A rough Goodbye

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Mark, You have my deepest sympathy.

What a beautiful tribute to write for your best friend.

I know how you feel, I lost mine last November. I had made the decision to put him down, just not at the Emergency Vet. He passed on the way home saving me the agony of actually doing it. Even now, when I think of him, I get both fond and melancholy feelings simultaneously.

I will say this, the grief you have is proportionate to the love and devotion for your buddy. The more grief you have just means the more you loved your friend. Time will help, but not totally erase your grief. But alas, that is a good thing, for we never want to forget our loved ones. I too, believe that they'll be waiting for us in heaven.

 

[PBinWA]

These posts are too emotional for me. Your friend will miss you and will always be thankful you were there for him. It sounds like you are a great friend and a responsible pet owner

Make sure you go out and find another friend as soon as you can. It's the right thing to do and it will make you feel happier.

Remember the good stuff and hopefully it will make the bad stuff not so bad.

 

[frank_f15]

some would scoff at that kind of attachment to an animal. But i will not!!!! i know how u feel as we have lost an good and faithful friend also.

 

[GaryE]

Mark,

I fear I will be going through the same as you all too soon. You did the right thing. I just hope I will be able to do the same when the time comes.....

I hurts to know what you had to go through..... They do teach us so much.... And ask so little in return.

Take care..... He will always be "one of your closest friends" and you will always be his best friend.....


Gary

 

[Freds]

That's very sweet, Mark. You made my eyes water up.
Sorry about your loss, but I see too many people keeping their 4 legged loved ones around too long.
You are indeed compassionate.

 

[jpr62902]

Vaya con Dios, mi compadre.

 

[Mark4510]

Thanks Folks for all the kind words and support.

There was a certain place, late in his life, where he would lay on the soft cool grass and look down the hill at the lower pasture, the pond and our driveway where he could watch life go by for hours on end. So, just off the lawn from that favorite spot, I dug a good size hole where I placed his favorite bed, a tennis ball and a short note I had written.

When the time came he indeed ate his fill of the normally forbidden foods and in one of those bites I slipped a couple of small pills that let him relax. My wife and I sat near him while he lay back with his head on my leg. His head only came up for a moment when the vet pulled up and he managed to lick my hand one last time as the kind vet readied her liberating dose of drugs.

The end came as easily to him as it was difficult for us but ultimately it was the right thing to do for him.

Rather than reply to each of your posts and PM’s individually, let me simply say that your words of kindness, support and sympathy make this rough goodbye just a bit more bearable and remind me of all the great people that share that love and respect for the non humans in their lives here on TBN/CBN. I cannot express how much each of your replies lifts my heart and lightens my burden…..

Thanks again to all and now on with journey we call life.

Respectfully,
Mark

 

[equipman]

mark4510
14 or 15 years ago, we were "adopted" by a couple of young throwaway chow/rottie brothers and they have been part of our family ever since. This evening the vet is coming over to end the pain for one of them and so I printed out your message and shared it with my wife. We have been putting this off for a couple of weeks and now it is time to end LeeRoy's suffering. The hardest part of loving pets is to know when it is time and then to do what is right for them. Your message made us both cry, but feel better at the same time. Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Lewis

 

[Boondox]

Ah, Mark! I just noticed this thread and it brought big tears to my eyes. I've lost wonderful canine companions before, and my Molson is drawing near to the end of his time with me. Can't see so well anymore, partly deaf, arthritic, but the nose still works and we share memories of hunts we shared. Now and then I grab a rifle and we trod into the woods together, sit on a stump, share a sandwich and cuddle up together while his nose takes in the scents of the forest creatures and the smell of gun oil.

I hope, when his time comes, I can let go as gracefully as you have done. Pete

 

[Mark4510]

Lewis and Pete,
Thanks for the kind thoughts. I wont pretend that I dont wake up in the middle of the night, trying to carefully step around a good friend that is no longer there, only to get a lump in my throat when I remember he is out of my life for now.

I suspect we all have our cherished moments with our furry friends which is what makes saying goodbye so tough. My head says that the timing was about right but my heart begged for another moment of tail wagging, another bright eyed playful look as he found a lost tennis ball, or the funny way he cocked his head when he was asked if he wanted another cookie.

I am blessed and honored to have had so many kind folks at TBN share their experiences and feelings regarding saying goodbye and cherishing the time they have with their pets.

Warmest regards,
Mark