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Posted: 9/8/2004 8:07:36 AM EDT
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. |
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Dang. This is like, the saddest post ever....
We lost our mutt shortly before I moved away from home and got married. We knew she was hard up when she kept walking down to the creek bed to die a couple of days before her passing. I carried her back up to the house every time. It's odd how animals just 'know'. Needless to say I was so tore up when she passed that my wife-to-be drove across state from college to be with me when she heard the sorrow in my voice on the phone. |
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Sorry to hear that. Loosing a dog is like loosing your best friend or child.
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My heartfelt condolences man.
It doesn't hurt as much as if it were a child, but close. |
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I am so sorry for your loss.
I have a young lab (3-1/2 years old) and cannot even imagine the sorrow of having to lose her someday. Your pictures put a lump in my throat. You did a great thing with the car ride. God Bless. |
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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.
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i am very sorry to hear that, it is a hard thing to lose such a good friend
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Damn sand in my eyes.
Sorry bro... Hurry up and get another one. They make our lives so much better. Too bad they don't live a little longer. |
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I am so sorry for your loss of your best buddy. It is unbelievably difficult when the dog you have been with so long finaly is gone. You know it was the right decision to put him down but it does not make it any easier.
Just remember that all dogs go to heaven and he will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. Best wishes to you and your family. I see you already have another dog and adding another will never replace the one you lost, but there is nothing like a new puppy to bring a smile to your face. I'm not saying rush right out and get another, but in time it may be the right thing to do. |
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Under the circumstances, he was lucky to have such loving people around. I'm really sorry for your loss. I was home sick yesterday and my buddy wouldn't leave the bed unless I did. My wife couldn't get him to eat or go outside. You can't find that kind of loyalty anywhere but in a dog. I dread the day I lose him. Again, my condolences. |
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More the more people I meet, the more I like my dogs |
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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. |
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Hereis what you do, man.
You are a good dog owner. Do your buddies memory right. Go to the pound. Look for the dog that is the saddest (emotionally) animal in there. Look for the one who's time is almost up. You'll know the one when you see it. You will walk up to its cage, it will barely look up at you. Its seen so many people. You go in that cage, you look that dog in the eye, see the saddness, the loss of its home and family that it loved. Take it home. Thats what we did, and we have never regreted it. She was the saddest dog ever. She was laying in a ball in the back of her cage. Wouldn't respond to verbal calls. Had to be picked up and put on her feet to go to the PLAY cage. Once there she was listless. Till a child walked by. She perked up, ears erect, whining. She loved kids. Maybe she had a family with kids. We brought the kids to the shelter to meet her. She saw us and sprang to her feet. They fell in love. 4+ years now. No regrets. The plan was for a puppy, we got a 2 yr old shepard mix. Very sorry for your loss. I lost my childhood dog when I was 24. He was 15yrs old. |
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Sorry to hear it. I still think the tree is a good idea.
Semper Fi! |
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I am sorry for your loss of a loved family member. You have my sympathy and prayers.
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I am very sorry for your loss... dogs become part of the family and losing one IS having a death in the family.
Take care and be strong..only time will lessen the pain, but lessen is all that it will do as you will never get over losing someone you love. |
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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!
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my condolences, sucks to lose a pet that's also a family member.
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Better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all.... though that doesn't make anyone feel better now...
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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 |
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Sunofabitch.
I've got tears in my eyes like a fucking pussy after reading that. I know exactly how you feel, having been through this far too many times before. As your buddy travels over the rainbow bridge, may you remember all the joy you brought each other. |
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I almost lost my cat recently to renal failure when someone poisoned her.
Im very sorry for your loss. |
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Pets are sometimes harder than people. You did the right thing by ending his suffering. Just remember, he's all better now.
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That truely sucks. I'd rather be with my dog then most people I know. |
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Been there......... I'm SO sorry Steyr. |
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Brought tears to my eyes Steyr.
It's easy to be a friend when all is well, but a true friend makes the hard choice for his bud. You did the right thing, and you know it. Sorry for you'r loss. |
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My sincerest condolences. It always tough to lose a loyal friend.
The circle of life always gets completed. |
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My condolences Steyr Aug.
It sounds like he had a good life with a good master. |
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This is a GREAT idea and something that I will do at the right time. |
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