I’ve cried a thousand tears and there’s a million more to come.
Almost a fortnight ago, Dozer was hospitalised at SASH with a double lung infection (pneumonia). If he was a spritely young chap, it probably wouldn’t be a big deal. But he’s 13.9 years old, with other medical conditions, and with that comes the reality that is the circle of life.
The initial prognosis was dire, and he went downhill worryingly fast. But my boy is a fighter. Against all odds, he improved, his lungs showed some healing and his vitals were strong. He worked hard on physical rehab and was even discharged on the weekend ………
…….only to be back in ICU a mere 2 hours later with complications. Discharged again….then back in ICU again 10 hours later.
We’re in the final chapter of Life of Dozer and we all know how the story will end. But before we get to the final page, it is my greatest hope that Dozer can come home in good enough condition to have some time to do the things he loves the most – spending time with his favourite people, scavenging around the table, playing with friends at the beach.
And being by my side, 24/7. All the neck rubs in the world. All the hugs, all the kisses, all the pats.
So for the next little while, I will be taking time away from work. JB and my brother Goh are taking charge of both RTE and RTM (our food bank). JB is going to start sharing new recipes and bring some much needed cheer to this website. Hopefully one a week, if he can manage it with the extra business operations responsibilities he’s taken on. He’s been dropping off recipe samples to me at ICU, which I appreciate greatly, even if eating French delicacies next to beeping machines feels slightly surreal.
I can’t promise to share Dozer updates on all his recipes – to be frank, it depends how Dozer is going – but you’ll see some interesting insights into how JB and I work together on recipes remotely. 🙂
Thank you for all the years of love you’ve shown Dozer, for sharing your own fur baby stories, and for making him feel so deeply adored far beyond our little world. I hope to be able to share some more light hearted Life of Dozer tales for the next little while.
Love – Nagi x
Update: I am brokenhearted to share that he didn’t make it. See the Dozer Tribute post here.
Life of Dozer
In honour of the joy Dozer has brought to this website over the years, I can’t finish this post without bringing some cheer to the Life of Dozer section. 🙂 Here he is eating an ice pop – literally just plain ice. It’s his absolute favourite treat these days! Funny how much the bar drops when you’re in hospital, gourmet expectations reduced to frozen tap water and he’s living his best life. ❤️
I wish you peace as you navigate the new you without your loving, Dozer.
I grieve with you at the loss of your fur-baby.
Hugs from Los Angeles
I am so very sorry to hear of Dozer’s passing. I too cried when I read the news.
I am so very sorry to hear of Dozer’s passing. My heart goes out to you. I know all too well the feeling of a best friend’s loss.
From Sedona Arizona I send love and understanding. To lose a best fur friend breaks our heart in two and only time can bring the two pieces together again. Never forget how much Dozer loved you!
So sad 😭
Im sorry for your loss, Nagi.
Dozer was such a special dog.🐶
Heartbroken to hear about Dozer…..he was bigger than life and the happiest pup in the world…….much love to you…..he will never be forgotten, and will live on in all our hearts….what a great boy he was❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
So very sad about Dozer. I lost/miss my (rescue) dog Daisy. I have an inkling of your pain and you sound so loving, so lost. I hope it gets a little better.
Nagi, Dozer is in the distance of heaven, where all the animals are. My dogs are there, and so are my hamsters and other pets. I am sorry for your loss. Dozer was loved in a one in a million way, too. I am sorry for your loss. I wish you could have had one more year with him.
So sad, all my Love to You and Dozer, RIP good boy.
May God bless your heart and heal you as you adjust to this new normal of missing Dozer. He knew you loved him and he loved you back, that’s why he fought hard to stay by your side.
He’s no longer struggling now, he can run free again while he waits to see you again on the other side of that rainbow bridge.
Stay strong, Nagi, hang in there, take things one day at a time for now.
I am 82 yo and have lost several dogs. The sadness clings and returns when you least expect . A place a situation and so it goes. I am so sad for you.
Just know he was a good dog
Cry when you want to and smile when you remember his silly and loving things and cry again.
There are many of us around you who grieve and understand.
Understand and send support
this is a hard time. dozer was such an important part of your life: i am so so sorry. sending you hugs and strength. ❌❌❌🅾️🅾️🅾️
I cry with you. I send lots of love to you xx
My deepest condolences. Dozer was loved and he lived a great life. I am very sad so I can’t imagine how Nagi feels, but I hope she finds some solace in the fact that together they brought joy to and helped so many people.
I always dreaded this day….this post. I am crying while typing this message. I know all too well the heartbreak of losing a beloved dog, a child, you heart. My heart was shredded the day I had to put my dear boy down. It is still shredded today, but I do have a day or two here and there where I don’t shed a tear. The level of grief and the pain of loss is reflective of the love shared. No words can ease your pain. I truly am sorry, but I loved how present Dozer was in all your posts, and often went to his section first. Run Dozer, swim Dozer, free from pain and illness. May he send you whiskers or some other sign he is watching you. My dog truly sends me whiskers….I find them when I truly need them.
I too dreaded this day. I had to whiz past the Dozer section 18 months ago after losing my golden boy. I sometimes see flashes of white out of the corner of my eye and my littles start barking. I’m sitting here crying for Nagi and all of us who know that kind of love. And you’re right, no words can ease the pain.
So sorry to hear that Dozer is not with us anymore. Will miss reading about his antics 😢 God bless Ngai
My heart sank when I read your beautiful tribute to Dozer, who I came to love from the first time I joined your site. My eyes filled with tears reading how you stayed with him until the end .Your story reminded me of one (of many) kitties I had who had a rough few years before her end. The emergency hospital’s veterinarians and staff let me stay with my beloved kitty as long as I wanted because they saw how devoted I was to her. Kitty and I were in and out of this facility like a revolving door where she was treated with every conceivable treatment to save her life. Even though she was ” just a cat” she was my special partner, the sweetest, most lovable animal I’d ever had. When it was time to say goodbye, I held her in my arms for 3 hours before she received the injections that ended her suffering. A young vet sat with us the whole time letting me decide when it was time. My grief, like yours, was overwhelming. A month later, I received the most beautiful bouquet of white flowers from my vet, and a lovely card signed by all the staff from the hospital. They, too, felt the pain of my loss. Now, I have 2 kitties, one of which is a beautiful male Maine Coon tabby that I rescued from under a large cedar tree a little over 13 years ago. Puffin was 2 1/2 months when I brought him home. I know my time with him will be coming to an end in a few years so I take each day as it could be his last. I try not to dwell on the inevitable. Because Puffin is so very special, I know I won’t handle his passing well at all. This is part of owning an animal which never
gets any easier. My heart goes out to you, Nagi, and I wish you peace in the coming days.
So sad – have lost puppies over many years and my current dog go is 12 this year so time is running down. Be proud that you gave Dozer such a wonderful life – he will never be replaced but I hope you know that there is another puppa in the future just waiting for you to share your love.
I’m sad Dozer has gone..I’m crying for him..Dogs are our everything,true deep love..rest well Dozer..you were loved..
Oh Nagi, I am so so sorry on the loss of Dozer. I cried my eyes out watching your reel & I know what you’re going through. They really are our family. I loved reading about his stories & antics. Thank you so much for sharing him with us. It’s true, they really do take a piece of us when they cross over that Rainbow Bridge. We are all with you Nagi, please take good care of yourself.
So sorry. Glad you could be with him all the time x