Saying goodbye to my close friend

[phatdaddy]

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

[charlie_the_tuna]

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

[joe7670]

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

[Bygracealone]

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...

[bradford]

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.

[RWilson2526]

Originally Posted by Bygracealone

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...

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.

[joe7670]

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.

[Skools Out]

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

[THEFERMANATOR]

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.

[Pipe_Dream]

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.