| beautifulsoup 01.12.2009 20:37 |
I've only been through this once before; and it's not easy. Never is, from what I hear. The old guy (and he was old -17 and a half) had generally been in great heath. A little arthritis, going blind in one eye. Just had his blood work done two months ago. Results were "Phenomenal for his age," according the the vet. And even as recently as two weeks ago, when another Dr. was giving a listen to his heart, we were told that "He has the heart of a young dog." But alas, false delusions; 17-1/2 is 17-1/2. Today, Fritz had a sudden and massive stroke. Long story short, the decision was pretty black- and-white. We just got back. Damn, he was fine only two hours ago. But that's the way it goes. Still hurts, though. [img=/images/smiley/msn/cry_smile.gif][/img] |
| ParisNair 01.12.2009 21:12 |
I have never had a pet myself, but a very good friend once went through a similar experience as you. She said it was like some family member had died, andat first I thought she was joking. But I soon realised that many humans do share a special bond with their pets, especially dogs. I can certainly understand how you feel. |
| john bodega 02.12.2009 00:14 |
Stinks, don't it. |
| beautifulsoup 02.12.2009 01:23 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Stinks, don't it. Definitely. And I remember that you had to go through this in the relatively recent past.... |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 02.12.2009 04:44 |
17 1/2 is a mighty fine innings for a dog,it was obviously looked after very well dont know if this will make you laugh or make things worse but whenever a dog dies of old age i like to recall the death of my old dog Duke to people.She was 17 and died on Guy Fawkes Day about 20 years ago now,this is her tale of woe.. i got up as usual to go to work [4am] and because i was a postie my eating habits for the day were different to everyone elses,i would usually have my lunch at 4am before i went to work as i would be asleep during the afternoon period of the day. as per the norm,my mother had 'made' me a 'meal' and on this particular occasion it was a Shepherds Pie.if you are not familiar with what one of those is i shall try and describe my mothers attempt..it was meant to be lamb mince with a coating of potatoe over the top and baked in the oven.it looked 10x worse than it sounds and at 4am i didnt fancy eating it one little bit so i gave it to our basset hound Duke to eat. i came home from work 6 hours later to find that the dog had died of.according to the vet,"serious food poisoning".aparantly the mince that was in the shepherds pie was rancid and had killed the dog! now,i'm no Sherlock Holmes but even i realised that the pie was meant for me and not for a pooch and that it should of been me lying on a slab having my guts probed and that my mother had tried to kill me and that i had avoided the swerve ball and killed the dog instead! moral to the story,always cook your own meals,never eat anything made by my mother and find a place of your own to live as soon as you can and always feed the dog a shepherds pie! |
| Janet 02.12.2009 07:23 |
I'm very sorry for your loss... :-( |
| magicalfreddiemercury 02.12.2009 07:59 |
I am so very sorry. I've been through this several times and it's never any less brutal. It probably doesn't help but that Fritz WAS well just hours earlier is actually wonderful when compared to a long illness. He was happy, comfortable and loved for 17 1/2 years because of you. Try to remember that part above all else. |
| catqueen 02.12.2009 09:13 |
I'm sorry to hear that Beautiful Soup. Its a horrible decision to have to make, even when it is obvious that it has to be done. |
| dragon-fly 02.12.2009 10:05 |
Very sad :( My family always had pets. The loss of one of them is like a real tragedy. You get used to it, the pet becomes a member of your family. And when the time comes it's always like this- [img=/images/smiley/msn/cry_smile.gif][/img] |
| Serry... 02.12.2009 11:47 |
Sad to hear... |
| Major Tom 02.12.2009 18:38 |
I feel for your loss dude. I can still hear my old dogs shuffeling around and jumping down from their baskets sometimes. At times I can smell them, so I belive they're still around after they leave this life. |
| «¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» 02.12.2009 19:29 |
Awlink sorry to hear about you loss. I'm a big animal lover and have had dogs all my life and do know how painful it is to lose a family member. Sounds to me like it was sudden and at least the poor fellow isn't suffering. Here is a little poem, and hope it helps you to cope a bit: Weep not for me oh master dear. I have not gone I linger near, As long as you've a memory, Within your heart I'll always be. |
| beautifulsoup 02.12.2009 20:52 |
Thanks everyone for your condolences, poems...and yes, JoxerTheDeityPirate, even the shepherds pie story! I'm a little less "numb" this evening. But just a little. |
| Mr.Jingles 03.12.2009 09:02 |
I sure feel your pain, and coincidentally we both lost our pets the same day due to a stroke. We had to put down our 13 year old Golden Retriever, and the constant thought of her no longer being around us is tearing me apart. I don't want to put salt on your wound, but the saddest part of losing a pet is going back home and seeing their food plates empty, their leashes hanging, their bed on the floor, and just about every single little thing that reminds you that they are no longer there. My wife and I constantly looked forward for the weekend to spend time with Mystic (our dog). She lived with my in-laws, but we never skipped a single weekend without her, even during those days when I was working 6 days a week and I hardly ever had time for anything, but being with Mystic was absolutely necessary for me for emotional support and it sure helped me a lot to have her around. All I can say is... BE STRONG! It won't be easy. As for myself, my wife and my in-laws dealing with the loss is devastating, but we know that we have to hold on to each other, and stay together for emotional support. |
| Lady Nyx 03.12.2009 11:31 |
so sorry to hear that :( its always painful for a pet to leave this earth. I had ot have my dog put down years ago because she kept biting people, and it gradually got worse to where she was a danger. the fashion it was done didnt make it any better. i love my cats so much. my one cat is ancient (just turned 17). i cant imagine the day either of them go but i will be a royal mess. i love them so much. theyve seen so much with me, and are my only comfort at the end of the day. Ive prepared myself for any time to hear the news about Simi. she seems healthy, still plays, still runs around, sometimes has the ocasional arthritis that bothers her, but shes doing good. and as far as i know, shes still eating. my younger one, im not sure how she could handle life without simi. theyre simalayans, so they buddy up with others or a specific person. i HATE it when dad makes jokes about Simi being old or dying. even moreso when people say "animals done have souls" or "its just a pet". all i have to say to those people, is to kindly fuck off until they find some compassion. or a soul. sorry, im going on a tangent. but as i said, its never easy, and youre never prepared for it. its devestating, but you at least know there are people here who have felt your pain. best wishes to you. |
| Mr.Jingles 03.12.2009 12:13 |
Lady Nyx wrote: i HATE it when dad makes jokes about Simi being old or dying. even moreso when people say "animals done have souls" or "its just a pet". all i have to say to those people, is to kindly fuck off until they find some compassion. or a soul. sorry, im going on a tangent. but as i said, its never easy, and youre never prepared for it. its devestating, but you at least know there are people here who have felt your pain. best wishes to you. Many of people who show little compassion and love towards animals are the reason why animal people like us are so disgusted with the lack of soul of some of those so called "humans". That's why we have to turn to animals, because regardless of what we look like, what we wear, or how much money we have, all we have to do is give them affection, and they will give you affection back in return. |
| Erin 03.12.2009 12:38 |
I can completely relate, guys. We had to put my 14 year old German shepherd, Emma, to sleep a few years ago. It took forever for me to accept it was time to put her down. She had completely lost the use of her back legs, and I had to help her outside to go to the bathroom towards the end. I felt guilty that maybe I waited too long to do it, but I just couldn't let her go. I couldn't even go to the vet when it was it time. Pieter and my sister took her. I would have been too much of a wreck. I'll be honest.. l still sometimes break down about losing her, but she lived a long full life and was very much loved, so that makes it easier. |
| GratefulFan 03.12.2009 13:28 |
I'm very fortunate that this is one life experience that has passed me by. I've had pets die, but never in such a way that the decision and timing was left to me. Poor Fritz.. And poor beautifulsoup. :( |
| beautifulsoup 03.12.2009 20:28 |
Mr.Jingles wrote: I sure feel your pain, and coincidentally we both lost our pets the same day due to a stroke. Oh, nooooo. I'm so sorry. [img=/images/smiley/msn/cry_smile.gif][/img] |
| *goodco* 03.12.2009 22:01 |
Done it ten times...........never easy..........in fact, it rather suxxx Will have to do it again in 5-8 years, and yet, .......will get another dog and go through it one more time after that......because they are worth it. Chin up, my friend |
| Crazy LittleThing 04.12.2009 00:08 |
I'm so sorry. It's not an easy thing to do. To quote a friend, "you gave a small soul a good life." Your dog couldn't have had a better home or a better friend. :) |
| its_a_hard_life 26994 04.12.2009 08:13 |
Sorry to hear about your loss. :/ |
| Mr.Jingles 04.12.2009 08:17 |
*goodco* wrote: Done it ten times...........never easy..........in fact, it rather suxxx Will have to do it again in 5-8 years, and yet, .......will get another dog and go through it one more time after that......because they are worth it. Chin up, my friend +1 A lot of people ask me, why do you want to get another dog if at some point you will go through the pain of seeing them go? The simple answer is that those weeks/months of grieving can't compare to the many years of happiness brought by the companionship of a dog. |
| beautifulsoup 04.12.2009 13:27 |
I really do want to get another dog. But there are too many reasons why I can't right now.... ..and none of them have to do with the grieving process or feeling like betraying the memory of other dogs.. |
| *goodco* 04.12.2009 21:03 |
Mr. J, thanks for quoting me. beautifulsoup.......the 'right' time will come. It may be two months, or it might be two years. Once again, it will all depend on what is the 'right' or 'fitting' time. My first dog was run over two months after we got Spot. I don't remember events from two weeks ago, but, at age 5, decades later, I can tell you that it was at 1120 AM on a beautiful August morning. I still remember the wonderful couple in the car, and how utterly mournful they were. Months later, my dad brought home a little rat terrier. We had her for 15 years. My college roommates loved the hell out of that little girl. When I was told of her death, it was the only time I ever saw my old man cry. It took me three years to get another dog. I was on many a Queen mailing list, and used a ' joe, the wife, and the faithful Freddie' as the ending of my sign-off. The most unique and wonderful character of a cocker spaniel one could ask for. Not the best, not the most intelligent, but what a personality. He was in parades, on stage, took him to senior citizen homes, to work, etc etc etc. After 15 years, his time had come. No way we could, or will, replace him. I received condolences from friends who knew us, but never met 'him'. Even got a letter from Jacky Smith, who said she cried at the news. (she has a lovely black lab named 'Merlin'). Six months later, we get a picture of a shelter dog, almost the same color as 'My Boy', 5 years old, and we're thinking 'it's too soon.' Well, our Denny ain't Freddie, but he's our boy, and in many ways smarter. We came into each other's lives at the right time. We are thankful. And so is Denny. Your pain will last you as long as you live. So will the joy. You will think of Fritz one, two, twenty years from now. Smile and remember what a good mate you had. He is jumping over the rainbow bridge, appreciative of what a fine companion YOU were. And looking forward to meeting up with you again. |
| beautifulsoup 04.12.2009 22:12 |
*goodco* wrote: Mr. J, thanks for quoting me. beautifulsoup.......the 'right' time will come. It may be two months, or it might be two years. Once again, it will all depend on what is the 'right' or 'fitting' time. Actually, I'm ready. Really. I was actually looking at dachshund rescue sites within hours. Basically, it comes down to we'll have to move first. There is so much...how shall I put it...ahem......"territorialization evidence" left over from two old dogs who occasionally lost their cognitive powers as to where that was supposed to happen... (part of cognitive dysfunction in aging). Years worth, between the two of them. So, move, or shampoo the heck out of the carpets and then lay down area rugs over all that, and get the kitchen floor replaced...etc. We live in an apartment - and they could go ahead and replace carpet, but they already said it would involve hour having to remove the walls of bookshelves that we have to do so. Also - our place is soooo cluttered. I'm a pack rat, and seriously need to sell/give away some stuff... hundreds of books CDs, etc. The apartment management also did away with everyone's storage units years ago, so all that stuff got put into the apartment; about 15 boxes worth. We would NEVER pass the home visit phase of an animal shelter's adoption program, nor the Dachshund rescue programs that I've been looking into. Even if we went to a pet store, or went the local breeder route or newspapers, I don't feel like I could bring a new dog into our current living situation. Then, there's the $ issue. Hubby really needs to get a job.... Whine, whine, whine, I know.... |
| john bodega 05.12.2009 01:20 |
Herriot said it best ; get another one straight away! It always sounds like callous advice to me when we've just lost a pet (especially when our last cat went missing) but it works every time. We found that the depression over the old cat got bumped because we had a really small one that needed looking after. |
| ***Marial-B*** 06.12.2009 06:21 |
I'm sorry to hear of your loss beautifulsoup. I know that losing a pet is like losing one of your family, someone who shows you inconditional love. |