Saying goodbye to my close friend
 

Well guys, this is a rather sad day for me. I had to put my dog down. He had been getting weak and out of breath over the last couple of weeks. The vet thought he had a cold, then discovered he had a thyroid problem so we began treatment for those things. But after a round of antibiotics and some thyroid meds his health continued to degenerate, so we ran some more tests. He was so weak he couldn't make it down the steps of our house. So, today, I carried him to the car not realizing it would be the last time I'd see him. The vet took some x-rays and discovered he had lung cancer. I had no choice, he had to be put down.

He was a faithful friend for every second of just about 12 years. There's no exaggeration when people say that a dog is man's best friend. I'm going to miss him greatly.

I just thought I'd share the news...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...y/IMAG0004.jpg

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Hate it when that time has to come around.
You know, if they just had lips, I know they could talk to you, just with the expressions they give!

That's a good looking dog, I'm sorry to hear the news.

been through that with a 12 year old black lab, 15years ago, and i still think about that dog.
sorry for your loss

dam shame grace. i preffer 'em to most people. looked like a good 'ol dog.

Sorry to hear about your loss. They truely become a member of the family and the memories will last forever.

Thanks for the kind words guys. It's just one of those things, isn't it?...

For you guys who have lost a family pooch, how long did you wait before going out and getting another one, if you did? I know you can't replace them, but I'm so used to having a dog around it's hard to imagine going very long without one in the house...

He's in the better place waiting for ya Grace. Sorry for your loss bro.

My dog is getting up there in years and I've thought about getting another so the place isn't so empty feeling when I come home after he's gone. Plus he could help train the young one.

Been there done that.....just plain ol sucks. My wife usually goes about 2 months or so after we've lost one before she's cruisin the animal rescue websites. In our hey day (before kids) we had 3 big ol pooches....Have lost all three of them in the last 3 or 4 years and only replaced them with one dog and 2 kids so far. ( i kind of hope it stays that way to be honest)

Give it a couple of weeks out of respect to the old guy and then go out and get you a new dog and make some new memories.

We lost ours last year after only 8 years to cancer. Waiting for the baby to get to like 3 years old before we go for another.

Otherwise we would have had another long time ago.

sorry for your lose, Only time will heal the hole in the heart from those 4 legged friends we have.

In 06 I had to have my baby put to sleep as well. I had raised her from 4 weeks old and drug her along with me through everything growing up, but after 13 years she developed a brain tumor and I couldn't handle seeing her suffer anymore. It hurts still to this day, but at least I know I didn't make her suffer and just remember the good memories I had with her. Unfortunately I'm getting ready to have to go through it again. My dad's dog that he had before he passed I took, and he is now about 10 years old. I left for my honeymoon 7-1 and when I got him back from the vet 2 weeks later I could see a definate change in him. I hope it's just from being at the kennel that got him worked up, but he is old and had a hard life. As for a new dog, I actually had a stray that showed up 3 weeks after I had to put my baby to sleep. She had been beaten badly, but after 3 months she finally warmed up to me. Now 2 1/2 years later she's one of the family.

Sorry to here about ur loss, It just plains sucks. Been there & done it multiple times. I just couldn't do it without a four legged friend. Have always had dogs in my lifetime. Nothing will ever replace ur buddy,but you will know when ur ready for another. as the old saying goes, the more people I know....The better i like my dog[s]. As I write this my 3 are sittin here watching me.

As far as time to get another,
We seem to have this knack for picking up strays at opportune times.
I'm sure all it is the fact that we're ready to have another at that precise time. We don't go a very long in between dogs.
Don't go looking (well I wouldn't), the best ones seems to always find you.

So sorry about your buddy. I know my 14+ year old chocolate lab is getting up there and it is going to be a tough one. Like yours she has been a great friend. Her hips are getting weak and she is slowing down.

Can't give you any advice on when you will be ready to get a new family friend, it is a personal thing that your family can only dicide when you are ready. Just keep in mind it is much easier to house train'em in the warmer months then winter, if that helps. I usually plan spring just for that reason.
Here's to her and God bless:beer:

On Charlie's note, I use to have a bumper sticker on my truck that read, "the more people I meet, the more I like my dog."

My sympathies to you and your family on your loss. I have gone through that several times with dogs and cats. Never easy and they can never be replaced, but you will know when it is right to bring a new love into your life.

Bygracealone, I'm very sorry for your loss. It's a time that comes, unfortunately, to every one of us who opens up our hearts and hearths to a dog.

I will more than likely be making a similar post in the not too distant future. My first Lab is 13 years old, was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in January. The Vets gave him 3-4 months, but he's a tough old dog and is still hanging in there...but watching him decline has been rough on me and my family.

The main thing is that you know you gave him a good home and a great life. No regrets.

As for the question of how soon, it's whatever you're comfortable with. If you're ready, go ahead and do it.

BGA so sad man, sorry to hear about your buddy. We rescued our 1st dog in March of '07. She was 2 months old when we got her, now 2.5 yrs. I try not to think of the day we will have to separate. Just can't imagine. My sister just lost her 1st dog this year. His name was Toot Toot and he was 17 or 18 yrs old. Put it this way, I'm 36 and she got that dog when we were both still living at home....I was 19 and barely out of high school. She found him on the side of the road and blew the horn at him...hence the name "Toot toot". That was very sad since he was always there for so long. She waited a couple months and now has a new addition.

Sorry BGA!

BGA,

No words can heal, or make that type of pain in one's heart go away, after an ordeal as that. My thoughts are with you and only time will make the heart feel better. Sorry BGA for your loss.

In the same boat right now as you...
 

We put our 14 year old lab down two weeks ago today. It was time, she was shutting down. It was a terrible experience - no two ways about it.

To comment on your question regarding when you might think about getting another dog...I always thought I would be the one that wanted another dog right away, and the wife would want to wait. Well, turns out just the opposite is true.

But, we visited the local shelter and they just so happened to have an awesome litter of pups - nice big healthy black mix breeds, the mother is a large hound and not sure on the father, but looks like lab.

We are picking ours up this week - currently trying to pick out a name!

I miss our old girl terribly, but I think it will be great to have an active, playful dog again...it's been a while since we've had that sort of "dog energy" around the house. Although the 6 and 8 year old kids keep us hopping...

Good luck in whatever you do - you will know when the time is right!

Dave

Sorry to hear about your loss.

My wife and I decided to wait last year after we lost our dog and within a couple months
my son called from California asking if we could take his beagle.
Bentley is the latest member of our family, and I do mean member.
Bentley grew up in Ca. so he is not used to cold weather,
we got him a hooded sweat shirt so during the colder months he loves to wear it, he even gets upset when you take it off to wash it.

This is Bentley in his hoodie:

http://home.comcast.net/~parishht/pw...28Small%29.jpg

If you are a dog person, the right dog will find you.

BGA...so sorry to hear of your loss...incredible how attached we become to them, but they EARN every bit of it...there's no animal on earth more loyal than a LAB...the only time my kids saw me cry was on the death of a 14 yr old several years back...he ATTACKED FULL OPEN a Bull Mastiff much larger than him one day in my defense...while I still miss him and will never forget him, this gal here has my heart nowadays...

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My youngest daughter said, "Daddy, I think I know why dogs don't live as long as people...if they lived too long, their people would die and they wouldn't have anybody to take care of them."

You'll know when it's time...

I want to thank each and every one of you for your posts of condolences and comfort; they mean a lot to me and I've read each one a couple times over.

I especially appreciate the comments from those of you that have recently gone through this because I'm guessing the OP brought back some sad emotions as you've remembered your losses. Thanks for sharing from a "been there" perspective. There's something comforting about knowing you're not the only one who has gone through this (well, we all know people go through it all the time, but it's a help when others take the time to share their experiences).

Well, we've sent in our applications to two rescue shelters (one for labs and another for golden retrievers). The process will take a number of weeks, which I figure will be good for us.

Thanks again guys, you've all been an encouragement to me through this...

Sorry about your friend going to heaven, he will be there waiting when you get there.

Bygracealone, I read you are adopting another good friend from a shelter.
We just adopted a two year old female Golden Ret. Her owner passed away, and the wife of the man could not keep her because she works and did not have much time to play with her and give her the attention she needs. She was kept on a small yard for about six months until the day we adopted her. The day we took her home, she spent a couple of weeks running and playing like crazy with all the energy and happiness of being able to play with our 10 y.o. Retriever Marmol. Now she is a happy and playfull friend. We kept her the same name because we feel this dog still belongs to the man who passed away, we will just take care of his dog until the day she goes and reunites with him "up there". Her name is Lola.
Thanks for adopting a dog from a shelter, that is a commendable thing to do and he or she will be your friend forever.

sorry to hear that man...you did the right thing he is in a better place

Thanks JJ and Cy. We'll see how it all works out, but we're definitely looking forward to having another pooch in the family. Waiting on the rescue organizations to get in touch with us...

my friend, to the end
 

log in under my dogs name since the day he passed, 7 years ago. still missed.