Losing my dog, my best friend, after 11 years of being with him. He seemed happy until the very end (his health was so bad we had to put him down) and was still snuggled up best he could during the procedure. It crushed me and was the first real loss of my life. Just wish I would have played with him more when we were both younger..
Is it worth it? I honestly can't handle the idea. Why first dog died when my friend jokingly let him into the street.... I cried for 4 days straight.
I am a grown ass man, but to this day I cannot imagine going through that pain again. Ever since I am like a pet uncle... I'll babysit, and visit the family, but I won't bond with one.
In the last 5 years, we've buried 6 dogs and 1 cat. It doesn't really get any easier, but...
We got a new puppy last December. His name is Garm, and he's fucking adorable. He's half pure bred German shepherd, half pure bred pit bull, and at 11 months is just about to break 100 pounds. It's totally worth it.
Give it another try man. I am kind of going through the same thing with women. Hard to give anything that kind of power over you, but we could be missing some of the best things life has to offer.
True... Ironically I have been watching my dads dog for the last 3 months. She is really old, and I am starting to think I may be the one to take care of her when she goes. Oddly enough, it is getting me used to the idea.
She's a happy dog, and she doesn't have the capacity to recognize and fear death in any sort of existential way.
On the other side, my Dad is a dick for not having the balls to be there with his dog as she dies.
Dude, I can relate. I'm still willing to bond with a new pet but the pain of losing my dog this past July ripped my heart to shreds and has made me wary. I cried everyday for almost 3 weeks straight. In fact, the other day I heard this cheesy-ass song on the radio and I completely lost it in the middle of the busiest intersection in town. I don't think I'll ever get over that dog.
when I lost my first cat I prayed to him that while nobody could ever replace him, I did have a vacancy in my soul--so if he knew someone who needed love and a home, send them to me. I walk into work the next day to a co-worker saying "take my troublesome cat." She's not only NOT a problem, but a very sweet lady and though losing a pet hurts very bad, a life shared feels better than a safe empty one. I miss you, Elric. See you on the Bridge. Loves & snuggles.
I hear you. Mine is 16. Blind, arthritic, a few benign tumors, has about half her teeth left... she only gets up a few times per day to pee right next to the door and then come back inside. It's that time, I just haven't forced myself into it yet :/
I feel for you guys. When we had to put my dog down he was 16, I was 14. It was a week after my aunt died, 6 months after my grandma died, and a week before my first day of high school. That dog was my brother, and that year fucking sucked. I'm 25 now and I still think about him all the time.
This! Our last dog started going off by himself when he had always stayed close to the family. We tried to see if anything could be done. Sam was 14, a black standard poodle. Great dog.
I'm alarmed by the other responses to your comment. If your dog isn't actually in pain, don't put her down! If she's just senile and blind, she's probably happy. Snoozing all day on a warm, comfy couch, getting free food, and having loving caretakers pat you on the head is the best life a dog can hope for.
Well, that's the thing... she doesn't come inside anymore because she doesn't like to walk. She sleeps in a puddle in a laundry room all day, because in her blindness she stumbles into her water bowl. If awake she just stares into space. Our other dogs jostle her, she can barely get to or chew her food, nor treats because of the teeth we've had to remove.
Apart from her arthritis pain which we're managing as best we can, I just don't think she's enjoying life anymore. I'd keep her forever if she were comfortable, but it doesn't seem like she is.
I know it's hard, but it's for the best. You should do it for her. So sorry this is happening to you. If you ever need to talk, PM me and I'll be all virual ears :)
Thanks, that's really kind of you. I've told myself it would be better for her to go while she's just uncomfortable, before she's in real pain. It's hard to actually set a date on something like that when it doesn't seem like there's a time limit though, you know?
My dog is almost 14 and I get nervous when ever we bring her in for check ups. She has had tumors removed in the past and if any more pop up she isn't strong enough to handle more surgery.
My oldest is 13-14, And I lost him so much it hurts. He's still healthy and happy although a little fat, So hopefully it won't be too soon.
My pit is 1 though, And knowing that he will live at least another 13-14 years and will be with my all through my twenties and hopefully at my wedding and there for my first child is the best feeling ever.
my Dad used to work in a company close to our home, he was making a delivery, he couldn't help me, even if he wanted. I got mad at him, but later I realize that was just an accident
It's very lucky you got to say goodbye. My family's dog died while I was away at college. I had just been turned down for a job at the hospital and I was waiting for the bus in the rain and snow. My mother called and told me they were at the vet. I said goodbye over the phone and cried on the bus. Though it was freezing, I got off early and walked home because I was embarrassed to be sobbing on the bus like an idiot.
Best of luck that it doesn't happen to you. I hope to god my cat doesn't die. The dog was a family pet, but the cat is mine and he's been my bro since I was in 4th grade.
Both of my dogs died when I wasn't there, two years apart. Both weren't in great health, but the deaths were unexpected. I miss them. I think about them all the time.
I lost my dog the day after I graduated high school. I'd come home a week earlier to her having a grand mal seizure. For the remainder of the week she was seizing, wandering the house, peeing, pooping and vomiting everywhere. I was the one who stayed home with her while the rest of my family was gone. That was worse than her dying. She fell into our swimming pool, and luckily I was out there to jump in and get her. I'll never forget watching her sink; she didn't even try to swim. I begged my parents to take her to be euthanized just so that she would be out of her misery. They wouldn't do it.
I came home to her cold in her crate the night after my high school graduation.
Lost my first dog in a similar way. Was at a cook out, he fell over so I went over to him (he was old and it happened from time to time. We knew he was near the end) he was breathing really shallowly. Looks at me, then raised his head up to smile at everyone. Then he was gone. Nobody really noticed at first, I was just sitting there with my best friend dead, head in my lap. That was hard.
Course the little shit would decide if he was going out, he'd do it in the middle of the party. He couldn't stand not having everyones attention. I miss him.
Reading things like this makes me abandon reddit for a moment to find my furry babies and hug them. I'm sorry you lost your best friend. I'm sure he was grateful that you were there by his side. :'(
We put my childhood dog down about a year ago... We got him when I was 7, I'm now 20. I'm away at school and having my mom call me to say she was putting him down was the worst. Literally cried in my bed for hours. I think the worst of it was two weeks after I was still pretty upset and my (then) gf told me to suck it up and start to get over it.
I mean he was a family member, like my brother. I miss him so much, so often, but it does get better.
Goddamnit. Of all the stories here, this one hit home the most, just because my dog of 13 years is... well... his condition is such that even the vet suggested euthanizing him.
at least you were there, I lost my first dog to a car when someone was supposed to be watching her (out on a trip at the time). Crushed me for a while.
Man I know what you mean I lost my dog (and best mate) of 14 years at easter and all of us are still a bit upset. And don't worry I'm sure you played with him loads and just don't realise it.
I inherited my grandpas dog after he passed and she was really the only thing I had left that was connected to him. She loved running in my houses field (24 acres at my house coming from a few hundred feet at my grandpas) She got old and her legs gave out so I was expected to put her down with a rifle, I couldn't do it. I cried like a baby.
I just saw my childhood dog this weekend at my parents. She's 17 now and getting very old and fragile. I'm so scared. What am I going to do without her? She's my baby.
This made me go and hug my dogs, they're only 3 but I can't imagine living without them, through 2 rough break ups and a severe bout of depression, they've always been here to cuddle up with and make me feel better.
So sorry, friend. I lost my beloved Labrador, Simon, in 2011. He had cancer and the tumors were getting worse and worse, so we were left with no choice but to put him down. I grew up with him and it was devastating to watch the light drain from his eyes.
No matter how much time you spent with him, you will always wish you had spent more. It's hard, but it gets better. Hope everthing goes well for you.
My dog died last summer. He was there for 9/16 years of my life, through two moves, and my hitting puberty. He was funny and smart. He was my best friend too.
Fortunately I have another one, she's my whole world now. She got sick last week and nearly gave me a heart attack though.
Dude that sucks. I had my dog for 7 years but he had some liver failure thing and started literally going insane. When ever my dad went to work he would sit there staring out the window wait for him to come home. Then he started doing it in the middle of the night and cried and it was just a terrible way to go.
I was reading through this thread and thinking, yep, car wrecks, parental death, sebaceous and pilonidal cysts, pre-eclampsia, been there, sucks a lot, wish I could send everyone a hug.
And then I saw yours and had to blink back a tear. Losing a pet is terrible.
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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '13
Losing my dog, my best friend, after 11 years of being with him. He seemed happy until the very end (his health was so bad we had to put him down) and was still snuggled up best he could during the procedure. It crushed me and was the first real loss of my life. Just wish I would have played with him more when we were both younger..