I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
tears at you..
He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
respond. I loved it.
He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
lying there watching me work.
I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
been ripped out.
Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
--
Jeff
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
On Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 7:27:36 PM UTC-6, woodchucker wrote:
> I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and=
=20
> he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way=20
> all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
> I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I=20
> had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>=20
> This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.=
=20
> He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a=20
> little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes=
=20
> that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>=20
> I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that=
=20
> tears at you..
>=20
> He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it=
=20
> on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in=
=20
> time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and=
=20
> relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the=20
> nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't=20
> respond. I loved it.
>=20
> He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like=
=20
> that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or=20
> lying there watching me work.
>=20
> I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.=
=20
> On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a=20
> few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>=20
> I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has=20
> been ripped out.
>=20
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> Jeff
>=20
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
While you "know" you are doing the right thing, the hole it leaves is huge.=
I cradled our 17+ yr old pup while they gave him the injection and talked=
to him until he went to sleep for the final time. Still grabs my heart ju=
st writing about it. But you did it, because you loved him, and he will ne=
ver really be that far from you.
My condolences.
On Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 8:27:36 PM UTC-5, woodchucker wrote:
> I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
> he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
> all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
> I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
> had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>
> This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
> He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
> little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
> that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>
> I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
> tears at you..
>
> He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
> on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
> time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
> relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
> nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
> respond. I loved it.
>
> He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
> that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
> lying there watching me work.
>
> I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
> On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
> few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>
> I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
> been ripped out.
>
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>
>
> --
> Jeff
>
You have my sympathies. Our Pug was our best friend for 14 years. He grew up with our
kids. He used to love to hang out by the fire pit with us. Now he hangs out under the fire pit.
The last year or so was really tough, so I know what you went through. We were lucky to have
accidentally rescued another dog about a year before Teddy passed, so we still had some
company. We were dog sitting for a couple of weeks while a family worked out some issues.
That "couple of weeks" has turned into 10 years. Chopper is pushing 15 and keeps us going
with walks of a couple of miles almost every day.
There's a lot of dogs out there that need your kind of love. I'm sure that Chase would want you
to share that love with one of his friends in need. Consider doing it in his honor.
"woodchucker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
OUCH; that hurts. Our soon-to-turn 12 years old sheltie's name is Chase
[Lone Star's Chasing the Wind]. Not our first sheltie but SYB's first and
only agility dog [until the puppy came along last June]. SYB has moved him
from performance class to "seniors" or "veterans in which he'll jump 8
inched [vs. 12]. The little tyke was the 12-inch National champion in the
performance class Grand Prix event at the 2009 USDAA Nationals. He still
has the heart but is obviously more than a step or two slower and I can feel
the loss of muscle mass when I stroke him. We hope we have him for another
four or five years. Yet he'll still wear your arm out throwing frisbee or
chasing soft fury balls [in the house].
http://www.pbase.com/speedracer/image/126050037 .
I had to make the decision to put down his predecessor several year
ago - the cancer snuck up on us and was so advanced when diagnosed that the
vet gave me overnight to make the decision. SYB was out of town and was
gracious enough to let me decide - thanks, Honey. Chase has been a special
animal and I suppose we always think our special pet is irreplaceable. Those
are large paws to fill but we can hope their successor attains that same
level of companionship and affection.
Good luck should you go forward with another.
Dave in SoTex
On 2/4/2017 8:27 PM, woodchucker wrote:
> I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
> he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
> all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
> I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
> had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>
> This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
> He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
> little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
> that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>
> I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
> tears at you..
>
> He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
> on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
> time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
> relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
> nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
> respond. I loved it.
>
> He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
> that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
> lying there watching me work.
>
> I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
> On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
> few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>
> I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
> been ripped out.
>
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>
>
Thank you all for your thoughts. They do help. It's just good to talk
about our best friends.
--
Jeff
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
woodchucker <[email protected]> writes:
>He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
>on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
>time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
>relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
>nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
>respond. I loved it.
I feel your pain. Lucky was also a great frisbee dog, and she lived
eighteen years.
http://www.lurndal.org/images/lucky-beach-small.jpg
woodchucker <[email protected]> wrote in news:U_Sdnc-lPdEf4gvFnZ2dnUU7-
[email protected]:
> [...]
> I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
> been ripped out.
>
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>
From one dog lover to another: Ouch. That hurts. So sorry to hear of the loss of your
companion.
On Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 7:27:36 PM UTC-6, woodchucker wrote:
He'd nudge you with the
> nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
> respond. I loved it.
>
Yeah, I once had two buddies, as that, always eager to greet and followed me everywhere, as if they knew my thoughts. Salute, to companions as that.
Sonny
On Sunday, 5 February 2017 01:27:36 UTC, woodchucker wrote:
> I had to put my beloved dog down today.=20
I feel your pain. In a weird way, I was lucky, in that my much-loved dog ha=
d a weak heart, and, just as the Vet had warned us, she died in her sleep, =
in her favourite place on her "outside" bed by our front gate, where she wo=
uld graciously greet all passers-by.
On Sat, 4 Feb 2017 20:27:26 -0500, woodchucker <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
>he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
>all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
>I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
>had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>
>This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
>He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
>little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
>that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>
>I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
>tears at you..
>
>He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
>on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
>time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
>relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
>nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
>respond. I loved it.
>
>He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
>that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
>lying there watching me work.
>
>I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
>On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
>few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>
>I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
>been ripped out.
>
>Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
It's been 12 or so years since I lost a German Shepherd that was way
more than just a dog, my heart goes with you. You think you get over
it until you read something like this.
It's the price and privilege of having had a good friend.
On 2/4/2017 7:27 PM, woodchucker wrote:
> I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
> he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
> all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
> I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
> had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>
> This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
> He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
> little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
> that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>
> I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
> tears at you..
>
> He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
> on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
> time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
> relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
> nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
> respond. I loved it.
>
> He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
> that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
> lying there watching me work.
>
> I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
> On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
> few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>
> I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
> been ripped out.
>
> Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>
>
Well at 17 years you definitely got all you could. We have a Great
Dane that is on borrowed time, 10 years old last October. Danes
typically last 7~9 years. The vet can not believe that she gets around
as well as she does. And like you dog she walks great with out a leash.
It is nothing for her to do a 2 mile walk almost every day. But she is
no longer a pup and that day is coming sooner than later. We got her
when she was 8 weeks old, 3 day after putting our 14 year old Lab down.
Time will heal. You had a good one. ;~)
I understand fully and you have my deepest sympathies.
We had to let go of our 15 year old Chihuahua Coco. She was suffering
from gallbladder mucocele. She lasted almost two years on the special
compound medication and extreme low-fat diet. Broke our hearts to deny
her favorite foods like bacon and french fries. She grew up on dry
food so a switch to wet made her happy for a time. Then the medicine
became less effective and her eyesight and hearing started to fail,
causing her to stumble and no longer handle stairs. Took weeks for my
husband to come to terms with letting her go. They were great pals.
Been over a year now and still we think of the need to walk her, hear
her scrabbling on the floor or curling up in bed with us. You never
stop missing them. Remembering the good times helps.
>I had to put my beloved dog down today. My wife came home yesterday and
>he was spread out all fours, lying in pee. He must have been that way
>all day. I rushed home, he was so weak. He could not stand.
>I pushed water through his lips much of the night to re-hydrate him. I
>had called my son soon after getting home, he came down from CT.
>
>This morning he had a little more life back, but was still very wobbly.
>He is 17 going on 18 in a few days. I have wanted to put him down a
>little while ago, but my wife fought me on it. Even today she had hopes
>that he would come back. I decided it had to be now..
>
>I have had a few animals over the years. This is the one.. the one that
>tears at you..
>
>He would catch frisbees 6' up , he'd run for a ball thrown and catch it
>on the first bounce... you could not believe he could even get there in
>time. When we was younger than 12 there was never a time you could and
>relax on the couch.. It was always play time. He'd nudge you with the
>nose, drop a ball or toy into your lap and push it again if you didn't
>respond. I loved it.
>
>He could no longer make it down the stairs to the shop... it's been like
>that for 2 or 3 years. I kind of missed him down there, sitting or
>lying there watching me work.
>
>I could walk him w/o a leash. He was better w/o the leash than with it.
>On a leash he would pull, w/o it he would stay either at my side or a
>few steps ahead. A call, and he would come back to my side.
>
>I will miss him. And now, I just feel empty, aimless, like my gut has
>been ripped out.
>
>Chase rest in peace buddy, I already miss you.
>woodchucker