NFR - A dogs life ............

Pilar · 09-09-2002, 12:22 PM

I had the extreme displeasure today of sending my old friend to the next existence. My old faithful friend of 13 yrs really had no life as she could barely walk out to the yard in the morning.

We went on her last camping trip at her all time favorite place and she only left camp on the first day. She spent the last days of the trip curled up next to the fire being an old dog.

She was in pain all of the time and so I did the right thing. That does not make it any easier.

This was my first dog from beginning to end and it was a rich experience. My dog Dahlia played with my young daughter in her puppy days towing Xanah around the yard on a number of sticks. Looking at the pictures now gives me a warm feeling. She fiercely defended our yard against unwelcome strangers in her younger days. When she was too stiff and sore to jump at the door she would growl menacingly and warn her pack. She would lay down next to any one of us when they were bummed out or sick and lean against them and lick an offered hand.

She was a basketball size fuzz ball when I held her in my hand for the first time. Eyes bright and clear she looked into mine with love that can only come from a dog.

This morning she gave me that same adoring look as she licked my hand, yawned and rested her snout on my arm. She died peacefully a few minutes later.

Wherever you are now my old friend .... go get the kitty!

Redbull · 09-09-2002, 12:40 PM

I am sorry. Been there.

It is life's situations which provide times of great highs and unbearable lows that verifies there is blood in your veins, a heart in your chest and a brain in your head. It's strange to experience such emotions, but it's also a rush because you know you're alive!

I had my dog before my wife. I kiss and hug and wrassle with him every day. I can't describe the feelings. The wife doesn't understand it, but she accepts it.

I feel for you.

What about Bandit?

TundraIII · 09-09-2002, 12:54 PM

:depressed: :depressed: :depressed: Real sorry to hear about your dog, Pilar. I absolutely adore my lab, Cash, and dont even want to think about that inevitable day....

Cool Texan · 09-09-2002, 12:57 PM

Pilar, sorry to hear the news. :depressed:

CATCH AND EAT · 09-09-2002, 01:03 PM

Sorry to hear that John. Always a bummer to loose mans best friend. :depressed:

OceanBlue · 09-09-2002, 01:03 PM

A Dog's Prayer - by Beth Norman Harris

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest - and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

You did right by her John.

Hugs

O'City Fisherman · 09-09-2002, 01:10 PM

Pilar,
I am not looking forward to the day that my dog has to go down. Even though my pup is 10 weeks I am sure that the time will fly by. Take care guy. :depressed:

09-09-2002, 01:11 PM

I am very sorry to hear about your loss Pilar.

Pilar · 09-09-2002, 01:30 PM

Jennifer, 'Pilar's mate' thank you for the photo and the poem.

You are so thoughtful and that is why you are my first choice in companions on the boat or on the beach.

Thank all of you for your kind words. My point here is that it is hard to let go and that may not always be the best thing from the dogs welfare point of view.

Sorry about the confusion ... my Jen not yours.

[ 09-09-2002, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

crabbait · 09-09-2002, 01:36 PM

Sad to hear of your loss, John.

On a brighter note, its puppy time! Nothing can replace a lost best friend. A new pup is as close to filling the gap as you can get.

k9jeff · 09-09-2002, 01:40 PM

:depressed:

dampainter · 09-09-2002, 01:55 PM

amazing how much an animal can do for us as well as create lasting memories, sorry for your loss pilar....been there done that also. I also second crabbaits reply.

Jennie@ifish · 09-09-2002, 02:00 PM

Ohhhhhhhhh Pilar.... I am so sorry.
:depressed:

Why does life have to be so HARD sometimes?
:depressed:

PS and by the way, "Jen" is not me, it is Pilar's Mate... Thought I'd clarify, as I got an email questioning it. :smile:

Hang in there, Pilar....
Love,
from our family.

ampersat · 09-09-2002, 02:02 PM

:depressed: :depressed:

Gregotis98 · 09-09-2002, 04:43 PM

This is my worst thought in life, being without Otis. Otis was brought to my house by a friend When I got home from work he told me he got his mom a puppy and that she didn't want him. Otis was abandond in a car at a grocery store, when a person was done shopping there was a dog in their car. They took the little guy to a pet store and that's where it all started.

I don't want to imagine my life without him but I know I have to. This dog goes everywhere with me, in the ocean 50 miles or just to the store. I love him.

Pilar my heart is with you and your daughter.

GutshotApe · 09-09-2002, 04:57 PM

My old choc. lab is almost 12 now. He's a big one, weighs 110 lbs. About 3 months ago while switching directions to fetch the ball he blew out his right hip & collapsed. He got up but no longer could walk normally or run at all. Now, he gingerly walks on 3 legs and only enough to do his daily business. If I leave the house he will follow me down into the woods but coming back up the hill is apparently painful for him. He can't get into the pickup or car anymore. Just lays around and sleeps about 23 hours a day

. He doesn't seem to be in pain - never whines, etc, but I wonder if I should face the music now or prolong it :whazzup: . He's a good dog and I want him to live forever but its not in the cards.

5-Cents · 09-09-2002, 05:20 PM

:depressed: :depressed: :depressed:

Sorry for you loss... very sad.

Hogmaster · 09-09-2002, 06:39 PM

Sorry, Pilar

:depressed: :depressed:

Perfect Drift · 09-09-2002, 07:31 PM

Nothing I have found is so unconditional as a dogs love. I feel for you ! Lost my lab in June.
Only good memories !!

Flatfish · 09-09-2002, 07:39 PM

Very sorry to hear.Wish I could say something to make it all better.I guess the best you can do is do what the dog would if roles were reversed.Look back on the mountain of great memories and be happy to be a part of it.Then look forward to the next pup,knowing there will me many more good times.
Mark.

dogfishboy · 09-09-2002, 08:01 PM

JW,
Dude... you brought tears to my eyes. I'm so sorry for the loss of your family member.

Jen/PM,
Dogfishgirl has been huggin' and crying with our boys ( Skye , JD, and Bear) all night after reading the poem. See sees a lot of heartache as a Cert. Vet Tech and it never gets any easier for her. See too is deeply sorry for the loss you are both experiencing.

The only down side to canine companionship is that they do not live as long as we want or need. I'm a better Human Being thanks to our canine companions.

Wishing you good memories of dahlia in the days and years to come.

David

Pirate · 09-09-2002, 08:21 PM

John
I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through the same thing 3 years ago with Casey my 17 year best friend and I still miss him very much. Just remember the 13 wonderful years and adventures your family and Dahlia spent together.

09-09-2002, 09:10 PM

:depressed:

OceanBlue · 09-09-2002, 10:51 PM

I came into Dahlia's life late, but it was impossible to not love her. She never complained and was always willing to please.

Thank you all so much for supporting John at this tragic time. He's really had it rough over tha last few weeks and I know it means an awful lot to him to see the outpouring of warmth and caring. He's getting through this much better for having all of your support.

Grieving is never easy. But so necessary.

Tacklebuster · 09-09-2002, 10:57 PM

Sounds like your were the perfect keeper of your best buddy. I have a springer that is my bud and is wonderful with my daughter. We have been around each other long enough to know what the other is thinking. The bond you share with your dog lasts a lifetime. You'll see her again.......

BassMan · 09-10-2002, 12:54 AM

Pilar... Sorry for your loss, I remember the loss of our first brittany and after reading that poem it brought tears to my eyes. I have a golden retriever (almost 2) now and could not imagine losing him, they realy are man's best friend. Be strong and god bless.

Sturgeon 42 · 09-10-2002, 05:08 AM

I can't bear the thought when my puppy passes, or how my wife will feel as they are real close, I am so sorry... :depressed: :depressed: :depressed:

Pilar · 09-10-2002, 05:56 AM

Gutshotape ... Hey bud think about your friends quality of life. They can't live forever and they never complain.

My old dog could barely walk and had a real hard time getting up in the morning before I left for work.

A few months ago she stopped going on walks down the street. Dahlia wanted to sniff the bushes but would stumble and fall after just a few steps. She would not chase the stick and was stone deaf.

'Good dog' was a guaranteed whole body dog wag. She could not hear me say 'good dog' or 'biscuit' or 'go bye bye' any more.

The dog had no life and because of some very dear friends I came to realize this and had her put to sleep. So it's either your canine friend suffers every day or you suffer from having to make the hard choice that ends your dogs suffering.

Your chocolate lab will never complain. He will just wait patiently for you to come home. I bet the one hour a day he is active coincides with your return from work.

Sometimes it takes a caring friend to point out the obvious to you. I am so thankful for the caring friends in my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just went to the back door to let my friend out. Force of habit, I guess. I came here to get some support when I woke up and realized she was gone.

Thank you all for your kind words.

fishisabonus · 09-10-2002, 07:58 AM

Sorry to hear about your dog John. Just know that you gave her a wonderful life and she was lucky to have you.

Sturgeon 42 · 09-10-2002, 07:59 AM

Sounds like you did the best and the right thing for both of you, and lots of love from friends is very helpfull.. :grin: :grin: :grin:

will_e_fish · 09-10-2002, 09:54 AM

Pilar & Pilars Mate- the grieving and healing is best to let nature takes its course. With the love to let them go and a special time to reflect on your lives together. It will be hard as nothing like this is ever easy. Talking helps and staying busy helps. Many blessings for your loss to help you make it through such a rough time. If it is not too painful, out of respect for you and Dahlia you loved so much, tell us another story. I would like to hear more about Dahlia.

tag-a-long · 09-10-2002, 10:13 AM

:depressed: :depressed:

soo sorry to hear about your loss Pilar.. our thoughts are with you...

Pilar · 09-10-2002, 11:45 PM

Will-e-fish, thanks for the distraction.

The dissapeared dog ............

Some years ago before I became obsessed with the Ocean or had the means to scratch my obsession, I fished the lakes in the Cascades and one lake in particular. My dog was happy about this and went on every trip to keep us company and go camping.

On one day when she was only about a year and a half old she dissapeared for about 6 hours. I did not realize that I had lost my dog as she was on last sighting happily digging up the bank trying to get the ground squirrels she could smell.

We spent most of her puppy year trying to keep her from digging up the yard. After much persuasion the dog and I had an understanding. She could not dig at home but other places were OK.

So Dahlia worked her way down the bank working on the ground squirrels starting above where we were fishing. Every once in a while she would pull her nose out of the ground and trot over to check on the fishermen and the stringer and get some pets.

I realized in the afternoon that she hadn't been by for some time. We then went down the bank looking for her with no success. A trip back to camp showed no Dahlia either. It was about 4 in the afternoon and time for dog chow and a game of stick, but no dog. We looked up and down the bank again marveling at the energy of my Golden Retreiver/ Black lab mix or Blacken Labretreiver as I called her.

Huge holes, some 3 feet deep and as wide all up and down the bank for a hundred yards. But no sign of the dog or her quarry. I called, whisteled, yelled, blew the horn on the truck but no dog.

I walked back to camp, checking campsites and other fishermen and no dog.

We ate dinner in a resentful silence as my then wife was all about blame for me being so intent on the trout and not watching the wayward Dahlia more closely.

Almost dark now and I walked back down to the fishing spot to pick up some trash and give another look. I figured she had been killed or kidnapped because the dog mada a religion of her food dish and at the same time every day. Surely she would come back to camp when she got hungry if she was able.

I got to the fishing spot and sat down all discouraged. It was then I heard a curious sound. Kind of a snorting and scratching.

I figured what the hell kind of critter is that and walked over to check it out. I fould a hole that had to be at least 4 feet deep and about 10 feet long by about 3 or 4 feet wide. It extended on underground under a large stump. and was not visible from the waters edge where we searched earlier. Every once in a while dirt would fly up out of the hole and the snorting sound would start again.

Then I saw her backing up and buldozing the dirt she had shoveled out from under the stump before diggin it out of the hole.

I mean this dog had taken digging to whole new level. Relieved, I jumped down into the hole and patted my dog, good girl. I then let her continue on her mission to carc the ground squirrel and got the rest of the camp.

We stood there in amazement as Dahlia continued on and on. Laughing so hard we cried. Finally the dog gave up and could not climb out on her own so I jumped down and handed her out. Her front paws were raw and the nails worn to the quick. Her face was brown with dirt and the inside of her mouth, nose and ears full of wood chips and dirt.

Dirt nose.

So off we went. She ran about 20 paces and fell down exhausted. This was before we knew about the hip dysplasia and we thought she was just really tired. I carried my dog to the truck and spent the rest of the weekend trying to keep her out of the water so her bandaged feet would stay clean.

Diggin dogs can be a pain. But you have to love them anyway.

blubeast · 09-11-2002, 06:56 AM

John, sorry to hear of your loss... sounds like you had a very good friend. Our prayers are with you.

live4fishing · 09-11-2002, 07:04 AM

pilar,sorry to hear about your lost. I to know how you feel. :depressed:

Sturgeon 42 · 09-11-2002, 07:17 AM

That was a great story of your dog, she was obviously a great dog as you are obviously a great person..........Good luck and God bless..... :grin: :grin: :grin:

dawhunt · 09-11-2002, 12:43 PM

I'm really sorry for your pain.I know what its like.I had to put my best friend of 14 yrs down last July and I still miss him.I took him just about everwhere I went and there will always be an empty spot in my heart for him.He was my bud for sure. :depressed:
Bob

GutZ · 09-11-2002, 01:21 PM

I am sad to hear of your loss.

I feel for you, Pilar.

:depressed:

Wild Bill · 09-11-2002, 04:47 PM

John:

Sorry to hear about your loss. Dahlia obviously had a great life with you and your family..Great story about the digging.

Bill

Hoosier Daddy · 09-12-2002, 11:37 PM

Been there a few times. Sorry to hear it.

As one with two four legged kids of 8 and 12 years, I am dreadfully anticipating going through it again. Hopefully later than sooner.

There is nothing like a good dog. (Even "bad" ones are OK, if there is such a thing)