Max and his Death Transfer

Max-Born in early 2001(birthday unknown) Died June 1, 2010

When I pulled the 3 x 5 card down off of the cork board at Poplar almost eight years ago, I did not know much about the Great Dane but I knew we had enough space to help. The pen scratched note made it clear, Need Help Finding Home for year and a half old Great Dane. And so goes the story of finding Max who came here to Dooley out of the back of an S-10 pick up truck at a very emaciated 113lbs. His healing began immediately when the existing pack of Mary and Danger let him in the circle of truth without aggression. I learned that the Greater Dane is a German breed from as early as the late 14th century that was bred to hunt. Their tall muscular bodies give them great speed and agility allowing for a swift attack. Within a year of Max getting here he had gained a very healthy thirty pounds that he had been missing which brought him up to around about 140lbs. Max's eyes were bright and he always seemed alert and ready to go for a walk or a car ride. Wow, he was a big dog. We taught him the basics and he even learned how to shake as an older dog can easily learn new tricks contrary to the popular metaphor. Two other dogs entered the pack permanently over the last few years and Max let them in immediately. There have also been dozens of foster animals that have come and gone over the years and once again Max always let them in graciously.

It could not wait until last night. We took him to our vet very early yesterday morning in the rain. The clerk signed us in and then took us to an examining room where a nurse showed up to explain what was about to happen. She had us lay him on a soft white blanket on his side so that she could insert an IV Catheter into a vein in his back right ankle. When the nice Doctor came in he began talking about the process again, it all made sense verbally even though I could not hear what he was saying because I could only feel Max's heartbeat through his shoulders. Max's heart in my finger tips was louder than the voice of the Doctor right in front of me. The Doc's words drifted inaudibly up into the bright fluorescent lighting. My chest cavity started to feel as if it were filling from the bottom to the top with cement. There were two syringes. One small with a mild sedative and a larger one with the clear pink anesthetic that would become the over dose. The Doctor then did what we had asked him to do. Max went into a quiet sleep first with his eyes still open. Then came the second injection and within what seemed like no time his heart peacefully stopped beating. I felt his pulse end for ever and I petted his large face for the last time. He looked quiet, almost like he had morphed to a human form deep in thought and very much at peace with his internal death transfer.

Max was a big hearted dog that did not realize his true physical size. He was indeed a gentle Giant with an extraordinary bright light. He will be missed and remembered for ever.

Besides us, Max is survived by:

Mary-The Mother
Danger aka Seal Blubber
Rocky-Bluder of the Year
Zoo-The Tongue Rolling Dog
Yancey(named after the Ridge I was on when they brought her home one Sunday)
Santara-Yes Ms. Arcen, the Bird is posted today!
Plus two fish that were born here and a rescued rabbit named Scarlet that has not yet been seen in photos.