114 replies to this topic

[mikewof]

I put my dog down saturday. breaks my heart. cancer was eating his bones. I knew it a while back, didnt want to admit it. but he stopped using one of his legs thursday. I held him as he died. always stay with them, they look for you.
goodbye seamus.

I look at a dog like yours and it seems a goal, to someday be as pure and tough and loving and honest as a dog like that or like mine or other dogs I meet. I'm new to having a dog in the family, it's hard for me to think clearly about them.

I like this description of how dogs came into our lives, a Native American tale ...

Legend says, the Great Spirit of the Native Americans opened a chasm in the earth, and the Great Spirit wanted to make the separation between humans and animals permanent. The chasm continued to widen; dog looked to human as the chasm widened; then looked at the other animals…then at the last possible moment; dog made a powerful leap across the chasm; making a conscious decision to join humans forever.

http://thewayofanimals.com/salvation-walking-on-four-legs-and-wagging-its-tail/

[President Eisenhowler]

Great bumper sticker: "Dear God, please help me to become the person my dog thinks I am."

[Tom Ray]

On making the decision and putting them down: I have had to do it and it hurts. I was dreading it most for my most favorite dog ever, Tango. I always said I would put her down the day she quit enjoying her evening walk. Toward the end, we went about half a mile per hour, but she still enjoyed it. Then one day I spotted her body floating in the pond. She still seemed happy as ever an hour before. I guess that's as happy an ending as we get.

[Shibby]

Good Book!

[Grrl Runnin the Pointy End]

I think that "The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel" , narrated by Enzo, a dog ought be required reading for everybody who has loved and been loved by a dog.

Moose, one of my Goldens was wasting away at age fourteen when I read it, bawling my way through the book. I was profoundly taken by the philosophy of the Mongols that dogs are pre-humans and that at sometime after their deaths will reappear as human beings when their time is right. After taking that last car ride to the vet, it brought me great comfort thinking that I will prolly see him again. And Buzzy and Rowdy and Jibby and Shoony......... and Rocky who is now 12 and on borrowed time......

[scottmax]

Brane that sux for you but but was best for your your friend I am sorry to hear of you loss I still miss Baz but am happy he no longer is in pain. I have a photo taken just 1 hour before I took him to the vet and it kills me every time I look at it because he looks just so normal and happy but he only looked like this for 10 or so minutes in the last couple of days. It must have been when the pain killers where working best. I am trying to get the photo to here but no promises.
I get easier every day but even a week out I can still tear up thinking about him, I am sitting on my balcony now having a beer and miss him sitting with me.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

They give us a lifetime of love and devotion.

In return, we do the right things, the hard things.

I've had to put down three of my best friends. It never gets easier - it never goes away. It does get more bearable over time. Especially, if there's another fur kid up to its puppy ears in the kitchen trash.

Peace, brother.

[boomer]

Great bumper sticker: "Dear God, please help me to become the person my dog thinks I am."

Indeed!

[Tim042]

Gonna be a hard winter in the 42 household, Icy, our Great Pyrenees is 13 and it's almost time, she is having a lot of trouble getting up and around, Snort the horse is 27 and has advanced melanoma, Bob the Macaw got out of his cage on Monday and ate something bad, waiting for the toxicology results to see if he can be saved, and I'm not exactly feeling chipper this morning.

[oldweezer]

I put my dog down saturday. breaks my heart. cancer was eating his bones. I knew it a while back, didnt want to admit it. but he stopped using one of his legs thursday. I held him as he died. always stay with them, they look for you.
goodbye seamus.

Sorry about your loss. It is truly the worst part of dog "ownership". Luckily, the overall experience more than makes up for it (at least it has for me). Doesn't make it hurt less though.......

[scottmax]

http://www.flickr.co...ax1/8259085976/

Here is the last photo of Baz, he looks very normal in this photo but in truth it was taken less than a hour before the big needle.
He would look this good for only 10 or minutes a day for his last 2 days. It was when he looked like this that I hoped that the vet would have a solution when I got there.
He looks skinny because I shaved his coat only a few days before because of the heat. He usually has fur over 1" thick.

This was the best I could do to post a photo just click on the link.

[Tom Ray]

[mikewof]

Gonna be a hard winter in the 42 household, Icy, our Great Pyrenees is 13 and it's almost time, she is having a lot of trouble getting up and around, Snort the horse is 27 and has advanced melanoma, Bob the Macaw got out of his cage on Monday and ate something bad, waiting for the toxicology results to see if he can be saved, and I'm not exactly feeling chipper this morning. :(/>

About your horse, a friend got her aging, ailing horses a burro. (Bureau of Land Management sells them for $150.) The little burro kept them company, comfortable and watched them in their final months and years. She said those horses grew close to the burro and passed easier because of her. I'm told old age is hardest on horses.

I hope your Macaw is okay.

[Tim042]

Gonna be a hard winter in the 42 household, Icy, our Great Pyrenees is 13 and it's almost time, she is having a lot of trouble getting up and around, Snort the horse is 27 and has advanced melanoma, Bob the Macaw got out of his cage on Monday and ate something bad, waiting for the toxicology results to see if he can be saved, and I'm not exactly feeling chipper this morning. :(/>

About your horse, a friend got her aging, ailing horses a burro. (Bureau of Land Management sells them for $150.) The little burro kept them company, comfortable and watched them in their final months and years. She said those horses grew close to the burro and passed easier because of her. I'm told old age is hardest on horses.

I hope your Macaw is okay.

She has her daughter in the stall next to her, the cancer will get her before the old age sets in. Heard that about the burros. Bob the bird got into some zinc, with chelation therapy for the next couple of months, he should be back to abnormal, thanks for the thoughts. Icy seems to have hit a plateau, she sleeps a lot, but still gets up at night and patrols the yard.

[titanuranus]

Do this before your pets get too old.

Drive them to a local elementary school in the next town at night and put them inside the fence.

Throw a ball (carrot, fluffy toy, bone, etc) and when they run to get it, quickly jump in your car
and drive away while they cant see you!

Problem solved.