Goodbye to a great dog

[Rowski]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I've sort of been through with it as a child and again as a teenager. I didn't have have to make the call, dad did, but it was hard. They were both German Shepards, one saved my life too. My wife and I have an Airedale now that is 4. She has a liver problem. We are lucky that we can control it with diet but we know she may or may not lead a full life (o.k. at this time). I know I'll have to make that tough call and dread the day. I do not beleive in suffering either.

It's nice to see people in the forum understand the meaning of a true dog. Not an animal tied up to a little box, in the cold and weather.

It's nice to know a dog will greet you with ALL it's love and joy every single day of it's life no matter what kind of day you have.

My deepest sorrow for your loss. Remember she is gone but the memories and her soul will live forever. I bet if you look hard enough and long enough you will find her soul soon again.

Take care.

Derek

 

[GrantMO]

Peter,
I'm sorry about your loss. It's very admirable, from my perspective, when someone can act in their pet's best interest and do what's responsible and humane as you did. What's helped me in the past has been to realize just how much the dog has been able to pack into their short life and that they really did live a full life even if it was a small number by human standards.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Why dogs, especially Golden Retriever's, have such a short life compared to ours is one of the first thing I'm going to question the big man (woman?) about when (if) I get to heaven.

We've all probably run into those people that respond "I'll just get another one" when a vet says its x amount of dollars to prevent/stop a problem. I guess for a lover of anything it's hard to imagine how someone could be so callous. I've been there too, fighting the urge to prolong an animals life for my benefit. How we take care of our "weaker" planet cohorts is really the way we show how "fit" we are to "rule" the place.

I'm on my second Golden Retriever, I'm sure there's other great breeds out there, Goldens for some reason from what I can see don't seem to have a mean bone in their body! My previous dog could (by request) bark and growl with a sound that would scare off the Incredible Hulk, but if someone strange came by, would usually defend us by trying to untie their shoes or knocking them down with a stick in her mouth.

She would carry around a 3-foot fir branch, constantly spinning around. I think I still have marks on my leg from getting smacked! Loved every minute of it!

Got smart with the "new" one, started her off with hard rubber balls and a soccer ball, so far she hasn't whacked me with a stick or had to be yelled at to drop the rocks our previous pal had the habit of getting. (not to good on teeth, chewing on rocks!)

The feelings will get better but not go away, my biggest regret after the loss was everything I didn't do...never got around to getting her a younger sister...never taking her to the ocean. Have done so many times with this one, my body wasn't the same for month afterwards from all the ball throwing, kicking etc.

I also have cats who are also as much a member of the family as I am. Sometimes our usually scared male cat will keep the dog off the deck, that's fun to watch!

I'm a softie I guess, and I know I'd rather have an off-warranty engine blowup, then loose my dog.

del