Sigarms, very sorry for what you are going through. Been there a number of times, including giving them their favorite dinner. Hopefully you can focus on the good times and smile after a while. I know that's how I am able to look back on my past dogs now.
No worries, and thanks for the kind words (and Welshman).
From one of my original posts per this topic...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/167941-very-good-day.html?highlight= ... we've had to take 4 dreaded vet trips to end a life, added one who died of an apparent heart attack at age 8 while we were on family vacation (in laws were watching that one, and it was hard on my FIL as the one who went was one of his favorites).
The girl whose last day was yesterday came to us around 12 years ago (when she came to us, the vet figured 3-5 years old, so it was a good run). She was apparently used in a puppy mill who was left to roam the rural neighborhood with one left offspring (those two were a bugger to catch even though they were "staying" at a house). We found the son a home, but ended up keeping her after a guy who took her had to return her back to us a year later due to his work schedule (we use to do a lot of work with the rural human society).
Pound for pound, she was probably the most strongest and ferocious dogs we had. Great around people, but more than once you would find her dragging a ground hog up the hill at least twice her size. My wife mentioned how she would run in the yard, and honestly, it's been so long I forgot how fast she use to be despite her size. She was a tough bugger, survived a pretty viscous dog attack (she wasn't fast enough), getting accidently hit by a car, and lastly, apparently getting bit by a venomous snake inside her gums. She was going blind, seemed to loss off all her hearing, and the apparent dementia was taking a toll. Just sucks after all she's been through, we had to make the decision.
Had one dog growing up who died after 15 years. Being single, didn't own a dog for the next 20 years and "inherited" the lab in the linked post as she came with my wife:laughing: Honestly, now I can't ever imagine being with a dog. That said, we still have 3 left, and the next dreaded vet visit shouldn't have to be made for another 7-10 years.
Same dog from yesterday, years ago, with a neice up in PA.
Yestereday after a walk with me and the misses. He knows we always have treats in our pockets when we're on a walk:laughing:
