a sad and hard time approaching

[dobetaztic]

:( I have been dredding this moment for long and hard time the oldest and most faithful of my canine companions Archie my cross GSD who is18 years old has worked as a pat dog, is a champion in obedence and an old hand to agility and fly ball can no longer use his hind legs. he is still fit and well in every other department but that long held spark that twinkles in his eyes is fading as he cannot do all things pleeasurable like walk in the park and swim in the sea, i can no longer allow him to suffer so this is going to be our last weekend together.

we are having a pamper session and this means a bath with bubbles coz he loves it, where going to say good by to all the family who love and know him and i am going to take him to his favourite place one last time. though i have seven other dogs he has been with me since a pup and has given me unlimited love and joy and i just wanted to tell every one how wonderful he was as are all our dogs to us all.

[Athena]

Letting go is the hardest thing to do, but you are to be commended for thinking of your faithful friend and what's best for him. What a wonderful friend you have been to give him all the opportunites to work and play. How many don't even get out of their yards!
My deepest sympathy to you and yours.

[k9mania]

It is so great that you are able to identify when to let go before your soulmate is not able to enjoy the last goodbyes. It is so very hard when you have been teammates, companions, and family members. Please accept my condolences and appreciation for your dedication to your K9 companions and their welfare, as well as, the welfare of dogs and their human companions in general.

K9

[Unregistered]

you are a true friend and companion to you canine friend. I have also had to make the toughest of all decisions for my 15 yr old siberian. He is truley missed but what a wonderful life we had. In time you remember and grieve and grieve some more... condolences for your soul felt loss

[daboo]

We, too, lost our oldest friend. She was a beauty, a pound puppy we had for 10 years. Loved to love and be loved. We did as you did, made her last days comfortable and loving. She no longer would walk or eat or drink. We brought everything to her, and carried her to our bedroom everynight on her big pillow. That is where Lori passed, with my son holding her. We still have her with us, so to speak, The Rainbow Bridge story near her. Her soul mate, Max, still sleeps on the spot where she left us. We miss her terribly, but know she will be waiting for us on the other side. It is hard to let go, but remember all the silly things your friend did, the laughter, the playing. That's what gets you through.

[Unregistered]

I've gone through this situation too. My sympathy

[dobetaztic]

thankyou all for kind thoughts it has been much appreciated, it has been very hard and i still have a great big hole in my heart, but life goes on, i am afraid that i have been rather busy due to a family wedding tomorrow and christmas coming up quickly but i wil come and chat very soon thankyou all again for your kind thoughts.

[ale]

hi....i'm a italian girl and i wolud like to understand this chat!!!! ihih and i'd like to meet some friends....ah,i'm very very sad for you and your dogs(if i have understand well.....)i lost too my dogs after 10 years....now i have 4 dogs to love but...i miss my dogs....if i wrong to understand,please forgive me and my bad inglish!

[dobetaztic]

hello no you understood very well and your english is much better than my italian. thankyou again and i hope you will join in the group as we are all very friendly around here and all have a passion for our beloved four legged friends our dogs.

[Jordansmom]

I, too, know how you feel. I had to put a cat down after having her for 15 years. She had a heart murmur and a tumor on her intestine. She wouldn't eat, drink, go to the bathroom (at all), or go anywhere unless I carried her. The last night I had her, she even tried biting me when I picked her up, which was highly unlike her. That kind of decision is the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but I know it was the best one for her. My aunt and uncle sent me the Rainbow Bridge story. I am so looking forward to being able to see my cat there someday.

[lovethatdogg]

aawww, ia m so sorry. but ya know, think of it as a good thing. You should also try to think of how much of a good dog it was!!!:p Plus, try to enjoy the last few times you have together!
feel better:(

[rainey68]

I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely dog. But it sounds like he had a very long life full of love and happiness.
Stay strong and try to remember the joy and good times you had all those years. He will be with you forever!!!
Rainey68

[BUMBLES]

My deepest heartfelt sympathy, there are no words of comfort in a time of greif. Remember the good times & when you feel like you can't breathe, remember the puppy who chewed your $100 shoes :)
(you gotta remember the good & bad times, in time the pain will ease, but the memories will always be there)

[kellynharley]

:( My thoughts and sympathy are with you, i can only hope that i get as many wonderful years with my dog as you have had with yours. Just thinkof all the good times you had together

[janice]

sorry to hear of your sad time , it's never easy to say good bye to our beloved companions :(

[Nadinesky]

I am so sorry to hear about your dog...as everyone has said remember the "puppy" times, 18 years...you are truly blessed!
I wish that I had the time to say good bye to my beloved Bailey in the way you are, I am sure it does not make anything easier, but to have that chance is another blessing.
You are in my thoughts and prayers
Mary-Ellen

[jhawk]

I feel for you, I've been through it myself. Too may times. In the last 7 years I have lost 3 dogs and 2 cats. My collie passed at 14 yrs, One Great dane died during surgery at 7 Another great dane six months later from spinal cord degeneration age 7, A cat at age 16 diabetes took its toll on her, another cat age 17, was sick for some time and had a seizure. cheyenne my 13 year old Chow mix is 13 and it is breaking my heart to see the arthritis getting worse and she has developed cataracts.

[buggis]

I feel your pain and am very sorry that it is time for you to say goodbye. What a lucky dog, though --- to have so many wonderful years with a wonderful human companion. God bless.

[saveawolf]

aawww, im so sorry. im crying now give him a hug fore me:(

[LoveMyLabs]

I'm so sorry to hear about your 18 yo. At least he'll be able to enjoy these last moments together and will leave this world feeling your love.

[LabpupsUK]

18 is a great age and well done for making such a difficult decision, at the end of the day we all want to live a great life and it sounds like he has done that.

My sympathy to you and the rest of the dogs.

[LabMomHouston]

I, too, am very sorry to hear about your loss dobe. I only hope that I have 18 years with each of my pups. It's hard to deal with any loss but even harder when you have had the joy of spending a long chapter of your life with one particular animal. He was a very lucky dog to have found someone like you to spend his entire life with.

[saveawolf]

I hope this poem helps you fell better wine the time comes



When tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the paw,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It almost seemed impossible
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things
You knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.

[LoveMyLabs]

OMG that is so sad! I was bawling like a baby part way through. Tears all over the place. I really hope I don't have to see my pups go anywhere anytime soon. God help me, I think I'd die. :(

[dobetaztic]

that is a beautiful poem saveawolf, though archie left me several months ago now that still a comfort and a tear jerker and again very beautiful thankyou

[cockermom93]

I had to put my 8 year old cocker down a few years back and know exactly how you feel, when I first got her she was a puppy and I was only about 9-10 I aske my father how long she would live and he said I would be a senior in high school and she would be right beside me while I did my home work... that is just where she made it to. I had just started my senior year when we found out she had a large cancerous tumor pushing on her trechea and lungs. I made a point to lay down with her and do my home work even though it broke my heart because she couldn't move, eat, or use the restroom. She didn't even know where she was anymore. She only started showing symptoms about 2-3 weeks before she passed so at least it was a short lived illness. As soon as I had made a point to do my home work with her we had a vet come out the the house and I held her the whole time, of course balling my head off. I feel your pain and know that Archie will always be with you where ever you go. Hang in there.

[dobesgalore]

I am tearing up reading your post. I'm so, so sorry. Its been awhile since we have had to face that with a dog, but over the summer was my horse of twenty years. I had a week of hell, preparing for it, but I made sure I had plenty of pictures, and of course many years of memories. Like you, I made that last week full of spoiling. I think having lots of pictures has helped me alot. Maybe that will help you also. Bless you both.