13 posts
Some of you won't get this and that's ok. We lost our golden retriever yesterday after 13 years. We are absolutely heart broken. I have had dogs all my life and loved them all. This is THE best dog we've ever had. Just the most loving, gentle, sweet dog ever. Amy is absolutely nuts over him. I have never seen a person give so much affection to an animal in my life. She just adores him.
I remember the first time she said "we are taking him on vacation with us." I was like "there is no way we're taking him. He'll destroy our camper and we'll spend all our time babysitting him." To which she replied "oh yes we are taking him." He has been on many of our vacations since then. He's been to Gatlinburg, Lake Norris, Lake Erie, Buck Creek, the local lake we camp at several times a year about 25 times, and many other places. He loved going camping and to the lake. As soon as we'd go over the hill to the campgrounds beach at our local lake, he'd RACE down the hill because he knew we were taking him swimming.
I have mentioned this before but it's been a while. My dad got a golden and told us and my brother. My brother went to the same place and got his brother. Then Amy went there and got his other brother. So we had three brothers in our family. So they always got to go on the family camping trips, etc.
As bad as I feel, I feel worse for Amy. To say she is taking this very hard would be an understatement. She is a wreck. This really is like losing a close family member. Way beyond sad and hurting right now. :'(
sorry to hear that, DTR. goldens are such nice dogs - there's a couple across the street that come and visit every day. losing a dog or cat is rough. :(
you know it's bad when your neighbors cry when your dog dies. While we never encouraged him to leave the yard, he would "visit" the neighbors and they all loved him. My neighbors on either side have been there for years and will see him in the back yard and yell at him to come over. Yesterday when we told both of them they both cried.
Howie, so sorry to hear this... We lost the best German Shepherd ever 2 years ago. I can't even describe how amazing this dog was. He was prefectly in tune with Dory's illnesses and shadowed her everywhere, almost like a care giver/service dog. And he loved the kids, they could do anything with him. Out of nowhere he went blind, basically the blood vessels in his eyes burst. At this point we found out the underlying cause was kidney disease. We tried to keep him going but he went downhill pretty fast and it was just a horrible way for him to go out. He was only 9.
We were all in shambles - Dory the worst. She basically broke down and couldn't function. She doesn't even remember now how bad she was. Out of desperation - I say that because none of us were over the loss yet - we went and got a puppy about 6 weeks later. And he has helped us all a ton, despite his allergy issues.
But there was of course no replacing Tiki. But Jacob has further expanded our hearts and helped us cope.
No words of wisdom but I (we) know exactly what you are going thru. Hang in there. And get a puppy when you are ready.
I have to say, I wasn't ready for this. I've lost MIL, two of my life long best friends, etc. in the last 2 years and none of them has bothered me as much as this. They are in your home every day and you spend every day with them. You spend more time with them than your best friends and family.
Our Jack Russell just turned 6. He has had his big brother since he was 6 weeks old. They are TOTAL opposites, but were completely inseparable. He's going nuts as well. Keeps going to the back door like he has to go out, but all he wants to do is go out on the deck and look for Fletch. last night he kept getting out of bed to go in the other room looking for him. Today when I left for work, he was crying... first time he's ever been alone.
I get that 100%. I haven't had a dog for many years now, but previously had 3 (at different times) and it really is a total heartbreak when they go....especially as with 2 of my dogs I had to have them put to sleep as they became so old they could no longer function. Watching the life just fade from them when being put down is the worst experience ever.
yes, and that's what happened here. Starting last week, he was having a real hard time going out to go to the bathroom. You'd have to make him and even help him get up. Then he'd go out and go, and immediately lay down in the ice. He couldn't even walk back in the house. I'd have to go out and get him. On Friday, he stopped eating. He went out Saturday morning once and then we couldn't get him up to go out Saturday night. he didn't eat again and only drank a tiny bit of water. Sunday he didn't eat and didn't get up at all. Yesterday we took him to the vet. and he told us that we had to do it. He told us he'd give him a shot and within 15 minutes he'd be gone. First, he couldn't find a good vein. They shaved the other front leg and tried again. Couldn't get one there. Then he tried to find on on his back leg. 30 minutes later, he gave up and said I will just have to give him a shot in his stomach and it will take a big longer that way. He gave him the shot and said it would take 20-25 minutes. A half hour later he was still breathing and he said he'd give him some more, and he gave him another shot. 30 minutes after that, he was still breathing. It had now been over 90 minutes since the "this will be over in 15 minutes) and he was still alive, and wife still hadn't stopped hugging him. He finally said he'd try the other back leg and this time he got a vein and it was over a few minutes later.
I don't even know why I told you all of that except because of what Jon just said. When it was 15 minutes, it was going to be grueling. It ended up taking almost two hours. It was HORRIBLE!!!! I'm not going to pull any tough guy BS and say otherwise. This is killing me. But, I am legitimately worried about my wife. She is completely devastated. She just texted me and said "I just want to curl up and die." :(
Sorry to hear about it Howie.
Oh, I get it. I feel for you guys. I have Two older dogs here now. One is listening to the new Iced Earth with me. (I take that back, He can't hear shit.)
I hate this part of pet ownership, but the Whole experience is worth it. I'm sure when I lose these two I'll get another. There are just way too many animals that need a home to not do it. I have one rescue and one pain in the ass Pure breed.
Hang in there, Dude.
Sorry to hear that, Howie. Getting over the loss of a pet is not easy, even when gone they're still a part of you, and for most, they'll never really leave. I'm sure you gave him a charmed 13 years he may not have been lucky enough to have somewhere else. I can't imagine what you went through for 90 min. I went in and held my cat while they put her down last year, and though it was over in a few seconds, it was brutal. I lost it too. Took me months before I could enter her two rooms to begin cleaning up her things.
Howie,
Man, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your pooch. The process at the vet is even worse. Man.
I know a couple years ago, when my Beagle Molly passed, I was a blubbering mess. I reacted far harder to her loss than any other pooch who was part of the family.
Sorry to hear your family friend is gone. Y'all will heal up in a bit. So hang in there Howie and Family.....