My wife and I have had dogs for almost our entire marriage (over 25 yrs now) and all that we acquired (or acquired us) were rescue. We have (had) three now. I used to jokingly say that they were our furry children--not now, for they are really our furry children. Yesterday was one of the darkest of my (our) lives. At dinner time yesterday I was making their dinner, heard a weird noise and saw our 20 lb Beagle mix on her side with legs stretched out. I immediately went to her, stroked her and talked to her. Not any response, except her legs went slack. Picked her up, rubbed he, talked to her and started blowing into her snout. She then voided on me and went totally slack. My wife and I rushed to the nearest vet (a 5 min trip--well, 3 min. yesterday) who immediately took he into the back and began working on her. She was dead. Vet called it a 'sudden death' for which (without an autopsy) there is no explaining. She was five and the vet said her muscle tone and body weight were very good and she appeared to be in good health. But she was dead. We took her home and buried her in the backyard with a beloved cat and another dog. BTW, the vet did not charge us for anything.
This is hitting us hard!! It is not like we are not familiar with the death of loved ones--both of us have lost grandparents, parents, a grandchild, and other deaths of friends and neighbors--and other furry children. I know all three of our furry children will die (part of being a pet owner), but not without warning. She was not supposed to die (in my mind, anyway). Is that why were are having a very hard time with this? Maybe. But we have 2 more loved furry children, so we cannot just roll up in a ball and do nothing. She gave us 5 beautiful years, was full of life and energy and love. It is missed--and always will be.
don't know what to expect from your guys--just posting this helps a little. Time will make this easier (one never 'gets over' these things; just learn to cope with it better) to deal with. Grief! fucking hate it--but it is also part of life; part of being human, I guess. But it hurts sooooooo much right now, I can't really explain.
As a fellow pet lover, I completely understand the pain. My puppies have always been like kids, their innocence and devotion is like nothing else. When they die, especially suddenly, we feel like we failed them…for all they give us, our part seems simple and yet…..they die anyway. My condolences, I do know the feeling, My puppies are in the back yard as well and every time I go near their graves I talk to them….Lady..Lucky..Dutchess…Brita and Lili. I have left some in former residences… I remember them all. Were such a thing as the “rainbow bridge†exist, it would be a very delightful reunion.
That's rough. The connection with our fellow mammals can be especially strong and deep. Hell, I felt I had an actual friendship with a goldfish even. Our beloved Holland Lop bunny is a year or two past his expected span and we have prepared ourselves by discussing about that dreaded day. You had no chance to do that.
If I were to buy into any woo, the rainbow bridge would it. Paradise--all of my passed away pets licking my face all at once!!!
Sorry for your loss. We've had to put the last three down due to cancer or advanced age, but at least we expected it.
I'm so sorry, Mike. It's awful.
I feel just as much grief over the loss of a pet as I do of a family member. I have never stopped to wonder why an animal can be that important. It's just the way it is. It's harder when they just up and die unexpectedly too. I remember the pain and grief I experienced when my last golden retriever died, but that was in his old age, when we had to put him down. It's different now. What I remember about him today are all those hours we spent hiking in the Mountains of Montana together, three or four times a week we would spend the whole day on the trail, usually spending a couple of hours at a mountain lake in the early afternoon, and then a trip back out. I don't know which of us loved it more. But I could not have asked for a better hiking partner.
One day on the way back to the trail head, I stopped for a break, and I sat down with my back against a big Douglas Fir. Markus was played out too. He smelled around the area for a couple of minutes, and then laid down next to me with his head in my lap. He was asleep in seconds, and it was so comforting that I didn't move for 20 minutes. He never stirred. But when I started to get up, he was all ready to get underway and back to the pickup. He always had to be the first one into the pickup, and the first one out. He had these little endearing quirks that always made me laugh.
Sorry to hear about the furperson passing. It's an honor to be selected by an animal.
(https://i.imgur.com/drRuVLN.jpg)
Benjamin bunny when we brought him home 7 years ago. He is just as cute today and is as smart and perceptive as any dog I have ever had and loves to play games. He is 100% deaf and stays in a nice big, attached gazebo when it's not too hot. If you pet his head for an hour, you will have a friend for life.
(https://i.ibb.co/RCGfGN2/1102820-orig.jpg)
He looks like he'd be easy to pet, well for 15 minutes, anyway. I could maybe do an hour in bits and pieces during the day.
Right after I read this thread, I went to check on one of my cats and found his dead body. He was 11 and was seemingly healthy and then he wasn't.
I am sorry for your loss, it is such a terrible shock, and so devastating.
Quote from: Mermaid on January 21, 2022, 11:02:44 AM
Right after I read this thread, I went to check on one of my cats and found his dead body. He was 11 and was seemingly healthy and then he wasn't.
I am sorry for your loss, it is such a terrible shock, and so devastating.
That's sad. Sorry!
Quote from: Mermaid on January 21, 2022, 11:02:44 AM
Right after I read this thread, I went to check on one of my cats and found his dead body. He was 11 and was seemingly healthy and then he wasn't.
I am sorry for your loss, it is such a terrible shock, and so devastating.
Thanks. And I am so sorry for your loss!
Mike and Mermaid, I am very sorry for your loss.
We had a white standard poodle, Casper, and a red miniature poodle, Jackie. Casper died of cancer in 2019 and Jackie died of kidney failure less than a year ago. They were a big part of our lives and we still miss them both. Jackie was my mother's dog, I inherited her when my mom died, and when Jackie died it was like losing a final link to my mom. My husband has said he does not want any more dogs because he cannot handle going through the grief of losing them. I haven't agreed and we may get another dog but right now neither of us is ready.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4571/24356834348_59cbdb1707.jpg)
One day a furry beast is going to come back into your life. It's always sad losing them, but just you wait. Sorry for your loss, as well.
I'm so sorry, Mermaid. This is one of the most unbearable things in life.
Quote from: GSOgymrat on January 21, 2022, 11:52:41 PM
Mike and Mermaid, I am very sorry for your loss.
We had a white standard poodle, Casper, and a red miniature poodle, Jackie. Casper died of cancer in 2019 and Jackie died of kidney failure less than a year ago. They were a big part of our lives and we still miss them both. Jackie was my mother's dog, I inherited her when my mom died, and when Jackie died it was like losing a final link to my mom. My husband has said he does not want any more dogs because he cannot handle going through the grief of losing them. I haven't agreed and we may get another dog but right now neither of us is ready.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4571/24356834348_59cbdb1707.jpg)
I am sorry for your loss--I know exactly how you feel! They are like furry children and are an integral part of the family structure. when they leave, there is a hole where they were. The hole this time, for me, is huge and bloody feeling--we have never lost a pet from them just simply being here and in less than a minute, not. No warning. It is different and the grief cycle feels more profound this time. But we have 2 more and I do not want to ignore them for my pain--I think they are in there own type of grief. In my marriage, we have been without a pet for less than a year. At one stage, we had two and they passed close together. Almost a year passed and one day I was mowing the front yard and I found a puppy (barely weaned) behind my trash can. He fit into my had pretty easily. A neighbor mentioned they had seen a few days before something thrown from a car going by and he thought it was a puppy, but could not find it. He lived and grew into a huge lab/great dane mix and was a beautiful, beautiful furry child. It was then a short step to getting another rescue dog and we have had dogs ever since. Another creature will find you one of these days and they will capture your heart and you will be owned by a furry person once again.
GSO, I'm so sorry about your loss. I'm reading this thread like kids watching horror movies.
I'm 76, and there has been a dog in my house for at least 70 of those years. Time in the Navy and first apartment before we bought a house are the major gaps.
The current dog was a senior rescue that apparently had a hard life. No history on him, but probably used for bear hunting, as his breed are known for being fearless bear dogs. He's turned into a sweet boy and has learned to be a pet vs. a possession. It has been as rewarding to see him learn to just be a spoiled pet as watching a puppy grow. Estimated age now is 13+
Quote from: Feral Atheist on February 13, 2022, 10:18:34 PM
I'm 76, and there has been a dog in my house for at least 70 of those years. Time in the Navy and first apartment before we bought a house are the major gaps.
The current dog was a senior rescue that apparently had a hard life. No history on him, but probably used for bear hunting, as his breed are known for being fearless bear dogs. He's turned into a sweet boy and has learned to be a pet vs. a possession. It has been as rewarding to see him learn to just be a spoiled pet as watching a puppy grow. Estimated age now is 13+
I am the same age as you. But I have not had a dog for as many years as you--envious. :)) And good for you! My wife and I feel we are too old to take on another puppy. Don't want to die on a loved pet. But, even tho we still have two left, if an older dog presents itself, we would probably take it on. And good luck and fortune to your dog---and the rest of your family. :)
I have a two cats (one not shown) and this mutant beast. 26 pounds, 37 inches nose to tip of tail. I wish we had "imagefit" here.
(https://i.imgur.com/i2UrRfv.jpg?1)
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on February 14, 2022, 06:52:17 AM
I have a two cats (one not shown) and this mutant beast. 26 pounds, 37 inches nose to tip of tail. I wish we had "imagefit" here.
(https://i.imgur.com/i2UrRfv.jpg?1)
I do miss being owned by a cat.
LOL That's a big cat. Mine's petite.
Quote from: drunkenshoe on February 14, 2022, 09:53:41 AM
LOL That's a big cat. Mine's petite.
He's a "beast" according to my vet. "Biggest healthy cat I've seen in years." He still has a waist in front of his hips bones.
I want a cat owner, i really want; and i want some advice on what i want from a cat.
Sure, it ll give me a ownership sense.
but i want give him or her a sense of ownership.
I want more of a female but what do you say?
Quote from: SoldierofFortune on February 25, 2022, 11:33:47 AM
I want a cat owner, i really want; and i want some advice on what i want from a cat.
Sure, it ll give me a ownership sense.
but i want give him or her a sense of ownership.
I want more of a female but what do you say?
I have been owned by a cat a few times, and I must say I enjoyed it. Miss it. I regarded them as companions, not as an owner and pet. Kittens are one of the cutest creatures ever--but they can destroy furniture. The last two cats were male--and they were very affectionate and liked sitting in my lap at times. They also loved to leave presents for us at times--usually mice, but a few birds, as well. Part of the program--:)) Just love them, treat them with respect and go for it.