Posted: 10/7/2010 3:02:11 PM EDT
|
Well about 6yrs ago my grandma was moving in to old folks apt. and couldn't take her sheltie with. She asked us to take him. I really don't like small dogs but figured what the heck he's old and fat and wont last long so I took him. We broke him of his bad habits and got him healthy.
The otherday I noticed he was getting weird goop in his eyes so the wife took him to work with her today and it wasn't good. He's pretty much blind now( We already kinda knew that) vet says at most he can see shadows. His immune system is failing so the tear ducts are not working. $46 a month for the eye cream and some drops I forget the price on those, and that's with her discount. They also discovered that he has developed a skin infection on his tummy  $50 for the meds that may or may not work since his immune system is failing
After a lot of thought tonight we decided that were going to put him down on mon. :( I've gotten used having the little bugger around. At 18 he still tries to get into it with the big dogs from time to time. I simply cant justify putting any more money into him now that we know his immune system is fucked. Kids are not happy but understand and both want to be in the room with us, I really don't think that it's a good idea for 2 hormonal teen girls to watch him get put down. Wife thinks it's ok but I disagree. I dunno. There still pissed about me putting my zues down a few yrs ago without them there. I had no choice on him, his stomach flipped and it happened fast! there was no waiting.. Broke my heart and there's Why the heck do we do it? We know that if were lucky we'll get 10 yrs of time together and then heart ache. And ya I swore after Zues I'm done!!! A year or so later I go out and get another pup. Our Shepard seemed so lonely without him Grrrrrr . Ok that's enough venting |
|
I feel for you. My aunt and uncle adopted a mutt ( german shepard and doberman mix ). She had been a stray, only a year old, undersized etc etc etc. Well she turned out to be one of the best dogs anyone could ask for. She was well behaved ( still was slightly aggressive around strange dogs, but ok as long as she was on a short leash ) and THE best watch dog you could ever ask for. She instinctively defended her family, you always felt safe when that dog was around. A few weeks ago she started walking a little slowly, and her rear legs seemed week. She got some meds and was better for a while but on sunday she was dragging herself along...like none of her legs worked right. It was heartwrenching but they had to put put her to sleep monday night. They had 13 good years with her, but to say they are sad is an understatement.
I have no doubt that they will go out and adopt another dog, knowing full well that they will be going through the same anguish in another 10 years or so. As hard as it was to lose the pet, the time that you spend with the is ( IMHO ) worth it. Very sorry for your loss... 
|
|
I too feel your pain. I've been there 7 times over the past 40 yrs, and it doesn't get any easier. 6 English Setters and a Chocolate Lab died in my arms, and every time I went right out and got another dog. I'm a hunting fanatic, and 4 of the Setters and the Lab were great hunting dogs. 2 of the Setters weren't worth crap for hunting, but were great "house" dogs, and I still loved them just as much. You never forget the ones you lose, and when you bring that new pup home you know you'll being going through it again.... but IMO, the joy they bring into your life while you have them makes the pain of losing them worth it. Afterall, if they didn't occupy a special place in your heart, you wouldn't have so much pain when the time comes.
I lost my 10 yr old Choc Lab to cancer last January. I have another Choc Lab that's 4 yrs old, and we just got home from our 6th day in a row of duck hunting. She's doing OK, but the one I lost was a much better hunter. Now is when I really miss her, but having the other Lab, still a "work in progress", does ease the pain some. As for bringing those girls along, I say if they want to go, bring them. When I lost my last dog, my grandkids wanted to be there. My daughter and I weren't sure if that was a good idea. But my wife said "Grief and sorrow are just as much a part of living as are joy and happiness. They need to experience the grief and sorrow up close, to fully appreciate the joy and happiness in life." When she put it that, my daughter and I had to agree. |
Well it's done I let the girls sit in and they handled it very well!
Kinda sucks I almost stopped it after the sedative because he started to tear. I mentioned it and my wife and her boss looked at me and shook there heads. gave me the "it's time! don't stop it look" I gotta say it was strange not having him bark at me when I left for work this morn.. What really sucks is my girls asked what to tell Nonnie (my grandma) when they see her. I told them just say he really cant see anymore or get around too well but he's comfortable Technicality not a lie
I've taught them not to lie so they had a issue with what I said. I think they get it now that I explained that sometimes we have to. Nonnie is 90 She don't need any more sadness in her life! This is a good lie!!!!! |
