Dog down today

[Msteelio91]

Sorry to hear that man, dogs are family.

 

[Gary A.]

I am so sorry for you. I wish I could ay something to make it all better ... but all there is ... is condolences.

 

[mmaria]

 

[Forkie]

 

[D-B-J]

There's something so incredibly sad about putting a pet down. I lost it when we put down our lab years ago. So sorry to hear.. [emoji20]

 

[Raj_55555]

So sorry to hear that, I'm sure you had no other option. I know exactly how heartbreaking it is, no words can make up for you loss!

 

[Designer]

Thanks, everybody! It sure means a lot to me to read your notes of condolence.

Max was one of those dogs who had a very rough life. He was a "rescue dog". We don't know much about his earliest days, but when my son and DIL rescued him, he hated men and big boys. My son could not go near him without Max doing the threatening thing.

It was my DIL, Lisa, who tamed him. They lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the time. Max was with them for about 6 years then they moved to England and left Max with her parents here in Ames. For the 4 years they lived in England and one additional year, Max lived with my son's in-laws but the folks were old, and didn't play with him.

We decided to take Max into our house because we had a dog, and figured the two dogs could play together, which they did. Max became "my dog" in that he would watch for me to return, or want to be with me wherever I went. He enjoyed car rides, which the other dog did not. I used to take him in the car or pickup to run errands. He would wait patiently for my return.

His later life was marked with bouts of indigestion and would refuse to eat for several days at a time. He lost a lot of weight and the vet prescribed special high-calorie dog food in an effort to keep from losing more weight. I used to give him an egg in the morning and mixed some canned dog food with his Science Diet kibble. For a while his weight loss stopped, but he never gained weight.

At the end, he was weak and wobbly, and had difficulty going up stairs. He was a dog to the end, however, sparking with the neighbor dog through the fence, getting into the trash, and chewing rawhide chews. I miss him terribly.

Jim

(edit) It's getting hard to see the screen.

 

[pgriz]

You earned his trust. He repaid your trust with companionship and loyalty. Really, can't ask for more.

Seems like most of the animals we've had were rescues as well. All of the rescues (except one) seemed to be well aware that they were getting a second chance at life, and they were pretty attentive and caring. The exception was a "feral" cat rescue, and alternates between trying to be affectionate (but very awkward at it - probably lacked any role models), and frightened-out-of-mind paranoia, sometimes in the space of a few minutes. This one is, as is sometimes said, "special".

 

[Nevermore1]

So sorry for your loss. I have been on both ends having to euthanize 3 of my own dogs due to health reasons and assisting with the procedure with hundreds of my patients when I worked at the Animal Hospital. No matter which side you are on it is never an easy decision whether it's your own baby or someone else's.

 

[ronlane]

Sorry to hear this. Been there too, it's tough.

 

[baturn]

So sorry for your loss. Had to have my dog, Beckett, put down two years ago to the day. Not an easy decision, but necessary.

 

[waday]

You gave him a good life.

Adopting rescue dogs can be very rewarding.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[lambertpix]

Sorry for your loss. He looks like a great companion.

 

[Designer]

Thanks again, everybody.