington DC with us. Macey had three years of incredible fun and adventure in the forests chasing squirrels and chipmunks, playing in the snow and daily swims in the local river during summer. She loved her food and hogging the ball from Cricket, and recently playing bitey face with young puppy Derby. She was my constant supervisor in the kitchen and her favourite place to be was always, where we were, beside us.
Macey was a Goldmatt Golden Retriever puppy from Sydney. Her breeder name was Ice Dancer and she was our ‘yellow tail’ in the litter. Her brother Benson sent her birthday wishes last week.
Macey used to love us telling her the story of bringing her home from Sydney in a washing basket in the back of the car. We stopped at Hungry Jacks so she could have a little wee wee and everyone in the drive thru adored her.
We especially want to warmly thank all of the Gungahlin Vet Hospital team who have been incredibly responsive, compassionate and thoroughly professional in the care for Macey over the past week and also her whole life. She did puppy school at the vet and for her, going to vet was like going to the pub. It was a social event; she would woo woo woo loudly at everyone and be so happy to see them. With them, she was in the best hands possible.
Her loss is felt by so many. She was part of many of your lives too; family, neighbours, friends, dog park walkers. She was a strong, beautiful girl and we appreciate everyone reaching out to us right now with all your kind words and thoughts. We are both heartbroken to say the least and are so blessed she shared her life with us to the ripe old age of 13 in good health. We will miss her so much – especially her kind, gentle and loving nature, and her beautiful brown eyes. She was so very special and we miss her more than words can say. We love you Macey Moo.
