Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

[bob]

Best wishes for your boy too.

I hope Delta gets back to her quality of life. She had been slowing down a bit in the past 6 months, but still up for running, barking, stealing food from my kids, etc, but now she's just a zombie. I think that is likely due to the vertigo she has, but we aren't 100% sure.

Every day she seems to do a thing or two that she wasn't doing the day before like pushing a door open with her nose, but its been a slow road.

[Castlerock]

Hoping for the best for Delta.

I will add that I think the 8 year old should be given the option to attend and that all should be given the chance to say a final goodbye. I hope this advice is not needed in your case.

[claphamsa]

not me but.... my bother had a 2 year old Maine coon die today.... Cash was all white, and the most beautiful cat i have ever met. he was running around normal in the morning, my 9 year old niece picked him up to put him to bed...and he died. Maine coons despite being great cats can have over breeding problems, and im sure that what hapend here(bad heart) now my brother lost his cat (was his, we are cat people) and has to deal with a 9 year old who thinks she killed her dads cat. hug your pets, ever day is precious

[Wolfpack]

After almost 18 years, we are likely in our final days with our Maine Coon, Josh, who we think is now suffering from kidney failure. We have been confronting a very difficult decision about whether and when to put him to sleep. Given his age, we realized early on that committing to measures to extend his life wasn't really the proper thing to do since he's already very old by cat standards. The dilemma has been more to do with whether we wanted him to die naturally and hope that he wasn't suffering before that occurred or have him put to sleep since he was already in a non-recoverable decline and letting him go on his own was only going to extend the time he may be experiencing suffering in his condition. It has not been an easy time and I've shed a few tears over him already, given he was our first cat and was along with Max (who died a few years back) our "kids before we had kids". Except for a couple of months right after college graduation, I've had him my entire post-graduate adult life through two moves and three kids. He's a big cat being a Maine Coon, but still a cat who doesn't occupy a great deal of space, yet somehow the house will seem emptier without him, I'm sure.

We are scheduled to visit the vet tomorrow afternoon to determine his true condition and what if anything should be done or whether the best course is to go ahead and put him to sleep.

[Edward64]

Wish you the best and strength to make the right decision for Josh.

[corbes]

Best wishes to you wolfpack. Sending warm thoughts to you and your family.

[Wolfpack]

The vet visit was just a confirmation of Josh's failing health and so he was put to sleep. We had all said our good-byes as the day went on before I took him in. It's been hard for me especially as he was "my kitty" in a sense as I picked him out way back in 1998. I've been pretty calm a lot of the time, but then it'll hit me and I get pretty emotional. It's also been touching to see my own kids and how they spent their last days with him, knowing he won't be around for them anymore. Both the older ones are grieving in their own ways. The baby is too young to likely remember him as she grows older, though we do have plenty of pictures of him to show her. Regardless, we are all sad to have lost him.

RIP Josh. I'll miss you.

April 12, 1998 - January 5, 2016

[Logan]

Sorry to hear pack. Sounds like you guys did the right thing, although I know from experience that doesn't help much in the short term.

[Neuqua]

Best wishes to you Wolfpack.

I hate this thread.

[Radii]

Sorry to hear that Wolfpack. Hang in there.

[Ryche]

Sad to hear Wolfpack. Went the through the same thing with my 19 year old cat last year. Any food went right through him, lost a ton of weight. Vet pumped some fluids in to him and that help keep him relatively happy and healthy for a little longer but when he went downhill at the end it was bad.

[claphamsa]

so sorry wolfpack!

[MizzouRah]

Sorry

[bob]

So sorry to hear about your loss Wolfpack.





Delta is hanging in there, but honestly we don't know for how long. She has given up on dry food completely, and is eating about 2 cans of wet food a day. But even then, she appears to be losing weight. She still goes for two walks a day with me (1 mile and then a mile or less depending on how she is feeling and how cold it is), and still tries to get fries and pizza crusts from me, so she hasn't given up yet.

We go to the vet tomorrow for another check up. Hoping against hope that she has at least maintained weight.

The worst part is that I have to go on a business trip out of the country next week. I just pray she makes it through that.

[bob]

The vet trip did not go well and they actually recommended we put her to sleep today before she loses her ability to walk, which will be soon. They were amazed she was still able to walk a mile with me, saying it was pure will power prevailing over her failing body. We will actually do it tomorrow so the kids can say goodbye. Poor sweet Delta.

[timmae]

Thoughts are with you Bob... never an easy way to deal with these things. It sounds like Delta lived an awesome full life. I am spending some volunteer time at the local no kill shelter this Sunday and will place Delta's name there.

[claphamsa]

[BYU 14]

Bob and Wolfpack, so sorry for you both. I really hate this thread, but at the same time it is so heartwarming to see the love that people here have for and share with their furry family members.

[Wolfpack]

Thanks for the kind words, all, and prayers and best wishes to you and your family, bob.

[bob]

One final post for me on this. Again, thanks for all the thoughts and advice.

We told our daughters last night and you can imagine that they were very upset. We took Delta for ice cream (her typical birthday treat) and a very short family walk. I then moved multiple mattresses into the living room so we could all sleep with her, and spent the night telling Delta stories and singing her songs. In time, I think we will all look back fondly on that night as a great memory. During the course of the night, Delta snuggled with each member of the family.

My daughters decided that they couldn't bear to be there at the vet, so they went to school. I was ok with the decision since it was their's. My wife and I spent the morning with Delta, then took her for one final walk at a park near the vet that we used to walk her at before we got married. Pure grit got her through that 1/4th mile.

Then on to the vet, where she did pass peacefully.

Delta, you were the best dog a man could ask for! I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge.

[bhlloy]

it got dusty in here all of a sudden. Beautiful tribute and sorry for both of your losses

[MizzouRah]

It's so tough.. but you were such great parents!!!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sounds like you gave Delta a pretty fantastic send off, bob.

My dog, Aegon, will be 10 years old next month. He's in really good health and everything, but I know we're moving towards those twilight years. We've been through a lot together, so it will be very tough.

[BYU 14]

Wow, that got me teared up Bob, beautiful send off and I know it will always be a special memory. R.I.P Delta.

[duckman]

Tomorrow, we're going to take our poodle/shih tzu, Cujo, to the vet to send her across, what my wife calls, the "rainbow bridge." He has been a part of my life since he came home as a puppy at 12 weeks old. He turned 14 in November.

He has been battling a series of kidney infections for the past couple years, but recently he was showing some senility. We took him to the vet and it was discovered that he was in kidney failure. We changed his pain medication for his hips and started him on a kidney medication. He showed some improvement and thought we bought him 6-12 months. However, it only bought him a month. His disease has progressed so much that his kidneys are not passing through water into his body. His vet told us that it's causing him severe pain. She was kind enough to give us two shots to make him comfortable for the next 24 hours, so we can have one more day with him.

It's going to be strange not having him snuggled up to me on the recliner or the bed or hear him bark up a storm when the door bell rings. He practically runs the house. He's a 11 pound dog who can make our 70 pound lab/pointers coward and the cats steer clear of him. He's probably the baddest small dog on the planet. Cujo is a fitting name for him.

My wife and I are heartbroken. I'm never going to be the same again.
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[Radii]

so sorry duckman

[BYU 14]

Heartbreaking Duckman, so sorry my friend. Here is to enjoying this day with Cujo to the fullest. Thoughts and hugs to the family!

[claphamsa]

sorry for your loss

[MizzouRah]

Ugh.. so sorry

[timmae]

So sorry man... sounds like Cujo has had a full life. Thinking of you and yours..

[Sweed]

To bob, wolfpack, and duckman...

It is so hard to come into this thread and yet at the same time it is uplifting to hear about these pets, family members in reality, and the love and companionship they bring into our lives. Thoughts are with all of you and your families at this hard time.

[duckman]

Thanks, everyone for your condolences. He went peacefully this morning. He was terrified of vets, but he didn't fight when we brought him inside. He was simply worn out from fighting his illness.

[BYU 14]

[bob]

So sorry for your loss, duckman.

[Mota]

Duckman, I'm really sorry. We also got a Shih Poo, he's 1 1/2 years old now. I had no idea at the time how much they could become a part of your family. "It's just a dog". But wow, they have so much love to give, and just dig themselves right into your family. I can't imagine how it will be after 10+ years. I really feel for you.

[duckman]

Thanks, man. My mom actually talked me into getting him. My last two childhood dogs were put down for biting a person, so I didn't want to go through that. I'm so glad she talked me into it. He ended up being the best dog I ever had. They have these big personalities for an "old lady's" dog. He would go crazy when I got home and I had to pick him up to lick the side of my face or he wouldn't stop. Then when I settled down in my recliner, he would lay between the arm of the chair and my leg. He also acted like a badass around other dogs and that would crack me up.

I hope yours is as much fun as mine was. They're a great little mixed breed, especially if you live in an apartment and/or can't take a dog on long walks because they're small and don't require a lot of exercise.

[GoldenEagle]

I have always dreaded posting in this thread, but with eight dogs I knew it was inevitable that I would have to.

This is Bear:



We got Bear from the LRAS back in 2006 when he was approximately two years old. We were looking for a companion for our other large dog. My future wife walked toward him at a Petco adoption event. He immediately jumped up and gave her a big hug. We wanted to adopt him then, but we were both going home for Thanksgiving. The volunteer informed us that he was in a critical situation and may not be there when we got back. My wife went Monday morning and got him before the holiday.

Bear was a sophisticated and well-mannered dog. He quickly earned the nickname "Mr. Bear" or simply "Mister" because of his laid back personality and calm demeanor. He minded his manners so well that when he came inside with wet paws, he would immediately sit on the towel and offer one paw at a time to let us wipe them.

He loved to get in your lap. He often wouldn't take no for an answer. It created for some awkward situations having a 90 lb. dog sitting in your lap, but it made him happy to think he was like one of our smaller dogs. He had the misfortune of being a small dog trapped in a large dog's body.

He also had an obsession with rawhide bones. He memorized the sound of the kitchen drawer where we kept the bones. Every day when I opened that drawer, he would jump down and run toward me. We always saved the best from the bag for him because we knew he enjoyed them so much.

If I could use one word to describe Bear it would be trust. We trusted him in any situation. We could leave him with any other combination of dogs and not have to worry about it. We could leave him out in the house and know that nothing would be torn up when we got home. He was just a great dog and it was a blessing to have him.

Earlier this week, we had to say our final good byes to Bear. Looking back on that hug he gave my wife, I realize that we didn't choose him. He chose us. Because of that, we had nine great years filled with loyalty and companionship. We are going to miss him terribly. But we are thankful that we were able to give him a great life.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Great post, GoldenEagle. Really.

Bear sounds like an awesome dog and I love that picture. You guys were lucky to have him and he was lucky to have you.

[timmae]

Thoughts are with your family Golden... sounds like Mister Bear had one heck of a great life and he gave as good as he got.

[Sweed]

Sorry for your loss GoldenEagle.

[MizzouRah]

Ugh... don't make me cry. He did have awesome parents!!

[BYU 14]

Beautiful post, so sorry for your loss GoldenEagle

[duckman]

GoldenEagle, sorry for your loss.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It looks like it's going to be my turn soon in this thread...

Over the last few weeks, I noticed that my dog, Aegon, had been struggling to poop. When did poop only very little came out and it was quite soft. I was worried, but I had just been to the vet for his annual check up and full line of blood work and everything was fine. Then he started to pee in the house a few times, something that he never, ever did. I called the vet and she gave me some meds for him.

Nothing really worked and then I started to notice that he was having trouble peeing in addition to pooping and he wasn't really interested in food, which was a bad sign, because Aegon loves to eat. Loves. It.

So, I took him to the vet today for X-rays and some tests. It turns out that he has a very enlarged prostate. They don't know if it's cancer or not, but I don't think it will make too much of a difference either way. There doesn't seem like there is a whole lot they will be able to do. They're doing to give him some medication to help ease the pain and hopefully reduce the swelling a bit, but, depending on how he responds to the medication, he likely only has a couple of months or so at best. He's 10 years old. I really figured I would, at least, have another 3 or so years with him.

I am pretty torn up about it. Since my wife died two years ago, he's really been my only "immediate" family. He's the only other "person" I live with. My family is all around and have friends and such, but he's been my constant companion.

This sucks.

[Edward64]

Sorry to hear.

Having experienced this myself, I will say that my wife and I probably waited too long where our dalmatian ultimately succumbed to a seizure and never recovered. FWIW, if it comes down to it do what is best for your dog.

[MizzouRah]

Sorry to hear HB

[Honolulu_Blue]

Aegon Targaryen Boivin, first of his name, Aegon The Adorable, Aegon The Unlikely, Aegon Underfoot
Today I had to say goodbye for the last time to my dog, Aegon.

Over ten years ago, in May of 2006, we adopted him and Duncan, who we gave to my parents and is still with them today, from the Detroit Animal Control. He and I have been through a lot since then.

"Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.” - A Storm of Swords.

Aegon was both sides of that same coin.

There was some madness in him.

He wasn't the easiest dog in the world. He was nervous, reactive, territorial of his house, protective of me, and at some point years ago determined he was anti-social. The list of things the poor guy was afraid of is as long as it is random: umbrellas, plastic bags, balloons, the crackling of the fire, the bass of my surround system, any kind of beeping, the sound of heavy trucks passing, fireworks (of course), thunder, heavy rains that accompany thunder, strong wins that bring heavy rains that accompany thunder, my voice whenever I was on a work call, the washing of dishes, vacuums, car windows, etc., etc.

He never got used to kids - excitement, loud noises, and sudden movements were things he wasn't accustomed to. At some point early on, he decided that he had enough friends and was very particular about who he'd let into his pack. He hated cats. And the doorbell. And would not permit anyone to approach us whilst on a walk.

There was also much greatness in him.

In his environment and with those (15 or so people) he was comfortable with, he was a great dog. From the day we brought him home, he loved nothing more to sit in a lap. He craved physical contact. Despite early attempts to keep him off the furniture, he quickly became a 60 lbs. lap dog that was allowed pretty much everywhere. Almost every morning, I would get up an hour and a half early just to take him for a walk and then come home to snuggle with him on the couch for an hour or so while I drank my coffee and watched whatever shows I had on the DVR.

Despite his anti-social ways at home and on walks, when he was at Pawz Inn, his daycare/boarding place, his home away from home, he was incredibly sociable. He would hangout, play, and snuggle up with special needs students who visited once a week. He was great with those kids and with the other dogs, though he still hated cats.

He was smart. He had a pretty decent vocabulary for being a dog. He knew the word squirrel (any toy), dinner (any meal), stroll, sit, shake, outside, settle, "leave it", and okay. He even knew some hand gestures.

He loved to go for walks (primarily to get treats at Cafe Muse and to hunt for and consume any variety of edible unidentified street objects), snuggle, play with the hose, play with his toys, always preferring the newest toy (even after eviscerating them), run around (and bark), wrestle (only with me), but, most of all, he loved food.

We let him lick the plates after meals in exchange for no begging while eating. This worked pretty well, up until he decided that the meal should be over. Since he was so attuned to me in pretty much every way, his meal timer was more or less set to how long I take to eat, which is pretty fast. So, if there was ever too much conversation during a meal, or if someone ate too slowly, Aegon would grow restless. He'd stare. He'd whine. He'd harumph and stomp around. And, lastly, bark petulantly at the inexcusable delay.

I wouldn't feed him breakfast until after 5 am. And it was remarkable how often he woke me up within 3-5 minutes of 5 am.

I'll miss having coffee with him on the couch in the morning. I'll miss the sound of his tail thumping when he heard me first thing in the morning. I'll miss that intense look he gave me when asking for his first, second, sometimes fifth or six dinners of the evening. I'll miss how excited he got about the things he loved. How he'd jump and spin in the air if something good was going into his bowl. How he bounced like a gazelle when he was let outside. How he pranced into the kitchen for dinners. I'll miss how excited he got every time I picked him up from Pawz Inn, whether he'd been there just for the day or for a week. I'll miss our daily strolls together, even those when it was super cold out, perhaps especially those. I'll miss his snoring. I'll miss his farts. I'll miss how his ears used to get turned inside out sometimes. I'll miss his loud, content sighs when he'd melt into a lap. I'll miss how he'd herd and harass me all around the house when he felt like he was over due for a walk. I will miss his strong, quirky personality. I will miss how in tune we were with each other. How much we enjoyed our routines together.

I will miss my dog. I will miss him dearly.

He's been by my side and a constant source of comfort and calm during some very rough times over the last several years.

He was a great dog. A great friend.

I love you, pal. Thanks for being my dog.

[AnalBumCover]

So sorry H_B.

That was a great write up.

[Thomkal]

Sorry for your loss HB, nice tribute to Aegon.

[Sweed]

Sorry HB for you loss. What a great story.