Put down a FRIEND

[RidgeRunner]

Husky Chow mix. Found him near 14 years ago tossing a neighbors garbage can for food. Someone had abandoned this little puppy. Cleaned him up and wormed him. He spent the better part of his life bringing joy to mine. What a dog he was.
Houdini would have been a better name for him. He could go through the squares on a chain link fence. I will never forget when he chewed the siding off the side of the house, or the time he opened up a new hole to the outside world in the garage. The countless times he would bring a snake or squirrel to the sliding glass door. He was such a proud hunter. He even chewed the new harness off a boat trailer and started working on the transducer. I installed a special (electric) fence around the boat on his behalf. In doing so (not so proud moment) I broke my fifth metacarpal on his hard a$$ head when he ran away with the spool of wire putting a dozen kinks in the wire that I was attempting to straighten and install in an attempt to keep him away from the boat.. All he wanted was to chew and play. My glasses, Rockport boat shoes, Barbie dolls, there wasn't much he didn't have a fetish for destroying. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He had no fear with the exception of thunder and fireworks. Always happy to see me and always full of vim and vigor is how I will remember him.
Of late he would have a very difficult time getting to his feet. White fur had replaced his shiny black coat. His always alert ears and eyesight had all but failed. So I set the date and at 3:30 on Friday I took him to the vet for the last time. I held his head in my hands as he drew his last breath. Max my first dog, RIP old friend.

[willy]

Sorry my friend, had to do it a couple of times. Never good.

[Kracker Jack]

Very sorry about your friend. Sounds like he was a cool @$$ dog.

[step up here]

Terrible I know the feeling all I could say is when the time comes I hope you get another good one.

[smokeonthewater]

I'm soo sorry my friend... It has been 6 years since I had to go through that with my best bud of 18 years, a toy fox terrier named Trixie.... I still can't bring myself to get another and your story brought a tear to my eye....

[phatdaddy]

tough break ridge, also had to do that. they are aggravating at times, but the love is unconditional.

at least now your barbie dolls will be safe( you can explain that in a later thread)

[Kracker Jack]

your story brought a tear to my eye...

Me also.

[lathehand]

:sad: Very sorry to here that .I'm struggleing to make that disison myself.If it wern't for my old girl I would be all alone

[THEFERMANATOR]

I know the feeling my friend, been there quite a few times. I've started taking in drop offs as we get quite a few out here where I'm at, and unfortunately this means dogs that are older or not in the best of health(so I go through it quite often unfortunately). All we can do is take care of our friends while they are here, and be good to them. And know that we were as good to them as they are to us.

[roffey]

:sad: Very sorry to here that .I'm struggleing to make that disison myself.If it wern't for my old girl I would be all alone

... and we keep them around for us, not the dog. Don't get me wrong, I have had dogs my whole life and have been down that road. It's a decision we make and a difficult one. I have a 10 year old husky. Him and I are best friends, some time I look at him and think will I be able to do it when the time comes.

[Destroyer]

Ridge, if it's any consolation at all, just remember that what you did was really for him. Did you want him to suffer more? Keeping an animal in pain when there is no reason for it is cruel. I had to do the same thing to my beloved Sasha a few years back. There is almost nothing so hard to do. I too held her head in my hands as she went, and I cried like a baby after she was gone. But I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do, and that she was no longer suffering. You did the right thing my friend. Rest easy Max.

[RidgeRunner]

... and we keep them around for us, not the dog. Don't get me wrong, I have had dogs my whole life and have been down that road. It's a decision we make and a difficult one. I have a 10 year old husky. Him and I are best friends, some time I look at him and think will I be able to do it when the time comes.


That picture looks a lot like Max. We had no idea his breed when we found him.
The Barbie dolls Max got to were often missing hands and feet, much to the chagrin of my daughter. He would chew anything, his chewing prowess legendary. He had a awful habit of taking off on me too. Such a curious dog, into everything. Lots of Max stories/memories.

Thank You ALL for your support. I was second guessing myself at one point in the process.

[Road King Cole]

It's always a tough decision, something you don't want to do but really should do.

Had to make the call before myself, don't second guess yourself.

rkc

[Blue_Runner]

Hey Ridge, sorry man, you did Max a great service by taking him in and being his buddy all these years. Providing him things to chew on and presenting new challenges - which it sounds like he was up for a good "escape" challenge. Max knew he was loved. You did the right thing.

My dog is 6. At 5 she went down on her back. $4 grand worth of surgery and 2 months later she was all better. Never thought I would'a thrown down a serious chunk of cash like that but I still almost cry thinking about losing my best buddy too early. 14 is a long long time.

[bradford]

You did the right thing. Max appreciates the long life you let him to share with you. When the time is right another one will find you.

[cfelton]

I'm really sorry my friend. I've had to do the same thing too many times, hurts like hell, but there is worse things than dying sometimes. Watching them suffer and not being able to help is worse! Remember the good times, it seems to help.

[reelapeelin]

Breaks my heart for you, Vic...no question you did the right thing...from the moment you decided to keep him to the time you decided to let him go...I'm like you...holding them on the way out is the least we can do...they give so much and ask so little...wish I had known him...sounds like a special guy. Steppin' up like you did for him, from the 1st day to the last proves you are the man I've always thought you were. Always proud to call you friend.

[RidgeRunner]

Thanks good buddy, the feeling is mutual.

[ssiredfish]

Dam Ridge thats tough brotha.....

Yall got some good times in though at 14yrs. Wish they could live to 100 but we gotta make room for the others we dont know we love yet.....

My heart goes out to you dude, losin one of my boys was the hardest thing Ive ever done. His brother still aint the same and me and the wife dont really talk about him as much cause we still aint over it.

Keep your chin up brotha

[lathehand]

:cry:After 2 weeks of struggleing to make the disission at elevin thirty this morning Amber past quitely on her own.She was only feeling poorly about 2 weeks.She was 12 and will be greatly missed.

[RidgeRunner]

I know how you feel, sorry to hear that, hang in there. This is a picture of my solid black Husky/Chow mix, Max - RIP
4967

4968

[Pipe_Dream]

Cool photos, Ridge. I'm sorry for your loss. You too, lathehand. It hurts so bad because of the happiness that they give us, and that we in return give them. They're not called Man's Best Friend for nothing.

[jasoncooperpcola]

I am sorry for you Ridge. This was hard to read....
I wonder how much longer my 14 year old beagle girl has. And i wonder how I can cope with losing her.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Lathehand. I am sorry about you losing your friend also.

[Hal380]

This is a poem which I ran across and pass it on when a friend has had to say "Goodbye to his friend", you may have seen this before, but this came to mind when I read your post.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[RidgeRunner]

Thanks HAL. Welcome aboard. That was a helpful sentiment when I was telling my 10 yr. old. that we needed to put Max down. A friend had passed that along. Thanks, friend..

[lathehand]

I've been off line for a while .But back on now .I just want to say thanks for all the kind words from everyone