Senior Dog, Senior Owner: Saying Goodbye

Yahoo ^ | Feb. 29th, 2012 | Sherry Tomfeld

[stillafreemind]

Sometimes the sweetest blessings in life can be the the bitterest pills to swallow. That's how it is with an aging dog. If both the dog and owner are aged, it becomes a concern when it's time to put the dog to sleep. I thought putting my own dog down was hard. I found out that putting my Mom's beloved Molly to sleep was a hundred times worse.

[caww]

I rescued a cat a few weeks ago....my landlord laughed and said “He hit the lottery coming there”.

After vets visit learned he had a respiratory infection that had he been left in the elements likely would have taken his life. He’s an entirely different cat after treatment.

His paws were actually callosed and nails grown out way too far. Vet said he’d been out there quite awhile.

Interesting is he is microchipped...so we followed up on that to find phone and otherwise so far is disconnected.

At any rate will keep him with me now though I realize the owner can claim him at any time. I doubt that will happen...the cat has been in the neighborhood for a few years after checking with neighbors.

This cat thinks it’s died and gone to heaven here...and has no desire to go outside at all....even with encouragement he darts right back from the doorway.

[surely_you_jest]

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you.....
I loved you so —
‘twas Heaven here with you.

—by Isla Paschal Richardson

[proud American in Canada]

My monitor is getting very blurry.

I’m thinking of my wonderful black lab Claudius, who I had to put to sleep a few years ago. He could hardly walk anymore; it was so bad he was knucking under. Selfishly, I probably waited too long. He must have been in terrible pain.

But he gave me many years of companionship. He could always tell when I was sad or upset—he’d come over and put his head under my hand and look up at me with his huge brown eyes.

Not much of a guard dog, though—if we had an intruder he’d probably lick him to death, LOL. :)

[stillafreemind]

Wow..I am soooo sorry about the timing. I am reeling from this thread with all of the wonderful loving freepers that have had to say good-by to their loving pets.

I have three dogs right now. 2 from the pound and 1 stray that came in 12 years ago..lol.

I’ve had to put some mighty fine “friends down” and I can never replace any of them..I just keep giving the next one a new home. I pray that I can do them service..for they do a lot for me each and every day.

[Excellence]

The owner gave up “ownership” when he failed to update his information. He’s your cat, now, and you should put your info in the cat’s chip file.

[Jack Burton007]

My girl Shelby was a Welch Corgi. She was a very loving dog. She was also very protective of us. She was a good dog on letting you know if someone was outside.

She also let us know each night that it was time for the kids to go to bed. She would round us all up and go first to my son’s room. Then she would race my daughter up the stairs to her room and then after the kids were in bed she would go to bed herself.

Very loyal and loving friend.

[caww]

We do know theman did microchip the cat but did not register him. I’m unfamiliar with how the whole things work...but at this point the Microship company will notify by mail.....and this was two weeks ago now.

The vet and staff did all they could to NOT say what they wanted to say...which was obvious the cat was now in good hands. ..and he is. (smile)

He has a great bed, though has layed claim to one my recliners...and as far as I’m concerned it’s now his. I cover it though.

Has a tray with three bowls for hard and soft food....he’s at ten pounds now and doing very well....though am treating ear mites. Once that’s done will take him for shots this month. His nails now trimmed nicely and I had instructions on how to do this.

Even his fur is changing....I brush him and he loves it...plus I gave him body messages when he was sick...though I think he wants that to continue.Ha!

He is an orange tabby cat...a big boy! One ear is turned out from an obvious boxing match somewhere along the way. I intednd to keep him inside...though he certainly hasn’t an interest otherwise...that could change in the spring...Time will tell.

I will inquire when I take the cat to the vet if and how we can transfer ownership and what to do. Thank you for mentioning that. But I understood that he could lay claim at any time because the chip is ownership??????

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh no... I’m so sorry! ;(

[Brad’s Gramma]

As hard as it was to watch their lives slip away, I can’t imagine leaving them alone...

[SaraJohnson]

It was super hard for us to put down our golden. He was the best dog on earth but suffering terribly with no available relief. My husband keeps the stiff upper lip in life - always and hadled it like a boy scout with me.

But now he will not get another dog. I know it is because the dog would die before him and he’d have to do it again. Love is delightful and deeply painful, too. If I die before him, he won’t get a new wife. :)

[LadyBuck]

Our old lady is 15...may be a record for a GSD.

Dreading her time, yet I know it’s coming. She’s on daily painkillers and it takes hours to get her to “settle in” for the night.

The two younger GSDs seem to sense it and spend alot of time hovering around her and licking her.

This just stinks.....our youngest kids have never known life without their Hannah.

Hopefully, this will teach them about the wonderful beings that are our canine companions, and to appreciate them as they pass in and out of our lives

[Excellence]

The people that used to rent the house down the street adopted a kitten (orange tabby) from the shelter. They moved into their new house around the block and he moved in with us. Well, they saw him in our driveway and took him “home.” Next day he was at our back door. I've probably put a grand into him, what with the fights he gets into and the Pancreatitis. And once he rode off in the back of dh’s truck. It took six days for him to find his way back, but he did. He's ours, like it or not, possession being six-tenths of the law and all that. BTW, he weighs 20 pounds, now.

Trust me, he's your cat now. : )

[the OlLine Rebel]

Wow, she sure got old indeed! Have you registered her for the 13 Club in the GSDCA? Good luck and God bless to you and her.

"our youngest kids have never known life without their Hannah."

My son has never known life without a German Shepherd, but he'll only be 4 in a few weeks. The dog is 9. Given all her problems and the steroids she's ended up on to get relief, neither we nor the vet expects much more. She seems fine, but once they're 10 (soon) all bets are off.

I don't know if we'll have another child, but 1 thing that bothers me is that child may not have a dog/GS to live with. It'll take me a while before I can muster the gumption to raise another GS, anyway!

[Brad’s Gramma]

I’ve been told that my dog’s dad is still alive @ 15... I’m praying mine has those genes, too...

[Hot Tabasco]

My dad had a magnificent GS and I love them to death. With that being said, I can’t bring myself to getting one since they have such a short lifespan due to the infirmities they are genetically predisposed to.........

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

My beloved Lola died ,now almost 2 years ago at age 12.
When she was about 10 yrs old, I called my vet and asked her, when the time comes, would you come to the house.
she said,”Of course, yes.”

At age 12,Lola died on her bed two hours before the vet was to come..but it was reassuring to me to know in advance the vet would come to the house.

[mel]

What did you love about your kitty, I love mine because he follows me covertly when i am walking the dogs. This cat has followed us on walks since he was little.
A ginger cat

[kanawa]

The Hunt

[altura]

I hope he’ll change his mind. It won’t be the same but ... Our daughter took the decision from us. Forced me to go with her to find another lab from lab rescue.

Fortunately, Bubba was near death from neglect and abuse and required a LOT of care. That kind of rescued my husband. He was only two but, unfortunately that was 9 years ago.

[OldPossum]

... I will be looking for a geriatric dog to bring home from a shelter....

Please do. It's the old dogs that are overlooked when people are choosing a new dog, and these dogs have so much to give. I know.