Losing your best mate

[Felch]

I did think about getting someone else to take her LM, or maybe getting her picked up and taken away. I really want to be there with her though, she absolute freaks out if she is away from us. And she has been to the vets many times, so she is fairly comfortable going there. Loves the car ride.

I know guys, it has to be done. We have tried every option to get her better, and there is really only one choice left.

My plan is to spend this weekend absolutely spoiling her, will even let her eat some food other than the bland chicken and rice she has to have normally. Then take her in Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks for the support.

[Choccies]

I did think about getting someone else to take her LM, or maybe getting her picked up and taken away. I really want to be there with her though, she absolute freaks out if she is away from us. And she has been to the vets many times, so she is fairly comfortable going there. Loves the car ride.

I know guys, it has to be done. We have tried every option to get her better, and there is really only one choice left.

My plan is to spend this weekend absolutely spoiling her, will even let her eat some food other than the bland chicken and rice she has to have normally. Then take her in Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks for the support.

Mate I know that that trip to the vet is one of the hardest things to do. The trip home isn't much better. Just dont deny yourself the last moment her because you would regret getting someone else to do it. It's a horrible time and I'm hating it just as I imagine you are too. Thoughts are with you mate.

[bazza1]

I have had to do it twice, one of the hardest things I have ever done, my first dog i had since I was 5 and she lasted 17 years and the other one about the same. My dog now who is 10 is doing well but the kids love her, Im dreading the day when the time comes

[The Ash Man]

Sorry to hear that Choccies
We'll have to catch up for a beer over summer with fc and Ill bring my Weimaraner, Holly
Are you thinking about getting another one?

[whufc]

sorry to hear you stories and i send my best wishes to both choccies and felch.

Its amazing the bond that can be created between human and animal, its a very special part of life and one i hope i can create for my 8 month old daughter as she gets older.

My wife is a vet nurse and has to regulary help put down animals. She comes from work upset alot as she is an animal lover herself, but she always tells me how people that have to put their animals down never regret being there for that last final moment.

Like others have said concerntrate on good that you are doing by putting her out of her pain.

[Choccies]

Sorry to hear that Choccies
We'll have to catch up for a beer over summer with fc and Ill bring my Weimaraner, Holly
Are you thinking about getting another one?

Yes mate for sure. Would be good to see her.
Yeah I guess we will get another. Hard to go away from that breed. They are such great dogs and great with the kids. So gentle and loyal. Just need a bit of time first I think before I get a replacement. What are peoples thoughts on replacing a dog ?? Is straight away too soon ??

[JK]

Sorry to hear that Choccies
We'll have to catch up for a beer over summer with fc and Ill bring my Weimaraner, Holly
Are you thinking about getting another one?

Yes mate for sure. Would be good to see her.
Yeah I guess we will get another. Hard to go away from that breed. They are such great dogs and great with the kids. So gentle and loyal. Just need a bit of time first I think before I get a replacement. What are peoples thoughts on replacing a dog ?? Is straight away too soon ??

I think it's an individual thing mate, you get yourself a new mate whenever it feels right for you and/or suits your environment.

[therisingblues]

Sorry to hear that Choccies
We'll have to catch up for a beer over summer with fc and Ill bring my Weimaraner, Holly
Are you thinking about getting another one?

Yes mate for sure. Would be good to see her.
Yeah I guess we will get another. Hard to go away from that breed. They are such great dogs and great with the kids. So gentle and loyal. Just need a bit of time first I think before I get a replacement. What are peoples thoughts on replacing a dog ?? Is straight away too soon ??

As Perm said, it is an individual thing. I sort of allow fate to decide if I need a dog.
My father in law's dog died about 4 years back. For about 6 months he didn't want to even talk about getting a new dog. Then one day I went to the local shopping mall and saw a white dog wandering the carpark. I quickly realised that he was a stray and called him over, but he was pretty timid and kept his distance. The poor bugger was blocking up traffic however, so I ended up chasing him off the main thoroughfare.
About a week later I saw the same dog, this time when I called him over he came straight to me and when I scratched his ear he pulled in close to my side. I could feel how thin he was and I could also understand by the size of his paws that he was basically a pup. We did our shopping and when we came back outside he was begging McDonalds off schoolgirls. I got him to follow me to our car and we took him home, washed him up so he was real fluffy and pulled a few ticks off his face. Now that we had him all smelling and looking nice we took him to the father in law and told his story.
In the end we had to keep him for a week before the in-laws could take him. We couldn't keep him inside so I made a dog house for him by our front door and chained him up to it. He quickly became a favourite among all the kids in our neighbourhood, as our front door opens out onto a common driveway. The kids were disappointed when we finally gave him away. But he has been very happy at his new home for the past three years. He really loves people. I and the vet reckon he is a Maltese/Shiba Ken (Japanese breed) cross.
The story is a little bit sidetracked from the original topic and your question, but in my father in law's case, he waited 6 months before I gave him the stray (which he eventually named "Shiro", a very unoriginal name which means "white", the equivalent of us calling a white dog "snowy").

[FlyingHigh]

Sorry to hear that Choccies
We'll have to catch up for a beer over summer with fc and Ill bring my Weimaraner, Holly
Are you thinking about getting another one?

Yes mate for sure. Would be good to see her.
Yeah I guess we will get another. Hard to go away from that breed. They are such great dogs and great with the kids. So gentle and loyal. Just need a bit of time first I think before I get a replacement. What are peoples thoughts on replacing a dog ?? Is straight away too soon ??

I think it's an individual thing mate, you get yourself a new mate whenever it feels right for you and/or suits your environment.

While it is an individual decision, I believe in waiting a few months. This way you can grieve and feel the loss (and we all do for a while), and remember the good times with your pet, go on with life for a while, and then when you get a new pet you can give it your full attention and treat it as a new individual. Replacing pets straight away doesn't do justice to your recently decease, and getting a new one just to make you feel better turns them into nothing more than a consumer/replaceable item IMO.

Always an awful time.

[Dutchy]

Geez lot of dog love going on here, Im not a dog or pet person, but can you seriously get that attached to a mutt?

[Psyber]

Geez lot of dog love going on here, Im not a dog or pet person, but can you seriously get that attached to a mutt?

Yes.. if you are the attaching kind of person.

[JAS]

Geez lot of dog love going on here, Im not a dog or pet person, but can you seriously get that attached to a mutt?

Dogs...children...surprisingly similar in many ways...only dogs are better How often do you see dog owners talking to their pets in exactly the same way they'd talk to a very small child???

Regards
JAS

[JK]

Geez lot of dog love going on here, Im not a dog or pet person, but can you seriously get that attached to a mutt?

Absolutely imho

[redandblack]

Geez lot of dog love going on here, Im not a dog or pet person, but can you seriously get that attached to a mutt?

Absolutely imho

Without doubt, mate.

[Dutchy]

Fair enough, each to their own...

[Big Phil]

Sorry to hear of your loss Choccies, not good mate...

I remember the day I played my first A Grade game for Golden Grove, got home to be told Sasha (6 year old Bully) had died from liver failure, such a contrast in emotion that day I tell ya !!

We rescued her as a pup, actually witnessed her being kicked in the head by its feral owner. She was very agressive (understandibly) early on, but she grew to be a loving, great family pet and is sadly missed. Again, condolences Phil...

Sadly, I witnessed the missus' cat get run over on New Year's Day last year and whilst I had only known 'Millie' for 12 months, the missus had had her for about 8 years. We ended up getting Lucy (another cat) no more than a month later and whilst I was worries it was a bit soon, we don't regret doing it at all now, in fact, she had her first litter back at Easter and we ended up keeping one of them so now we have Lucy and Dixie !!

You'll know when the time is right mate...

[Felch]

Our beloved family member and friend, Maddi was put to sleep tonight at the vet. After spending the weekend spoiling her, we made the heart-breaking decision to have her put down, and i made the appointment yesterday, for tonight.

Today was one of the longest days of my life, and getting home from work i was greeted by the usual excitement she has shown for the last 10 years - mainly because she knows its dinner time, but im hoping it was because she actually liked me too. Very heart-breaking to take her for that final drive to vet, as she loves the car ride ( i thought about turning the car around at least 3 times). Even harder taking her out of the car and into the vet. The Vet and nurse were fantastic, explained everything to me. I thought long and hard about being there when it happened, and was given the option of letting them do it after i left - i decided i needed to be there and i dont regret it one bit. Very quick, painless and peaceful for her. Her suffering is over, her last 2-3 years havent been very good at all. As i mentioned before, she was basically allergic to everything and had very bad skin irritations and infections. Beautiful natured dog though, and was excellent with our kids.

The drive home alone was horrid - think i was in a daze for most of it. There is a very eerie feeling here at home - like something isnt right, like something is missing. There is.

RIP Maddi

Sorry for dribbling on, but its been a rough day and evening. Thanks everyone for their support.

[A Mum]

Felch you brought tears to my eyes

A hard day for you indeed.
Hope the kids are okay.

[Lunchcutter]

so sorry for your loss Choccie.... im crying now just thinking about it... (I've been there twice at the end of my dog's life and once took a very long time cause her heart was failing and would not pump the stuff around )

thankfully you have those wonderful memories to remember Maddi by

[CoverKing]

RIP Maddi

Sorry for your loss Felch. Hope tomorrow brings a new beginning and you can remember the good times.