Bad seat time...

[EastTexFrank]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> God made dogs lives so short so we could enjoy more of them in our short lifetimes </font> )</font>

That's a beautiful thought.

Please accept my condolences. I can only imagine what you must be feeling at this moment but time will help heal the pain.

Here in East Texas we have a big problem with stray dogs chasing livestock. After his horses were harassed, a neighbor went on a spree of shooting every dog he saw irregardless of whether it had a collar on or not. About that time, one of our dogs was shot in the foot. She had been brought up around horses and cows and wasn't a chaser or a wanderer but she did patrol our pasture. Couldn't prove anything but it sure was a coincidence. Right after that my wife converted them from outside dogs to inside dogs and that's where they've been ever since. I don't know what it is about dogs that allows them to weave themselves into the fabric of our lives but I do know that life would be a lot poorer without them.

 

[Mark4510]

This thread is a testemant to the quality of the people that post on TBN. Its nice to see people that can disagree in many areas pull together to support someone else when needed. My hat is off to all of you for your collective kindness and support for others. You are what makes America great.

 

[IrTxRx]

I can empathize. Second best dog We've ever owned. Collared, groomed dog shot down, we heard the shot and the yelp, but never could prove who did it (although we have a good idea) and didn't find the body. My favorite part was explaining to my 3 yo why her annie went away /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
three months later, we are all better and looking to adopt again.
Laws are different in different areas, however, I was surprised to find out in "hang 'em high" Texas that it is NOT legal to shoot a dog on your property, just because they are on your property. The canine must be threatening people or livestock.

I would suggest you contact PETA (note: not an endorsement of that organization) for legal direction and call you local law enforcement RIGHT NOW. You may have to make them aware what the law is. Nothing will happen to your "neighbor" but an inquiring sheriff will let them know what they did was illegal and that someone did not appreciate it.

On the bright side, our place is now being fenced hog-tight because my wife said she didn't care what it cost, get it done so it didn't happen to the best dog we've ever owned.

My condolences

 

[mbrule]

DFW,

Just had to chime in with everyone else to say I am very sorry for your loss. That is truly a heatbreaking situation.

I think it is great that we can share even things like this with list, and find so much understanding.

Be strong and best wishes!

Matt

 

[jackd]

DFW.. I have to chime in here too, and express my sympathy...I can't imagine ANYONE destroying our "best friends". I could go on, but...

JackD

 

[Taylortractornut]

DFW Ive had to do it several times over the last few years with a few of the dogs I gew up with even a cat. Ive even dug 3 graves for folks I went to high school with. I beilve the pets were harder to bury. dont mean to sound cold but ive always been alot closer to my animals. You have my prayers Taylor Lambert

 

[bandit67]

Boy, I can imagine what you are going through. We've had 3 losses in the last few years, and they seem to get harder and harder. Then, back in April, I noticed a very rapid deterioration in my unusually large (for his breed) 75 lb Husky, who's 10 now, over the course of a day. By the time I got him in to the afterhours emergency clinic, he had a fever of 107.5* (apparently 108 usually means the end in a dog), and it didn't look like he would make it through the night. So, nearly out of the blue, I was having to put very serious consideration into putting him down, only a day after he was bouncing around like normal.

My wife begged me to not do it, but to have them put him on intravenous meds so they could try like heck to get him through the night, so that I could rush him home for the kids to say goodbye the next morning. He made it through the night after they got his temp down, and that next morning was horrible keeping my composure while the kids said their goodbyes, explaining everything to them, knowing that I was going to take him into our vet to end it.

When I got him into the vet, his temp was near normal, so the recommendation was that with such a rapid recovery, the antibiotics must have been getting whatever was ailing him ($600 worth of tests still couldn't determine the problem). Well, I'm happy to report that 5 days later, not only was my buddy still around, but he was completely back to his normal hyper self. And he seems to be getting more and more like when he was a puppy (happy and hyper) to this day.

But when I hear of stories like this, and think about the day that will eventually come, and remember how close it almost was, it's quite sobering. Even more so knowing how devastated my 3 year old daughter will be when that day finally does come.

So, hang in there. My condolences to you and your family. Hope my little miracle story didn't bum you out any more than you already probably are.

 

[Laminarman]

"Someone said that the only place you can bury a dog is in your heart. That way you can call the dog in for a little chat now and then- teasing it about being a clumsy puppy and looking down down at your old hunting boots remembering who it was that put teeth marks in them.

You can hunt a day or so again, together, when you need a certain kind of memory- another day you like better than the one you're living right now"

Gene Hill
"Tippy" in Tears and Laughter

 

[lablovers]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Reading the numerous posts brought tears to my eyes thinking about how important these special animals are. My dogs are every bit a part of our family and I can't imagine losing one of them in such a cruel and heartless manner. Best wishes and God bless your old friend. He may be gone but not fogotten.

 

[khd]

I know how you feel. We lost our lab and bulldog within a month of each other this March and April. It was a hard spring for the whole family.

My condolences.

Kevin

 

[Tom_W]

Sorry for your untimely loss. I don't understand people that are cruel to animals. I have two labs, one at the beginning of life(6mo) and one approching the end(14yr). Both bring me so much joy. I too shed a tear reading some of these posts and had go hug my buddies and thank the lord for them. I've had 4 legged family for most of my life and though it is very hard at the end to make certain decisions I would not hesitate to act for the quality of life is very important. When you can bring yourself to allow another pup into your life, do so with the same love you've had for all the others in the past. For they will love you right back.

 

[David_G]

DFW
My eyes are wet just reading this. I don't think I could keep your composure if that happened to Pebbles.
Keep your old mate close in your heart.

 

[DAP]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...Here in East Texas we have a big problem with stray dogs chasing livestock. )</font>

With all due respect Frank and others ... and language is important - the problem is NOT the DOGS. It is PEOPLE and their lack of responsibility in owning/caring/managing dogs.

The semantics are important. In this case, the emphasis should be clear so that the real issue can be brought to light.

This is not the first time we at TBN have heard of this horror. I wish I could say it would be the last, but that's folly too.

The pain and loss involved makes a lot of us angry and leaves us feeling helpless.

Remember this ... the DOGS aren't the problem. The GUNS aren't the problem, it's PEOPLE.

 

[DFW]

After reading all of your heartfelt responses and being able to see the keyboard and screen again, I want to thank all of you who took the time to post a response and to share with me and everyone else their heartbreaking experiences. I knew I wasn’t alone, but I guess as I get older (pushing 60) and life gets more precious, we want to hold our love ones closer and protect them even more. When I bought my tractor and found TBN I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would find such fantastic family of people so willing to help someone that they don’t know, share their feelings and experiences. I really appreciate all of the suggestions for moving on and have already put some of them into play. To be quite honest, plotting revenge was the only thing that kept me going in the early days of this horrible episode. But, I have moved on from there and can only hope that his retribution will come from a higher power. I too cannot understand how some people can do this to Gods creatures. BTW, I did call the Sheriff and the Highway Patrol, their response, “any eyewitnesses? Well no, but I’ve got his tire tracks and he was the only one going out at that time, sorry nothing we can do” click. Thank God I still have her sister, the SOB didn’t get her. And now whenever a Red truck goes by the house she goes berserk trying to get out, I suspect to kill the SOB as she was the only witness. But, after the truck is gone, she looks for her sister and whines and can’t understand, then my heart breaks all over again. My wife and I decided to get a companion for her and for us. So, we adopted a pup from the shelter and they seem to be bonding, forgot how rambunctious pups can be, I guess I’ll have to redo the wooden furniture again and keep filling in the holes in the yard. And yes, we are going to put up more fencing no matter the cost to keep them safe from cretins such as my “neighbor”. I guess I should define my neighborhood. I am one of 69 property owners in a 2,800 acre former ranch that was parceled up into 40+/- acre lots. Mine, unfortunately, has one of our association roads running through it. But, out of 69 property owners, some owners have multiple parcels, there are only 4 full time residents on my side, this SOB is only an occasional resident. I did fence my property when we first got our girls and that worked until my friend learned how to jump the fence, she was a smart one. But, with only three cars a day on average and they all know my dogs, I procrastinated on fencing improvements. After all I didn’t move all the way out her to keep my dogs penned up, I wanted them to have a certain amount of freedom. So, in essence I do share some of the blame for this tragedy, I could have done more. But that’s yesterday. I am going to put up a Stop sign up for that guy in the 18-wheeler today and get on my tractor and do something.

I don’t know if my words adequately conveyed my sincere thanks to you all for you outpouring of sympathy and support, so I’ll say it again, thank you and god bless you and your loved ones.

David

 

[Richard]

all I can say is sorry for your loss... reading this brings back tears to my eyes for my similar situation, AND it makes my chest just tight with anger at the senslessness of the act. In fact, it infuriates the dickens outta me.

I hope (and it sounds like you are) you can channel your "negative vibes" about this in a positive way to make something better come out of it.

Every time I bottle up the local TVA land (again, with their permission), I say to myself "that's for you Daisy & Wiggles" and I feel a bit better knowing that they are sharing the moment with me.

dang eyes.......cant see now.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[EastTexFrank]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> Remember this ... the DOGS aren't the problem. The GUNS aren't the problem, it's PEOPLE. </font> )</font>


DAP, I'm sorry I didn't make myself or my feelings clear and I agree with you 100%. I didn't expand of what I said because it is one of my "hot buttons" and I didn't want to rant on this particular thread.

 

[techinNY]

Sorry for your loss, we have two four legged friends, a cat and a dog (seems owning an old farm is making that number grow). I sit here in tears knowing some day I will be faced with having to dig unwanted holes, and don't know if I will be able to. Again, sorry for your loss.