My Dog/best friend died last night

[fox]

Took the wife out to supper and groceries last night, we both commented how slow the Lab looked. She has arthritis in her shoulders and takes medicine for it.

When we get home she is not in the garage-we leave the door up a foot- so we go looking for her.

I find her in the shadows near thr front of our house. She wags the tail when I speak to her but doesn't move. Not even her head. I quickly check her for injuries and blood but find none.

I picked her up and carry her to the tailgate of my truck, she can't stand and doesn't even wimper. Wife runs in and calls the vet emergency number and we race to the vet. 15 minutes drive-normally 25- and they run several tests. They said she is showing a weak heart but check her for poisons etc.

After 3 hrs, they say she is stable, on o2, and we should get some rest and be back early. So we go home after talking with her. Get in bed at 1 am, get a light sleep and they call at 2 am and ask us to get there quick she is slipping away.

12 -15 minutes we pull in and they tell us she just passed away.

I am really hurting.

She was 11 years and 6 months to the day.

She was my sidekick and rode with me most of the time.

In fact, she didn't like it when my wife sat in her seat.



We believe she had a heart attack.

Gone but never to be forgotten.

Her name is "Spout"



John

 

[Will24]

I feel your pain Lost my german shepherd /timber wolf mix when she was 10 to cancer and my 5 year old pure bred shepherd to an aneurysm both in teh last few years. Sorry to hear it



-Will

 

[lil red cummins]

i have tears in my eyes as i write this. i feel for you and your wife. i know how much we love our chocolate lab. she is one of our children.



my sincere sympathies and prayers to you and your fallen friend.



jim

 

[rrausch]

God Bless you John. Our prayers are with you and your family.

 

[Torque King Jay]

I'm very sorry Fox. I love my American Eskimo dearly. He's not just a pet he is part of the family. I feel your pain my prayers go out to you and Spout.

 

[QRTRHRS]

John, I feel your pain. From your post, other than dealing with the ailments older age brings, she had a good life. You were privileged to be a part of that. You did not have to make that decision to end her life. Take some time to heal, don't rush to replace the void. There will be more good dogs that need good people. They won't replace your lab. Their personality will be different, respect that and life will go on.



We lost our rottie a few weeks back. She went in for exploratory and her liver was about gone from cancer. My wife had to make the painful decision to not wake her up to after surgery pain for a few more weeks of miserable life.



Like taking time to play with your children growing up, it's also important to take the dog for that all important walk even though it has been a long day.

 

[bmoeller]

The best dogs we have had were strays (2 of the last 3).



One died from old age, Basset was run over by RPS truck (not to bright, was "checking" the tires), last one had to be put down last fall. He was about 10yrs old, and had a big tumor against his spine.



Don't have a new one yet.

 

[Sageair]

Spout had a better life than 95% of the dogs out there thanks to you and your wife. You should be proud of giving that to her all these years.

 

[rmrc]

John,



I also, unfortunately, know the pain and sorrow that you're feeling. As time passes it will ease but never really passes. As others have said, take confort that you gave her the very best in the fact that she was looked upon and loved as another family member and that the good Lord took her, not putting you in the terrible position of making the decision to ease her pain.



I lost my baby girl Maxine this past October and still haven't gotten over the grief. She was 13 years and 3 months old. I couldn't have loved her more than if she was a human child!!!!



The following is a story of the Rainbow Bridge. I firmly beliebve that it's TRUE!!!!!





"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.



All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.



You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.



Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together... . "



Author unknown...

 

[outlawram]

i am sorry to hear of your loss. Here is another good poem about pets.

MEMBER OF THE FAMILY



What would I do without you,

My precious, furry friend?...

Part mischief, but all blessing,

And faithful to the end!



You look at me with eyes of love;

You never hold a grudge...

You think I'm far too wonderful

To criticize or judge.



It seems your greatest joy in life

is being close to me...

I think god knew how comforting

Your warm, soft fur would be.

I know you think you're human,

But I'm glad it isn't true...

The world would be a nicer place

If folks were more like you!



A few short years are all we have;

One day we'll have to part...

But you, my pet, will always have

A place within my heart.

 

[JDougherty]

wiping the tears from my eyes... . my prayers are with your kid and wish you and your wife the best... !

 

[DEickhoff]

I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.



Dawna :{

 

[Greenleaf]

Sorry to hear of you'r loss.



-S

 

[XcumminsX]

Sorry for your loss Ive lost 2 dogs so far in my young life and it hurts so much. I feel your pain



Nick

 

[Hale on wheels]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. My dogs are my children as well, and I lost one a while back. It was very hard to get over. Someone here shared another good poem with me when I lost my lab that I found comfort in, so I will share it with you.



A faithful dog will play with you

And laugh with you and cry

She'll gladly starve to stay with you

Nor even reason why.



And when you're feeling out of sorts

Somehow she'll understand

She'll watch you with her shining eye

And try to lick your hand.



Her blind implicit faith in you

Is matched by her great love

The kind that all of us should have

In the Master up above.



When everything is said and done

I guess this isn't odd

For when you spell dog backwards

You get the name of God.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I feel for you Fox, losing a dog is tough. I had to put my all-time best dog (Lab mix) down a few years back, all my other dogs had died peaceful natural deaths but having to put her down was agonizing.



Sounds like Spout died well, don't agonize over not being nearby -a dog's heart is always with their owner, she knew you were by her side in spirit.



The body wears out, but love never dies...

 

[Rhondasway]

I'm so sorry for your loss of "Spout" (cool name, BTW).

For those of us who's dogs are truly a part of the family, it's an awefully painful experience. I've lost a few great ones, and console myself by knowing that I have been fortunate enough to share in their lives, to make them as happy and long as I can.

They are really the best of friends...

 

[EBottema]

Hey Fox,



Don' worry it will all be okay in the end, Spout went to a happier place! Just put a nice picture on your wall and you will always remember the good times :-D





Erik

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Fox,



I know exactly how you feel. I think that when a pet dies it's more depressing than when a person dies. Please don't anyone take this the wrong way.



I have lost 2 dogs since I was a kid. It's too much. NO dogs ever again.

 

[fox]

Thanks Guys. Just an up date, I visited the vet (pause to wipe up some tears) and found that she had a 'mass' on her spleen that was unknown. It ruptured like an anurism and caused the heart to fail.

My wife and I got in her truck friday night and went for a ride. Got back last night, 24 hrs, and 1200 miles. I'm sure she wanted us to do that. Lot's of talk. Good and bad about her.

The bad sums up to this. She ate the mud flaps, a tree, the garden hose, a few squirrels, (well that was a good thing ). and others.

Too many good to list here!!!



We run a seamless gutter business. When I got her, I mean, when she picked me, I named her " Downspout" And it became 'spout.



It was funny when we would be in the office and someone would say "I'll go out the shop and get that downspout". She would jump up like " You called"!!!

She hated the vacuum cleaner but loved to play with the leaf blower.

John