Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: grampi
My wife and I are animal lovers. At one point we had 5 dogs and 2 cats. We still have 2 cats, but we've had to put down 3 of our dogs over the last several years. One we had to put down just this past April, and now we just found out that one of our two remaining dogs has terminal colon cancer. The vet said he has weeks, to maybe a month to live. Having to put down two of our beloved family members this close together has been incredibly hard on both of us. My wife says that once all of the dogs are gone, she doesn't want any more because she can't deal with this end of it. It's hard on me too, but I think it would be harder not having any dogs. We've had a dog, or multiple dogs in our family continuously since 1995 and I don't know if I can stand not having any. Have any of you dealt with a similar situation, and if so, how did you deal with it?
Sorry about your loss grampi. I know exactly how you feel. My dogs are like my kids and it almost kills me when one passes. It devastates me when a family member or friend loses a dog I know well too. I really become attached to them. I like dogs better than I like most people frankly.
It will be 6 years come this August that I had to put my best bud Thunder( Black Lab )down. He had a long full life hunting, fishing, and just going everywhere with me. He was like a part of me. If I showed up somewhere without him people asked where he was.
He was 13 1/2 when that awful day came and I had to make that dreaded decision. That is old for a Lab who worked as hard as he did in his life so I can't really complain. God gave him to me for a long time. Still hurt like [censored] though when I lost him.
At the end, he had heart trouble, bad knees( both ACL's ruptured and repaired ), what we think was a tumor in his brain( caused equilibrium issues ), and other assorted ailments and illnesses. He never was slowed down by any of it except the tumor which hit him hard and started his downfall. He defied the odds and vet's prediction time and time again over his life though so to be honest, even though I knew better deep down, I guess I figured he would overcome the tumor too.
It all just became too much for him though and he went down fast. He actually hunted with me the last day of goose season in Feb of 2014, making 2 fine retrieves, and then he was gone that August. I woke up one morning and it suddenly became clear to me he was tired, hurt, and sick. He hadn't been eating well for a while and he just wasn't himself. Clearly it was time as the poor guy obviously had enough.
I called the vet and made an appointment and then my Dad, Sister, and I took him down to the marsh for one last romp. Well, more like a crawl at that point. I tossed a dummy for him in the water a few times but I had to help him out to get it so I only did a couple really short tosses. I let him carry it back to the truck as he always did then I got him up into the bed with my Dad and we all sort of stood/sat there for a while and just let him enjoy one of his favorite places.
After that we got him a cheeseburger at McDonalds( he loved those )and then I took him to the vet's and did what had to be done. Everyone there was in tears and my vet( 3 of them at the place )actually came out of surgery to do it. He wouldn't let anyone else. When it was over I didn't know what to do. I was weeping like a little kid and I couldn't leave him. Finally I did but I had to be helped out and driven home. It tore me up so bad it isn't even funny.
I was bound and determined that was my last dog. The pain was too much. But, my Dad really wanted another one( Black Lab of course )so I relented and in late November I drove to Virginia and picked up Sadie. I have to be honest while she took to me from the get go, and I had feelings for her and cared, I think I was unconsciously trying not to get attached. When I lost my Dad last summer that really tore me up. He lived with me for 18 years after my Mom died and we were best friends. I am not married so it was my Dad and Thunder then Sadie for my family.
If it wasn't for Sadie I don't know if I would have been able to cope with losing my Dad. There is no hesitation now regarding my feelings for her. In all honesty there never were. I just wouldn't admit it to myself. I am a sucker for a dog and when it is my own I really get attached.
I really can understand where you are coming from. It hurts so much when we lose them that it makes you not want another because you don't want to go through that kind of pain again. I still to this day break down and cry like a baby when I think about Thunder. Full on tear faucet! I am glad I have Sadie with me however even though I know I will be devastated again when her time comes. I may not get another one as fast as I got her after Thunder past but once she goes I will eventually at some point.
Sorry for the long ramble. It's a topic that is near and dear to me.
Granite State Thunder:
Saltmarsh Sadie:
Beautiful dogs and a nice post!