A sad event

[Bryancd]

I almost can't bear to read threads like this, my wife and I love our dogs so much. Duffster, my heart goes out to you as tears well up in my eyes........

[Rico]

I am very, very sorry for your loss Duffster.  Wedgie sounds like a great dog and wonderful companion for many years.  I'm certain he knew you were doing what was best for him.  I am glad you decided to share this with us here.  I know most of us are very big animal lovers here on the forum.  I actually started out in college to be a vet.  And I know first hand how very hard it is to do what you had to do.  A little over a year ago now I had to let our previous dog Cheyenne go.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  But I also looked into her eyes at the time and knew she understood I was doing what was best for her.  It still hurts at times but just try to know that your dog had a good life and was loved.  That's the best thing any of us can hope for.  Take care my friend and know that all of us here have you in our thoughts.

[iceman]

I Feel for you I had to put down a dog about 15 yrs ago , she was agreat pet. I have a cat now named halo , who follows me everywhere, she is really protective of me, when I had my tonsils out she followed me all over the house and never left my bed for six weeks. If anything happened to her I would be devistated. She is a very intrical part of my family. My condolences go out to you. Just remember you were their for him to make his passage easy and that is all he wanted, is to have his loved ones by him, and you gave him that and let him go with dignity.

[Duffster]

Ok, I have to say I am a bit overwhelmed. I knew that this was a great forum, and that many here are big pet lovers. But I have to say the amount of support and sympathy I have received here is incredible.

I didn't post my story to make anyone cry, and I am sorry if it reopened any recent wounds about your beloved pets. I posted it more for myself, and as a tribute to a longtime friend.

I deeply appreciate all the thoughts and prayers I received from all of you. I want to let each and everyone of you know that your responses have help me deal with this sad event.

You are all fantastic, and I am so thankful for Rico for the creation of this forum, and all it's members that make it the best forum, Sf related or not, out there.

Thank you so very much for helping me cope.


Duffster

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I didn't post my story to make anyone cry, and I am sorry if it reopened any recent wounds about your beloved pets. I posted it more for myself, and as a tribute to a longtime friend.

Eh, you know us, just make us cook Onions and we'll cry.  lol. 

I also just remembered an old cat friend that we had.  It was a barn kitty.  But it just didn't live.  We don't know why....maybe it was just too young from its mother to survive.  *Mother MIA*  It was pretty sad.  Its buried, as I remember, right by our front door.  I think we forgot about the little thing....but it didn't live very long so thats kinda understanable. 

Your in our prayers.  Keep it up Duffster!

King Linksr

[Ktrek]

Unfortunately death is a part of our reality Duffster and it is always hard to let go of those we love, even if they are pets.

About a year after we let our dog go we bought a couple of cats that have provided us with as much joy as our dog did. I hope you will find some special pet to fill the gap he has left in your life.

I'll be praying for you!

Kevin

[KingIsaacLinksr]

fyi....I'm missing my pets....and I thought I never would.  You know....would pets be considered addictive?  We can't live without them....sooooo......ah well.  Don't listen to Linksr ramble on. 

I agree with Ktrek.  Death is how it is.  Its going to affect us.  Nothing we can do.  But treasure them. 

King Linksr

[wraith1701]

I'm sorry about your loss, man.  Dogs are truly amazing animals, more companion or family member than pet.  I empathize.

Now I know at this point it sounds a bit silly, but I looked into my old friends eyes and told him to go ahead and go to sleep....your job is done, we are all safe. I may be projecting, but I saw in his eyes that he  relaxed and let go. The vet entered a little bit later and my good friend was soon released of his pain.

That doesn't sound silly at all.  There is a special link between us and dogs; we've been closely linked for quite a long time.  Your post led me to look up an interesting fact-

The relationship between human and canine has deep roots. Wolf remains have been found in association with hominid remains dating from 400,000 years ago. Converging archaeological and genetic evidence indicate a time of domestication in the late Upper Paleolithic close to the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary, between 17,000 and 14,000 years ago.

Over all of that time, it is only natural that a special bond would form between us and them.

I remember my first pet, An Irish Setter named Rusty.  He lived with us for several years in San Antonio, until my Dad got stationed in Germany. Before we moved, He sold Rusty to a friend of his who lived several miles outside of the city; the assumption being that Rusty would be happy living out in the country.

While we were living in Germany, my dad rented out our house to my uncle.  Well, after a month or so, my uncle called to tell us that he had been awakened one night by a scratching sound at the front door.  To his surprise, it was Rusty-- he had run away from his new owner and somehow made his way back to our house in San Antonio.  My dad called the new owner, who drove down to pick Rusty up. 

I cried for a week, thinking about how much Rusty must have missed us, and how we weren't there when he tried to find us. 

Anyway, hang in there, man.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Jen]

We had a dog do that very same thing Wraith. My mother took her to the pound in San Antonio when we were little! Yeah...we didn't know that she did it. But anyway, the pound was 40 miles away. Guess who showed up on our doorstep a week later...our dog. My mom decided she deserved to live in the house after that and she never did anything like that again... Poor thing.

Dogs love us unconditionally. They forgive us readily and they lavish affection at every opportunity. We could learn a lot from dogs...