11.08.2026. RIP My Darling Gunnarr

 It happened all too fast and I am heartbroken. A longer tribute will be posted as soon as I can stop crying. I am already missing that Gunnarr is not sitting under my chair as I type.

Gunnarr turned 13 on 11.04.2026. He was in excellent health, always running, jumping , playing, smiling, and had a great appetite. He was so much fun and I loved the way he would tilt his head to listen to any story I might have, how we would dance to Bruce, and how he would wag his tail as if he would take off like a helicopter.

On Sunday, 11.01.2026 he received his quarterly dose of Bravecto. On Monday he appeared to be a little lame in his right front leg, but I thought he might have slept on it funny under my chair. He still ate and played, so I did not make anything of it. The next morning it looked like both front legs were a bit still but he still was walking  and I did make a point of carrying him down the steps. Since it was his birthday, there were lots of treats which he are with an excellent appetite. Wednesday he looked bad and has a hard time walking and sitting. So he was carried as much as possible, but he still ate and wagged his tail as per usual. Thursday it appeared he was back to his normal self but a bit gimpy. He barked at the workmen, ran up the stairs with me to see what they were doing, had a fine breakfast and napped under my chair. He looked like he would make a full recovery. But then he would not dinner and it was all I could do to get him to eat some peanut butter.

At midnight, as per usual, he wanted to go outside. He jumped off the bed and I followed. He drank the entire bowl of water. We stayed outside for almost 2 hours, walking around the driveway and gardens. He sniffed everything like he usually does. Then we sat on the porch for a while as it was really warm.

He wasn’t back to bed for more than an hour when he developed labored breathing. He crawled next to me and put his head on me, my pillow and side as he  moved around a bit. But he stayed close and I had sad and tearful memories of Fionnegan’s end – it was just like this. Gunnarr licked the tears from my eyes and I cleaned his “yuckies” from his eyes. But he was getting worse so I took him in the early morning hours to the Vet ER. By  the time I got there he was almost nonresponsive and had developed agonal breathing. They wanted to put him down, I wanted to take him home to be with Shorty and me. So we went home, he laid on my lap as I drove. We had some time together as I held him close until he breathed his last breath. And of course, there were kisses on the nose and I love you whispered in his ears.

Gunnarr was a gem. He was my darling. He had such a sweet disposition. Fionnegan and Gunnarr complemented each other well. And now that they both are gone, I am truly lost without them. They were my world. I don’t know what Shorty will make of Gunnarr being gone, but right now he is sleeping next to Gunnarr’s bed in my study.

I have many pictures of Gunnarr himself and with Fionnegan and Gunnarr. I will write his story soon. I am just having a hard time believing he too is gone.

This is his puppy picture. I selected him sight unseen. He was an excellent choice. 

 I have always loved this picture of him. 

Until next time……………………..