Today we have to put our 8yr old Rotweiller down. She's had lymphoma sarcoma cancer and this is the end of the line. She's been with the wife and me since we got married. She's a like a child of the family. We trained her carefully and her behavior has always been outstanding.
I've prayed for wisdom and guidance for determining this final day. It's rough when you're the one in control of that destiny.
She's been the lovingest, smartest dog of all my 65 years. This will hurt.
TomNie
We put our Springer down 2 years ago, his pic is still on the fridge, damn dog still breaks my heart when I look at it.
Stay strong.
Tom, Nothing I can say will ease the hurt, but I think your saying it here will as you give you faithful friend one last kindness. Most of us have gone through the same sadness that you and your wife are going through today. Many of us have wept and were not ashamed and your post is not OT among your friends here.
You will come to remembering the good times, but not today. How we deal with animals mirrors how we deal with people and that deciding if it's now time isn't easy for you is a reflection of your good character.
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter
My response to the vet when she asked if we would like to leave when she put down our beloved borzoi was that she would never have left us, and I would never leave her to die alone. We've always had two dogs since we married, so there have been several sad events. Won't make the next, our 15-year old lab any easier, but we will not be without a dog. My advice is to get a new companion soon.
Mom went two weeks ago. Alzheimer's took most of her before that, though one of her great comforts was our old lab. Mom used to sneak her food inside her napkin, and never failed to smile and pet her or the big guy as she walked by. She didn't know who we were to her when she went, but she loved us and our pets until the last. Never had to live with strangers, a promise I had made her when she was first diagnosed. Hospice is a wonderful organization.
Tom, making this decision speaks well of you. To keep her around would be selfish, to let her go is the final gift you can give her. In the wild, things would have ended long ago, so she's relying you to give her the release that is her due. You are doing the right thing to repay her loyalty to you, given without consideration of the cost, with your own loyalty to her, given despite the cost.
It's a tough call ... but I think you are making the right one.
Bill
Yeah, George, we were with her through it all and even afterwards. Man, it brings tears to my eyes. "...she would never have left us..." says it well. Such a Godly gift.
Pam took half a day off and we walked down to the beech trees together and sat around a table. She loved to be against my feet or on them while Pam petted her. So, we sat like that for awhile and we all enjoyed the woods and the time together. Then Moxie could hardly make it back up the hill to the house. We stopped a lot - her with her cancer and me with my emphysema. Then I went down and did some turning to pass the time until the vet appointment. They were great. Used a skew, Charlie, cause nothing demands attention like that devil.
Thanks, guys, for the thoughts.
TomNie
Tom:
Have said it before and say it again - if you want to be a diplomat, get cat - if you want a loyal companion who wants nothing but to please you and would die for you, get a dog.
You've probably shared more ups and downs with your dog than any other living thing on the planet, including friends and family. So it's understandable that the decision to free her from pain and suffering is a really tough one - for you.
But who of us would not wish to leave this life by falling asleep, free from pain and suffering, secure in the arms of someone who obviously loves us and cares enough to make our passing as easy and comfortable as possible.
Convey the love you have for her as she goes - and cry later because you miss her. And remember her over the coming years with fondness and affection - even if that sometimes may bring a feeling of loss
- for those fond memories will surely cause many more smiles than tears. And I'm betting there will be some Laugh Out Loud memories that will pop up when you least expect it - perhaps during a church service?
You're doing what's best for your friend - though it is hard on you. Sometimes that's what friendship means.
And come spring - should a puppy become available . . .
charlie b
"Tom Nie" wrote in news:Dpiyi.69$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe06.lga:
Tom
We lost our beloved Simon at age 8 to Mast Cell Carcinoma. He lasted only three weeks from the diagnosis. His memorial is at
Do a Google search for the poem Rainbow Bridge. It helps.
Take care.
Jerry
Thanks for sharing this!
Gerard.
Hello Tom,
I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Rest assured you have done the best you can for her and take comfort in that... I've lost two friends of mine in recent years (both rescue dogs), "Fraulein" a 19 year, 5 and a half month old Black Labrador and "Nutmeg", a 16 year, 5 month old Yellow Labrador. Both were like children to me and were the best pups you could have ever asked for. When the time is right, a new pup may come into your life when you least expect it...
"Hannah", a Black Flat Coat Labrador and "Reese", a Yellow Labrador/American Bloodhound mix (both rescue dogs as well) have made a home with us now. It's hard to loose a friend, but if and when the time is right to get another dog, you will know and another pup will have the opportunity for a good life with a loving friend. Take care.
Hi, Tom.
I think I was closer to my old German Shepherd than I am to some of my family. When I was a young man he went with me to work every day when I was a house framer, so we literally spent all day together. He was a buddy, a companion, and never wanted anything more than my company.
I had a great vet that helped me when it was his time. He reminded me that my end of the bargain was to take care of him by doing the things he couldn't do. So it was my responsibility to him to take him to on that last ride to the vet, to make sure he didn't suffer needlessly.
I couldn't imagine things without him, so I have his ashes in an urn with his collar draped on it on top of my fireplace mantle. His picture is next to it.
The thing I found when I got another dog is that they are all different and endear you to them in other ways. My old Shepherd was a mean old cuss, and we suited each other right down to the ground. But after a trip to the Humane Society to get another pup, we found a slightly abused animal that was timid and nervous, but really sweet.
He loved to play, just hang around, and was glad to be doing anything you were doing as long as that wasn't giving him a bath. He blossomed like a flower with some good care and attention. He was actually more of a companion to LOML than he was to me, although he was a friend to anyone with a doggie treat.
We had him for 15 years, and just put him down last month. He sits in the entertainment center now, in his urn, with his picture and collar. I will always remember him as a dog with the best disposition I have ever seen.
Soon it will be time for another trip to the Humane Society and time for a new pup. I am not in a hurry... I seem to go a bit between the animals. But it is true, a new dog doesn't make you forget about the old one, but it does start the experience (good and bad!) over again.
Robert
Thanks for sharing.
TomNie
Yep. I've got an old collie/shepard mix that I've had for about 5 years longer than I've known my wife... he was my work buddy when I was doing construction as well, and it'll be a hard day when he goes. He's definately on the far end of his life, but hopefully he'll hang in there for a while yet- I'll sure miss him when he goes (with the exception of the constantly shedding coat, of course.) But, we've got two more (beagles this time around) that are much younger, and here's to hoping that helps take the edge off.
That's one of the better things in life- watching a shelter dog come out of his shell and start displaying a personality. We got one of our beagles after a fire at the pound, and he was a wreck for quite a while- biting at the least provacation, and generally afraid of everything. But now that we've had him a few years, he's really turned into a fine pet.
Anyhow, sorry to hear about your loss, Tom- I know our dogs are part of the family, and it's always hard. Seems like they live just long enough for you to get really attached to them, and then they've got to go. On the bright side, with only a few rare exceptions, there are a million good dogs to choose from- sometimes it seems like they're better people than we are!
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