sad news for me

[back alley]

on a truly sad note, one of my oldest friends had to put his 12 year old yellow lab down tonight.
i am in mourning, she was a great dog and a true friend to my buddy and his family.
i took that pup through puppy classes (long story) and at times did some dog sitting.

she will be missed.

joe

 

[dexdog]

joe, as one dog lover to another, my sympathies. I once had to put down a cocker spaniel I had for 13 years, a sad event, she was a great dog. I got her at a dog pound, took her home on Christmas Eve. Called her Nikki, although her real name was St. Nicholas Christmas Dog.

 

[back alley]

i dread that day.

my pup, sugar, will turn 9 this january.

joe

 

[dcsang]

This is a tough thing to have to do.. and live with doing... everyone deals with such things in a different manner.

I personally don't know how it will be when my two boys (cats) pass on but they've offered me a lot of laughs and good times (yes.. they're only cats) so far.

All of us are on a meter.. same goes for the pets... sad, but also a reality that we all have to deal with in one way or another.

My condolences to you and your friend Joe..
Dave

 

[ch1]

It was after "losing" a few fine furred friends that I swore off pets. Too hard...too damned hard!

 

[dexdog]

I agree that it is a hard thing to bear, but I enjoy animals, and only take in dogs from the dog pound that would otherwise be killed. All in all, well worth the occasional pain incurred, IMHO.

dexdog

 

[hjfischer]

My heartfelt sympathy. I have had this experience too many times, but can't imagine life without our best friends.

 

[Frank Granovski]

Sorry to hear that. This is always difficult. The lab is a Canadian dog, by the way.

 

[Erl]

My best mate turned 9 last week. He is a German Shepherd. Three years ago he saved my life according to the paramedics that attendedme for a heart attack.

I was asleep having the attack. Oscar, my dog, woke me by crying and licking me on the carotted artery. I'm told told that stimulates circulation. Anyway, once woken, I was able to just phone for an amulance.

Oscar has just been diagnosed with degenerative myalopathy, which is terminal. He only has months to live according to the vet. It is killing me to watch his decline. At presernt he is totally happy and alert, but has trouble controlling his back legs.

The vet insisted I immediately get a puppy for him to pass on his 'nature' because he is so special, in many ways. The puppy is 5 weeks old. I will probaly collect him in 2 or 3 weeks when he is old enough to leave his mother. He will called Merlin, because to be even half as good as Oscar, he will have to be magic. Sorry, I can't write any more right now.

 

[sf]

that is sad

that is sad

Dogs are here for so many reasons, one of them is remind us of the best aspects of life and of what we are here for. Sounds like your friend certainly does that. I've lost a pet to degenerative disease before, and it is so hard to watch something so benevolent suffer something so heartless.

 

[wierdcollector]

Having lost several dogs to old age and disease before I know exactly how both yourself and your friend feel. My last dog, a 14 year old Husky had degenerative myalopathy also. It was hard the day I took him outside and he couldn't stand up again after lying down. Put him to sleep then 3 days later I had to put down my mom's dog, a 13 year old Boston Terrier that had a heart attack. Not easy or pretty, but a kindness after all. Takes a while to get another, but the house is too quiet without kids or pets. Our current guy is 7 this year and we'd be lost without him.

 

[FrankS]

I know how you feel. I've lost some best dog friends as well. Hurts so much, I can't tell you about it.

 

[lido]

It is a terrible thing to have to go through. My doberman developed cancer at the age of 12, doctors assured me she would be okay after the surgery, but had to put her down a month later. And she knew it too. Broke my heart, and I swore I would never have another dog.

A year later my new friend entered my life, rough collie by the name of Chyna. She is helping deal with the loss.

 

[andrewch]

Sorry to hear about it. Sometimes as I take my dog toffee out for a pleasant evening stroll- the weather was perfect and both of use were having the best time in our life, when a morbid thought struck me: how am I going to cope when he leaves this planet one day?

 

[Kat]

I'm very sorry to hear that, Joe.

I once fostered a girl I couldn't keep, and it broke my heart to have to give her back. But I never regretted taking her in though we had only a few months together, it's more than worth it. I dread the day I lose my dogs and cat, esp the latter who's already 12 years old.

 

[KoNickon]

The worst day of my life was when I had to put down my dog -- got him when I was 11 and he made it to past my 26th birthday. Still chokes me up 20+ years later. A major reason I've not gotten another is dreading another day like that.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Joe,
You have my sympathies. I remember very clearly the day our beloved Dalmation died at the age of 16 and know how you sell.

Regards
Kim

 

[Peter Klein]

Joe: Let me add my sympathy. I've been there, too. Perhaps the only thing we truly leave behind is the love we give. Dogs know that better than some people.
--Peter

 

[JoeFriday]

I've been lucky to have had few deaths in my family.. I've only been to four funerals in my life, including one for a high school friend's dad, and a coworker recently.. the other two were my grandfather and greatgrandfather

however, the only deaths that have caused me to cry were of dogs.. one was a neighbor's german shepherd that I grew up with (it was more my dog than the neighbor's in many ways).. and the other.. well, that's an odd story...

about 15 years back I got a dalmatian puppy.. Domino.. he and I were inseparable for 7 years.. for various reasons I had to give him away about 8 years ago.. I found a very good home for him and knew he would be loved and cared for.. I often missed him, but I felt ok about it because he would be better off with a whole family than with just me

to cut to the chase, a few years back I had a dream one night that he came to visit me and we just hung out for a while.. he wasn't the reasonably young dog that I knew.. he was a bit older and had a hard time getting around.. no matter, we just hung out and enjoyed some time together.. then he 'had to leave'.. I woke up crying because I somehow knew he had just died

whether I was right or not doesn't really matter.. I'm practically crying again just typing this out.. so I know where you're at Joe.. just remember the good times.. and enjoy the time you still have with Sugar

 

[vrgard]

You have my sympathies

You have my sympathies

Just wanted pass along my sincerest, deepest sympathies. My wife and I had to put down our black lab earlier this year. We're still grieving...