Pet stories: sometimes happy, sometimes sad

[RunningMn9]

If I am being honest, I’ve had about enough of dog cancer. I’m still not over my loss of Ozzy, but tonight I had to say goodbye to my sweet Daisy. She was a little Chihuahua / Dachshund mix that we got when Ozzy was about 1 so that he had a companion.

She was both the most affectionate animal I’ve ever known, but then after 8 pm her little Chihuahua body would fill with rage.

Yesterday she started to not feel well and looked like she was having some trouble breathing. My wife and son took her to get checked out, while I stayed with the Great Dane.

Scans showed a large mass in her chest, with fluid affecting her lungs. 60 minutes after “I think she should see a vet”, she was gone and I didn’t even really get to say a proper goodbye.

Losing two in less than a year is not something I’m built to handle.

[Brian]

Sorry for your loss. It sucks.

I've said it before, pet ownership is freely entering into a relationship that is guaranteed delayed heartbreak.
We do it willingly though and it enriches us all, on both sides of the equation.

We have lost quite a few pets to cancer and/or liver disease and are soon to lose another one.
We have had at least one cat in our lives for nearly all of our thirty-five years together but after this one, my wife is considering ending that chain.

[Lassr]

So sorry for your loss. I've had to do that many times, and I often too said, not again. Then we bring that next dog or cat home. It's devastatingly sad when we lose them, but I think back of all the great memories of the pets, and I think, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. The weeks/months of sadness are replaced with those loving memories.

[EvilHomer3k]

That's awful, RM9. Sorry for your loss. It's strange how they can go from being fine one day and the next they're gone.

[Holman]

So sorry for your loss, RM9. That's really sad news.

[hitbyambulance]

the key is to decentralize yourself from the relationship. yes, it is very very sad and devastating when your pet dies - went through two different terminal cat cancers in two years, i know it very well. but really, if you adopted them from a shelter, YOU gave them the best years you could for THEIR entire life. they benefited from this arrangement - why stop giving other animals this chance just because YOU feel so sad about it?

i myself would strongly consider being an 'old animal' final home - yes, i would only get 1-3 years with each one (or even less!) but senior animals get adopted much, much less frequently than babies, and they're just as deserving of care. it's not their fault they're old! and if adopted from a 'kill' shelter, i don't see how there's any comparison - their life vs. your feelings.

[RunningMn9]

I understand where you are coming from at a cognitive level. But also, too many feels.

[GreenGoo]

Rough. I'm sorry.

[Daehawk]

Sorry Rm. Ive avoided this thread for days now but I couldn't ignore it any longer. Warm thoughts to you my friend. Makes me teary eye'd just thinking of my little guy. Ill snuggle him closer tonight.

[Kraken]

Condolences, RM9. I know what it's like to go from "hmm, I think something's wrong" to tragedy before you can even process what's happening.

[RunningMn9]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts, and know that too many of you are all too familiar with the grief.

[Daehawk]

Looks like little Buster's time has come. He just now turned 17. Little over a week ago something happened with his back to where his brain wasn't able to get signals to his back right leg. I took him to the vet Monday but all they could do was give give him an anti inflammatory for 2 weeks and tell me to call them if anything changed. Well late last week he seemed to lose his other leg controls. and has been going down slowly since.

He cant walk now and stopped eating yesterday. Wont take anything but some water if I hold him. He seems so weak and little now. Just sleeps and then wakes up to bark a few times then sleeps.

I thought he would just fade away in my arms this morning and told my sister the same. But he has held on today.For the last half of the day Ive simply held him close to me...He lays on my chest and sleeps when I rest in the bed and on a big pillow here in my lap at the pc. I had to go to the bathroom earlier and I just sat him down in my pants at my feet and he slept.

He breaths such tiny breaths. Its like he is barely here now. Im pretty sure Ill lose him overnight or tomorrow but shall see. He is all Ive had since losing my wife..his mom. He became my shadow stuck to me like glue. Gonna be a big hole here soon Id rather not have. Bout the last one.

This is someone holding him when he was up for adoption and we went and got him. He was 7 then.


And this is him a year or so ago after his teeth removal.

[Kraken]

Aw man, sorry to hear it. 17 is a good long run for a dog and you gave him a great life, but I know that's small consolation.

[Lassr]

Wish i could of had some of my dogs for 17 years, that's a really good life, but I know that doesn't mean much right now. Hard no matter what.

[Blackhawk]

I'm so terribly sorry to hear about this, Daehawk. Just remember, we're here for you in whatever capacity we can manage.

[Sudy]

He's a little cutie.

So sorry man.

Losing our cat Tish last September still hurts so much.

[Daehawk]

well he is gone now. Passed away a little after 1am in my arms. Id been holding him since before midnight. He made it to 17 and thats pretty rare. Last little grave Ill dig tomorrow. I ordered some white marble chips just now for his grave tomorrow. Hate to wait all night but need the light to see by tomorrow. We had him 10 years. Got him when he was 7 in 2015. Gave him the best life possible. He was always happy and playing and barking. Been the greatest 10 years with him and he always seemed happy. Time and age takes everything sooner or later.

He'll always be in my heart with everyone else until I can see him again. Until then my wife will love him and hug him every day for me. He's always been loved. His little socks I ordered him came today. He barely got to wear them. Guess Im truly alone now. Never felt like I was alone with him here. Always had him to talk to you could say. Guess Ill talk to myself.

Gonna love and miss him. Bye Buster Boo. Daddy loves you.

[dbt1949]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I can relate.

[Holman]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dae.

You loved your dog, and your dog always knew it.

[Unagi]

Really sorry to hear this news, Daehawk. Sucks.
I know the two of you had great love for one another.

[Daehawk]

Thanks all. Ya loved each other so much. Got him buried and even the little white marble chips arrived before I woke up so had those to go on his grave. Just had to keep telling myself that it had to be done and do it. Ive buried every little dog here for nearly 40 years. This will be the last grave I dig. Cant do it again.

Though Im hurting I know he is having his best day ever right now. Getting all the hugs and kisses he can stand I bet. Ill see him again. I make it sound easy to type it all out but it isn't.

All my love to Mr B. I picked up calling him that from an old tv show called Hazel where the maid always called her boss Mr B.

[Isgrimnur]

Sounds like you gave him the best life possible. I’m sorry for your loss.

[Drazzil]

I lost Bootsie a year and a half ago. Bootsie and Mister Duchess didn't really getalong, mostly cause of their differences in ages. Bootsie wanted to sleep, Duchess wanted to play.

I keep going back and forth on adoption. Misters around 7 now and I worry about if he would want company. I'm considering a kitten or a cat, but with the political situation I'm not sure adopting another cat would be smart. I could lose my section 8 pretty quickly and then I'd be thrown into the teeth of being homeless with two cats.

[Daehawk]

Pets give you all their love then go away to wait on you to give you more again later.

I think even pets that didn't get along in life love and play together in heaven. Also as the movie said all dogs...and pet babies...go to heaven. Little balls of fur and love and innocent.