Maggie on watch
Le Petit Hotel’s well known & truly loved Scottish Terrier finally succumbed to liver cancer in the early hours of Monday 28th September 2009.
Although we had been expecting it, when the final hours came, it was truly heart wrenching stuff. As the old saying goes, she died with her boots on. I let her outside at about 2am for a little slow walk. She came back into the hotel, sat down by her water bowl for about an hour, with me beside her. About 4am I picked her up gently and made her comfortable on a rug on the floor, alerted Martine that the end was very near..and with us both beside her, after a few gasps, she gave up the fight……[ Insert: volumes of huge tears]….in her own way, her final parting gift to us…was for us not to have to call the vet.
Maggie was “huge” in spirit, determination, & courage; sensitive to all those who had the privilege of meeting her, and above all an unlimited giver to those humans she had bonded so well with. Maggie was a dignified, exceptional character, no bite dog, who took time out to smell the flowers, taste the grass, look at birds with interest, and who could always see a cat at 1000 paces. Her joy at going for walks knew no bounds until age limited her outings.
Maggie’s departure from this world has left a huge gap at Le Petit Hotel, Sumner, and irreplaceable memories with Bruce, Martine, Scott, & John. Bless her soul, Maggie was a dog apart, she lived happily with us, fought a good fight, and is at peace now.
Maggie Whitfield; a Scottish Terrier, Born 13 December 1995, Died 28 September 2009 at Le Petit Hotel, Sumner, NZ. Pedigree of Greenock Mallaig, Sire: MacPrain Mintmaster & Dam: Shortbread Briar Rose. Black with some Brindle, her breeder was Adele Willis, 97 Soleares Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand. She will be remembered.
Hi Matine,Bruce and family,
It is sad to hear the news of the passing of “Maggie”
Animals do have a way of expressing their affection and love. They leave behind many memories that will always stay with you.They sense the end the same way as we do, there is a time to let go.
May all your thoughts and memories be good ones.
She has found her “peace”
many thoughts
Isabel & Graeme
Hi Matine, Bruce and family,
sorry to hear about your lose.
It is always so difficult to let them go but Maggie had 15 good years and memories. Scotties are such amazing characters. Big dogs in a small body.
Take care.
So sorry to hear of your Scotties passing. I lost the most incredible, unique Scotty at only age 7. She died on the operating table when they went in to find out what the dark mass was in her stomach. They found tumors on three of her organs, and it would have been impossible to do anything for her. We were so unprepared for her early death…it still hurts and it’s been over three years now. Mary will live on in our hearts forever. If there is truly a heaven, she’ll be there waiting for us.
Peace,
John
Hello Bruce Martine and family,
I have only to got to know of Maggie in her latter times. It is great to hear of a scottie living her life to the full to the very end in a dignified way. I am sure Maggie took great comfort from you being with her in her final moments no matter how painful for you all.
Treasure the memories, all the good times. They are special little dogs.
Judy
Dear Bruce, Martine, Scott and John
It is with great sadness that I read about Maggie’s death. Just yesterday I watched another Scotty frolicking in a local park and thought of her. Your eulogy was beautiful, very fitting, I also viewed her as a “grand lady”, your words bought tears to my eyes. I can understand the great loss you must feel. Our thoughts are with you, Nina and Dougal. R.I.P Maggie xox
Hello Nina, How nice to have your comments about dear old Maggie. I think of Dougal and Maggie together looking through the bars into #14.
)…take care…bruce. ps I couldn’t get yr email address to work for me?
I learnt a lot from Maggie in the last few months before she died, we both were very patient with her dementia and she still enjoyed life right up almost to the last few hours. Maggie I sure would want me to enjoy another of her kind…I’ll wait a bit…but one thing is certain ..I will be providing a large proportion of her diet with home cooked food. I’m having a large print of her framed for the hotel lounge so her spirit will live on.
Thank you for a lovely tribute to your precious Maggie. I’ve lost all of my Scotts to some sort of cancer and am convinced that even the high quality commercial food is harmful.
Maggie reminds me of Mink, who made 13 years of my life an adventure. I enjoyed every day that I had with him, from the playful puppy days to the distinguished senior years toward the end. He had huge ears, I left the hair long, just as you did with Maggie. We give them the best that we can, the enrichment goes both ways, does it not?
Hi Cathie, We had a “Hamish” before Maggie and because his life was cut short with a sad accident, I made every effort to support Maggie in her dilemma, I felt I needed to and I’m glad I did. I certainly learnt what a huge effect diet plays in helping a dog with cancer and we will definitely use our knowledge with the next Scottie. I’m just hoping that in my remaining life, that some progress will be made in helping the breed with its genetic cancer weakness.
I deliberately let her hair “go” in the latter stages so that she didn’t have to suffer any needless grooming stress…we just had it tidied up a couple of times. She was a happy dog who continued to learn new things right to the very last. One amazing Scottie..but I’m biased. She gave me so much.
Hi Martine and Bruce,
Im so sorry and saddened to hear of Maggie’s passing. Im sure she will have moved onto a doggy equivalent of heaven but I will certainly miss her sitting patiently under my brakfast table waiting to pounce on the smallest croissant crumb. I will also miss teasing her with a quietly whispered “cat” and watching her scurry around madly to every window frantically searching for the non existant feline intruder.
Im not actually really a dog person but now and then a dog comes along that is special and Maggie was certainly a special dog.
Kindest regards Martin
Hi Bruce
We are all so sorry to hear of the passing of your beloved Maggie. We were all talking of our favourite memories of her, which produced many laughs amongst the staff, even those who did not have the pleasure of meeting her. She was such a beautiful lass, and our hearts extend to you at your loss. Thank you very much for letting us know.
From all of the team at Marshall and Pringle x x
just read about Maggie and feel very upset for you both. It has been 18months since Ruby my boxer died and it is a BIG HOLE in the family. Who have you got to go under the table now to wait for the crumbs!!!!!!!!
IF IT SHOULD BE
If it should be that I grow old and weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep.Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle cant be won.
You will be sad I understand, dont let your grief then stay your hand, for this day more than all the rest,Your love for me must stand the test.
Weve had so many happy years,What is to come can hold no fears,You”d not want me to suffer so,The time has come please let me go.
Take me where my needs they”ll tend,And please stay with me to the end,Hold me tight and speak with me, Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will see, the kindness that you did for me,Although my tail its last has waved,from pain and suffering Ive been saved.
Please do not grieve it must be you, who has this painful thing to do.Weve been so close we three these years, Dont let your heart hold back the tears
Cheers Russell & Trina…We miss her hugely the dear girl that she certainly was. They become one with you in the final analysis.
Lots of tears were certainly shed….
bruce & martine