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Goodbye to an Old Friend
Daddylonglegs - 23/6/12 at 07:09 AM

Had to say goodbye to our old girl Retreiver-x yesterday. She took really poorly really fast and the vet found a wonb infection and gave her 24-48hrs max without an operation. She turned 15 a couple of weeks ago and we thought it unfair to put her through such a risky operation.

Next few days will be a real tough time but we've been here many times and it will get better.

Sorry for the sombre thread but just need to try and accept that she's gone .

JB

theconrodkid - 23/6/12 at 07:44 AM

i know the feeling and feel your pain,chin up

Peteff - 23/6/12 at 07:47 AM

It's always a sad day, that was a good age for a Retriever type dog.

snapper - 23/6/12 at 07:50 AM

Pets, you love them however the only pet that can out live you is a parrot or a tortoise.
It's a pain we have to go through damn it.
Leave it some time ( but not to much) and give another dog a good home in memory of your past friend

scootz - 23/6/12 at 08:11 AM

Buggerations!

Really sorry to hear that... the sadness and sense of loss is right up there with losing a close family member. Dogs are ace... they don't ask for much, but they give you the most incredible levels of affection and loyalty.

No doubt you gave her the best life she could possibly have lived and you minimised her suffering at the end, so force a smile and remember all those good times!

Simon - 23/6/12 at 08:18 AM

Sad times - been there and it's not a pleasant experience. Sorry for you.

ATB

Simon

karlak - 23/6/12 at 08:33 AM

So sorry to hear this.

We are going through this with our Old girl at the moment.

Our Dalmation is 14 years Old and is just about hanging in there. She has been to the vets twice, but both occasions I just had to bring her home - wasn't ready to say goodbye . It is so sad to see them become a "shadow" of what they were.

You have to let them go when they are in pain though and operations at their age can only going to be traumatic.

maccmike - 23/6/12 at 08:58 AM

sorry mate. 18 months ago our Dalmation died, honestly never been so distraught. Gets easier though. Just think of the good times.

Daddylonglegs - 23/6/12 at 09:01 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. It never gets any easier but at least it all happened within the same day, she was as good as could be expected up to yesterday but if I'm honest, we think that she had had enough yesterday and while she was rested at the vets we decided to call it a day.

As already said, she gave us so, so much and asked for nothing in return, never compained or whined, just a perfect companion.

Thanks again guys

Wheels244 - 23/6/12 at 09:37 AM



I lost my German Shepherd 14 years ago - still think about her.

owelly - 23/6/12 at 09:44 AM

I had to make the same descision two years ago. I'd had my dog since I was a youth and she was 19 when I had to let her go. She'd been getting more ill over a six month period but she kept eating and always managed to wag her tail. My vet said he could keep her alive but it would be better for her if she was put to sleep. I took her home to say goodbye to my 4 year old son and then took her back to the vet. I was totally distraught.
We'd grown up together, got into some scrapes together and been to some odd places! She'd seen me go through relationships, move houses, crash cars and bikes, and come to see me in hospital. Even though I've moved house, I still miss tripping over her and fighting for space on the sofa.
I don't think I'll get another dog yet as I could never find another Charlie.
It does get easier with time. Good luck.

perksy - 23/6/12 at 09:54 AM

Sorry to hear this

They start off as pets and become best friends really quickly

nick205 - 23/6/12 at 12:26 PM

Sorry to hear this...always hard to deal with!

They take on such family role it's a big hole when they're gone.

Still 15 is a very good age for a retriever and IMHO you made the right choice for her and yourselves.

NigeEss - 23/6/12 at 12:53 PM

They are so much more than pets, they are real friends and it's painful to lose them. It's a hard
decision to make but you have done the best for her.

My deepest sympathy to you.

mcerd1 - 26/6/12 at 10:43 AM

its never a good day

as hard as the decission is its normally the right one

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I don't think I'll get another dog yet as I could never find another Charlie.

we lost our first dog when I was 16 (cancer) and the second the end of last year (multiple strokes we think) - I still miss both of them, but we've got a new puppy now who is now happily destroying everything in sight... (it took us about 3 weeks with no dog before we started looking again)

new dogs are never the same and will never replace the old ones, but they can be just as good a companion


[Edited on 26/6/2012 by mcerd1]

handyandy - 26/6/12 at 12:30 PM

Thoughts are with you & your family

We lost 1 of our dogs to old age 6 weeks ago,



They can never be replaced but are never forgotten

violentblue - 26/6/12 at 02:38 PM

I've had dogs my whole life, and experienced the heartache of losing one, more than once.
I do feel for you. 15 years is a good go for a large breed dog, after so long its hard to imagine life without them.

Ivan - 26/6/12 at 04:47 PM

That's a real hard one - my sympathy to you and yours. I get a lump in my throat whenever I think of the loss of any of our past canine friends, but as said by most on here, there are many happy memories to bring back the smiles. Our lives would be much emptier without our canine friends.

To use an old South African expression "Vasbyt en alles sal reg kom" or not so elegantly stated "Grit your teeth and everything will come right" which is a poor translation losing much of the meaning.