A sad event

Duffster · October 23, 2007, 07:22:40 PM

To my friends at Treks in Sci Fi,

I normally don't share personnel stuff online, but I feel a really good connection with all the people here at the Treks in Sci-Fi boards. This really is the best group of online people I have ever had the pleasure of being involved with.

This evening I had the distinct displeasure of putting my oldest dog to sleep. I just wanted to share a little bit of information about my old friend.

In 1992 my family went through hurricane Andrew while living in Miami. This was very rough on all of us, but soon after, with lots of assistants we ended up purchasing a house. One of the first promises I had made to my son, at the time 7, was that we would get a dog as soon as we purchased a house. I went to the pound and looked at many dogs. The one I picked out had just something special about him. As soon as I looked in his eyes, I just knew he was going to be, not only a protector for my family, but a life long companion. His name might make you laugh, we called him Wedgie.. not after getting a Wedgie, but after a really good friends nickname.

Looking back on 15 years time now it's amazing. This dog, a pound dog mind you, moved with us, from Miami, to Birmingham Al, to Raleigh NC, and finally to Columbus Oh. He never had issues with moving, he was happy wherever we were. All he did during his entire life was provide us with unconditional love.

This last year has been very rough for us with Wedgie. He started having some problems with his hips. We thought at the time it might be near the end. Amazingly enough he overcame all those problems, and was still a happy and loving dog.

This evening we had to make the decision to end this wonderful dogs life. It came about very quickly in the last week. He all the sudden quit eating, and was hardly able to walk. We made the decision this morning, that the best thing for Wedgie was to put him to sleep. The appoint was for 6:45. Unfortunately life being the way it is, he started having a convulsion at 6:00. This made an already sad evening worse. We calmed him down and I was able to take him to Vet at his appointed time.

I find it amazing that I am 45 years old and I have never had to deal with something like this. Being with my old friend as we put him to sleep is one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. The Vet administered an anesthetic before the final shot. It looked in to my old friend eyes and just repeated the phrase I had said some many times in the last 15 years.. "Good Dog" The vet came in a few minutes later and looked at Wedgie, he was surprised. He told me that normally the shot he administered was enough to knock out a dog of Wedgies size, and that he would wait a little longer.

Now I know at this point it sounds a bit silly, but I looked into my old friends eyes and told him to go ahead and go to sleep....your job is done, we are all safe. I may be projecting, but I saw in his eyes that he relaxed and let go. The vet entered a little bit later and my good friend was soon released of his pain.
What I find amazing is this dog never once whined or complained from the pain he must have been experienced. Until the end he still found the energy to raise his head at all his family, and wag his tail

I don't know why I am posting this here for sure, but I think it's a little bit of therapy for me to put these things down and share some of my friends life.

Here's to Wedgie.. if more people had a heart as big as this dogs....the world would be a better place..

I am going to miss you old friend.

Duffster

jedijeff · October 23, 2007, 07:33:41 PM

Sorry for your Loss Duffster, does sound like a very hard time for you, my thoughts go to you and your family. Pets become important members of the families they belong to, so their passing provides a big void. My parents dog is getting up in his years, and I dread the day when it is his time.
Again, all my thoughts to you and your family.

Jen · October 23, 2007, 07:44:03 PM

I'm so sorry Duffster. I know there are several of us here who know how you feel. I had a cat who was my best friend. I got her from the pound and she lived with me through college. She used to watch me paint and would follow me around the house when I sang. If she was on the couch, when I walked past, she would slap me on the rear. She had a good sense of humor. She also knew when I was coming home from school and would meet me at the door. My husband Dave said she would get up at the same time and sit at the door, about five minutes before I came up the stairs.

She had similar symptoms your dog had. I didn't want to put her down but she was suffering. I've never cried so hard in my life. I couldn't go with my husband to the vet to put her down...you're very brave to do that. My husband took her for me. He built her a nice box and buried her under her favorite tree in our garden. I planted a nice flower bed over the spot. She was a good friend.

I'm glad you told us about him...he sounded like a great dog and a great friend. I'm very sorry.

Geekyfanboy · October 23, 2007, 07:52:33 PM

Duffster.. I am very sorry for your loss. I know I would be devastated if I had put down my Daisy. It sounds like you guys had a great life together... just remember all those wonder times spent having fun.

Our love ones never truly leave us.. we always keep them close to us in our hearts.

X · October 23, 2007, 07:53:41 PM

I can really relate to what happened to you, we lost our family dog in almost the same way. I think its both easier and harder to make the choice, but I know that making the choice is sometimes best for the animal family member.

You have my sympathies and understanding.

moyer777 · October 23, 2007, 08:23:47 PM

Oh Dufster, I am so sorry, that is very hard.

My family and I are big time animal lovers, and it is hard for us when our pets pass away. We have had our dog for almost 10 years now and we are not looking forward that time.

I know what you mean though. I had a wonderful Collie named Shannon all the time I was growing up, it was very hard for me to lose him. I ran away from home with him at least twice, I talked to him more than my sister. :) He was a very understanding soul. I still miss him all this time later. Pets grow on you, so I understand.

My prayers and thoughts are with you during your time of loss.

The nice part is that you have some great memories, that you can treasure forever. That is what I try to focus on when I experience a loss like this.

Thanks for sharing and I pray you feel better soon.

Love,

Rick

Duffster · October 24, 2007, 05:09:56 AM

Thanks for all your responses, it does help.

Duffster

billybob476 · October 24, 2007, 05:14:58 AM

I'm very sorry for your loss. If anything happened to my cat I don't know what I'd do.

KingIsaacLinksr · October 24, 2007, 08:31:37 AM

.........I'm fearing for our family's dog. He's nearing 15 years old. We've seen him be "old" in that he once hurt his leg and was limping for weeks but evetually recovered. However, despite how youthful he is...*he's an English Springer Spaniel*....and trust me, if you ever saw him, you would never guess he was 15. But he is and I fear how long he has to live. All good things must come to an end. Sadly, I'm about 6 hours away from him so I'll never get to spend any time with him....but I know its going to be a blow when he goes.

Here is a picture:

But yea, Very sorry about your loss Duffster. Good pets are good friends. They just don't live long enough....though, I think there is a reason for that. So that we learn to appreciate our friends who actually talk. ;)

Darth Gaos · October 24, 2007, 10:23:00 AM

Wow...Our sympathy on your loss...Your story actually made me tear up..especially the part about you being there and looking him in the eye...very touching and sad.

Jen · October 24, 2007, 11:32:11 AM

Quote from: Darth Gaos on October 24, 2007, 10:23:00 AM
Wow...Our sympathy on your loss...Your story actually made me tear up..especially the part about you being there and looking him in the eye...very touching and sad.

Me too Darth.

space_invader64 · October 24, 2007, 12:51:21 PM

I'm very sorry duff. I know how awful that is.

The IC · October 24, 2007, 01:37:08 PM

sorry duff

We are going to go through this in the next few years. We have 2 elderly shelties and 1 old cat. Abby is the older of the 2 shelties (12 years) and is starting to drag her right front foot. I had to carry her up the stairs last night.

I told my sister in law to give Abby a big hug last week before she left.

PepperDude · October 24, 2007, 04:36:06 PM

Sorry to hear about that Duffster. I, like the others here, can relate. It's not a great feeling when you know you have to put your long-time pet to sleep.

Ktrek · October 24, 2007, 04:49:58 PM

Alright Duffster you made me cry! I too had to put down our beloved pet Dog Kodi a couple of years ago and your story reminds me too much of that sad time. I feel for you and I know the loss that beloved animals can give when they are gone. However, I know you did the right thing and now your life is free to be open to some new little creature of God that needs a home.

Kevin