Lost my best buddy...



www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=268656

Found out on 08-28-04 that he had severe renal/kidney failure and was in the final stages. He had stopped eating and drinking and was getting pretty sick. We kept him hydrated on subcutaneous fluid and tried to make him comfortable and happy.

On the night of 08-31-04 he ate his final steak and we took him for a drive. It was his last "good night."



On 09-01-04 he was having a terrible time. Was out every 40 minutes to get sick. Then early that morning he didn't want to come back inside. He did a strange thing and just stood there and watched the sunrise. My wife and I stayed with him to watch it and we knew this would be our last day with him.

On 09-02-04 we called the vet who came out to the house. I put my buddy on my bed (his favorite place in the house) and I stroked his head and said goodbye while the vet put him to sleep. He was so exhausted he barely stirred when stuck by the needle. When he was gone my wife and I were devastated.

I thanked the vet for coming out and allowing his last hour to be in comfortable and familiar surroundings.

I then went outside and dug the most difficult hole of my life.

We wrapped him up in our comforter off the bed (his favorite) and I carried him to my workbench. We both said goodbye and told him how much we loved him and how he deserved so much better. I tucked his hickory bone, a picture of all of us with a note from my wife on the back and another picture of him and my German Sheppard (his buddy) and a sprig from the Jasmine bush he loved to stick his head in with him between his paws. I took off my shirt and wrapped it over him so he would feel like I was near (my shirt was old and worn out like my buddy).

I then put a towel under his head and covered his head with a flap from the comforter.

Then I buried my buddy and tried to continue with preparations for Hurricane Frances which was due the next day.

Riding out the hurricane was terrible without him. If he was with us it would have simply been an adventure. I would not have preferred to have him suffering through it with us in the condition he was in so I know it was best to not have him and suffer myself.

Everywhere I go in the house I expect to see him and when I realize he isn't with me my initial urge is to call him to me. Everytime my Sheppard looks around for him my heart breaks a little more. I'm gonna miss my buddy terribly.

I remember the first time I went home after my parents had to put the dog I had from the time I was five until I enlisted in teh Army, to sleep. It took me days to realize he was really gone, it was almost like losing a family member. The night I got home, was the first time since I was five years old that I slept in my parents house without the little guy in bed with me.

I'm so sorry.  

Almost makes me want to go out today and get a new dog. It's been a few long years since I buried the last one.

Chin up, SA.

Brother, I feel ya.  My pug turned seven this summer.  Remember when I got him at two months old... tiny black ball of fur.  Was giving him a bath this past weekend and was amazed at all the grey fur on the back of his legs and on his chest and belly... some even coming in on his muzzle.  Now pugs are a long-lived breed.  Barring catastrophic illnes like cancer, or an accident, he should be with me for another 5-10 years.  Who knows, there is a chance I might have kids one day who will play with him.  I rue the day he passes on.  I hope he goes peacefully in his sleep and doesn't suffer.  I pray I will have your strength.  You did the right thing by your son.  God bless!

As you know, I lost my best friend earlier this year, so I know precisely how saddened you must feel at this point.

The hurt goes away slowly...very slowly...but soon you will be left with only the happy moments, thoughts, and remembrances of your lives shared together.

My condolences to you for this loss.

Eric The(Saddened)Hun