Henry passed away permanently at around 10:30 am on February 15, 2020. He was euthanized at the veterinary hospital and passed away peacefully.We first met in Beijing on April 1, 2006, Henry became a very important member of the family. Although there have been many farewells since then, this time is the last one.
Henry is from Shanghai. He was a stray dog, but was rescued and taken in by a kind friend. Through a friend’s help, he flew to Beijing and settled there. He is the first in his family.Members who have obtained Beijing statusThe story of his first days in Beijing is recorded in thisHenry’s DiaryIt’s speculated that he hadn’t been homeless for long. When he was found and rescued by kindhearted individuals, he was shivering behind the wheel of a bicycle shed, clearly quite timid. His age and breed are unknown, but his birth date is roughly between March and July 2005. In other words, he died at the age of 14 and a half to 15, a fairly long life for a medium-sized mixed breed.
Henry was generally very healthy, having undergone only one minor surgery, suffered from occasional irritation due to his long fur, and had only a handful of minor injuries (one from a careless race). He was generally healthy. His entire family loved him, and he loved them all, especially his little master. Even when his little master wasn’t home for a long time, he would spend the night lying by his little master’s bedroom door. Henry loved food and was addicted to rummaging through the garbage; it was his nature. His urge to eat (even after a full meal) was a sign of his vitality. Furthermore, he never admitted to rummaging through the garbage, and whenever he was accused, he became extremely upset, apparently having long forgotten. Apart from this, he had few other flaws. His other strengths were particularly evident: a certain naiveté, a lack of malice towards both humans and canine companions, and a remarkable generosity towards his canine companions, always forgetting the slights they had received.
Therefore, Henry’s collapse this time was quite unexpected. On February 11th, when he went downstairs for a stroll, he was able to wander freely around the neighborhood, clearly greeting or avoiding his companions, and then walking home with a clear mind. On the morning of February 12th, he suddenly collapsed to the ground without any warning, his limbs twitching, foaming at the mouth, and his legs seemed to be swimming in the air… After another seizure at noon, he was taken to the veterinary hospital and diagnosed with epilepsy, probably related to aging and a degenerative condition. Medication was the only way to try to maintain his condition. That day, he had several more seizures on the way home and after returning home, until medication gradually subsided.
On February 13, there was no major attack, but Henry was becoming less and less interested in eating. He often wandered around the house, bumping into things everywhere, until he fell down from exhaustion, howling from time to time.
On the morning of February 14th, after seemingly overexcited trotting in circles around the house, he collapsed to the ground and convulsed partially, never to stand up again. His condition worsened in the afternoon, as he kept trying to push himself up, and when he couldn’t, he cried out in a heartbreaking way. After petting and soothing him, he calmed down somewhat. He lost interest in anything he put into his mouth, no longer willing to swallow, and couldn’t drink water on his own initiative. He had to use a straw to scoop up water and put it back into his mouth to barely get enough water.
The entire night of February 14th was a tenacious struggle. He had completely given up eating and drinking. As long as he had a breath, he would prop himself up on his front legs and try to stand. Unable to do so, he kept whimpering and even howling loudly. It seemed that he had completely lost his sight and hearing, and his consciousness was not clear… After he was laid flat, he could breathe a little more easily. He was breathing heavily and seemed to be about to fall asleep. Sometimes he didn’t even have time to retract his tongue. If you didn’t hear him breathing, you might mistake him for death… But as soon as you had a little strength, he would roll over and prop himself up on his front legs, trying hopelessly to stand, whimpering and wailing…
In the early morning of February 15, he may have almost used up all his strength. After being laid flat once, he could no longer turn over, but he was still breathing tenaciously, and occasionally making low moans.
In order to alleviate his pain, we chose to send him to the pet hospital for euthanasia. He calmly accepted our last wipe and comb.Lying in the shipping box when I flew to Beijing in 2006The car was covered with a sweater underneath and the little master’s old coat. On this morning after the snow, the weather was particularly crisp, but the wind was strong and the temperature felt very low. Henry lay very calmly in the back seat, without any movement on the road. If you didn’t get very close, you couldn’t hear his breathing.
At the hospital, he accepted every procedure with complete calmness. When I carried him to the operating table, he lay limp in my arms, not struggling at all. Later, the doctor administering the injection said he’d only struggled slightly with his front paws during the initial injection of the anesthetic…
Have a safe journey, Henry, our good friend. That’s all I’ll write in your diary. Thank you for everything you’ve brought us!
Henry passed away peacefully
Henry before being sent to the hospital
Henry struggling hard the day before his death
Henry, forever frozen in memory (listening to “Henry Built a Little House”)
Written in Beijing on February 15, 2020
The night after the snow is cold and clear
