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My border collie woke up this morning and he couldn't walk at all. Had to carry him. He's 16 and his legs have been going the last year. He's old, breath is horrible, hair is falling out all over the place, and our German Pointer is younger and gets most of the attention. In his final hours I'm feeling guilty and trying to make up for it.

Brutal. Sorry. Lot of good years though.

Got him as a puppy when my oldest was 14, now he's 30. Called him to let him know I was putting him down. He's hiking in a crater in Arizona, and we're both tearing up on the phone............ Okay, nough about this.

Sorry about your loss, bro.

(08-21-2013 07:22 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Got him as a puppy when my oldest was 14, now he's 30. Called him to let him know I was putting him down. He's hiking in a crater in Arizona, and we're both tearing up on the phone............ Okay, nough about this.

Part of the family, tough day. Still miss my lab and he's been gone 10 years.

Sometimes I wonder, why do we get animals. My daughter got a snail "Sheller" for her fish tank. Sheller died and she cried. We knew when we got Sheller he wouldn't last long. Got another one yesterday; Turbo Shell. We know when we get them they're probably not going to be around as long as us. We know they'll get old and poop and pee before they make it to the door. We know this, yet we go out and get another one. Are we nuts?

(08-21-2013 09:01 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Sometimes I wonder, why do we get animals. My daughter got a snail "Sheller" for her fish tank. Sheller died and she cried. We knew when we got Sheller he wouldn't last long. Got another one yesterday; Turbo Shell. We know when we get them they're probably not going to be around as long as us. We know they'll get old and poop and pee before they make it to the door. We know this, yet we go out and get another one. Are we nuts?

Yep we are nuts but we love em.

Sorry CD, 16 is a lot of years for a dog, so you are fortunate in that regard. Does not make today any easier though.

Sorry man. I had to put down a dog I loved this summer and lost my lab 4 years ago. Wife doesn't want another, I think she is the sane one.

My dad had to put my dog down last winter - brutal, even if I hadn't lived with her in years. There's just something about dogs... sorry to hear about what you're going through.

On an everyone-is-cheered-up-by-puppies note, however, this brings a smile to my face:

http://deadspin.com/tulsas-puppy-mascot-...1182679259

Spent a lot of time with him this morning and at the Vet's office. Kept wondering if he knew what was going on. Part of me sensed he did. Just hoped he didn't hold it against me.

Been there and done that several times and it never gets easier.

We love our pets, whether dogs or cats because they don't judge us (usually). They may pee on the bed just to let us know they weren't happy that we did not take them on vacation with us this time, like mine did the night we got home.

We get from pets what other humans don't often provide - unconditional love.

Sorry about your loss, CD. Part of the family.

(08-22-2013 02:18 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Spent a lot of time with him this morning and at the Vet's office. Kept wondering if he knew what was going on. Part of me sensed he did. Just hoped he didn't hold it against me.

When we put our rescue dog down in june I couldn't go. My wife had to do it. I love dogs and kids, its adults I can't stand.

Your making me sad reading about this. My dog was physically healthy but had mental issues that could not be overcome. I miss him. My son is still mad at my wife because she was the sane one and knew it was time before someone really got hurt. I am blinded when it comes to dogs. Its why she will not let me get another.

When my lab died he was in a similar situation as yours his last night he couldn't walk and was in pain. I stayed up with him all night and he died at the emergency vet. My daughter was 2 and she still talks about lucky.

Funny you say that, cause my wife was pushing the issue for months. I thought she was just sick of dog hair on the carpet. She is ice cold when it comes to death. Grew up on a farm, and saw lambs, chickens, barn cats, etc. dying or being slaughtered all the time. Much more practical than I am. Probably will send me to the Soilent Green factory when the time comes.

(08-22-2013 02:18 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Spent a lot of time with him this morning and at the Vet's office. Kept wondering if he knew what was going on. Part of me sensed he did. Just hoped he didn't hold it against me.

Of course he would not hold it against you, Dip. You did the kindest and most loving thing you could do for a pet you love ... you set him free. Tonight he's running happily at The Rainbow Bridge, and no doubt thanking you for allowing him to make the transition to The Other Side without any more suffering.

My heart hurts for you because you will miss him until you are reunited again. I absolutely believe that we all rejoin our former pets one day. In the meantime, he will be happy at The Rainbow Bridge:

http://rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm

(08-22-2013 04:51 PM)Whinny1 Wrote:  

(08-22-2013 02:18 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Spent a lot of time with him this morning and at the Vet's office. Kept wondering if he knew what was going on. Part of me sensed he did. Just hoped he didn't hold it against me.

Of course he would not hold it against you, Dip. You did the kindest and most loving thing you could do for a pet you love ... you set him free. Tonight he's running happily at The Rainbow Bridge, and no doubt thanking you for allowing him to make the transition to The Other Side without any more suffering.

My heart hurts for you because you will miss him until you are reunited again. I absolutely believe that we all rejoin our former pets one day. In the meantime, he will be happy at The Rainbow Bridge:

http://rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm

Damn you for making me cry!

I'm a believer, and I hope I did set him free. Then there's the logical scientific part of me that thinks we're all going to be worm food taking a dirt nap.

That Rainbow Bridge is something Mr. Whinny sent to me when I put my female Shepherd down years ago, and again when I threw in the towel in the cancer fight for my boy a few years back after a painful, drawn out fight that consumed me.

She's money.

I have a feeling this rescue mutt that I took on is going to bury me. I'm keeping him, his social issues aside, he's special and is warming up to the idea of other dogs in his space. I think he's getting tired of me.

If you cry when you lose a pet, that means....you're human.

I really believe that every "goodbye" leads to another "hello" somewhere on down the road. The Rainbow Bridge article is impossible to read without becoming emotional for anyone who really loves animals. And yet, it is comforting at the same time.

We add pets to our lives knowing that we will probably outlive them. There will eventually be sadness and pain. We will grieve their passing. In the meantime, there are years of joy both for them and for us. They are part of our family, and part of our heart.

(08-24-2013 07:49 AM)Whinny1 Wrote:  We add pets to our lives knowing that we will probably outlive them. There will eventually be sadness and pain. We will grieve their passing. In the meantime, there are years of joy both for them and for us. They are part of our family, and part of our heart.

Amen!