Sad Day – Had to put the dog down

My best hunting buddy left me yesterday, and I’m not ashamed to say I cried a bit. Champ was a 12 year old Vizsla, and was truly a member of the family. He could point a pheasant like a champ, and lick the kid’s faces with the best of them. I will miss you my friend.

Sorry to hear about your loss.
Don

Dave,

My condolences.

I’ve been there and it hurts to lose a great friend like
that.

Sounds like he had a good life. Thats the best thing you can ever give a good pal like that.

Joel

I’m sorry for your loss,he looked like a great dog.

Dave, it was 10 years ago today I put Buck down – somebody sent me this when it happened:

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…

Dave, I am sorry to hear of your loss. My sincere sympathy to you and your family. I understand, I had to put down my GSP a few years ago. I still occassionally tear up while bird hunting. Remember the good times.

Sorry about your pup. Sounds like a great dog. Take care.
Steve

Dave,

I’m really sorry to hear about your loss. It can be really tough to take.

Don’t be ashamed to cry over losing a member of your family, I put my lab down of 12 years last summer and it was one of the worst days of my life, we are considering getting a new pup this spring but Thunder will always be our brother/son. He was the only dog my girls have ever known as brother…..

SO SORRY, BEEN THERE TWICE, NEVER EASY. STILL MISS THEM.

Quote:

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a place called Rainbow Bridge

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Thanks for posting that, good thread to read every time.

We will all meet our beloved pets someday.

That’s a sad day!

John

Dave

We had to do this the day after Christmas to our dog Molly. We were blessed to have met her at the end of her life, and were only able to spend the last 3 years of her life with her.

God must have meant for us to meet. We got her at the humane society. I have have had dogs in the past and they have passed also but none of them hurt like losing Molly.

The night when every thing in the house was quiet and we were down stairs, a metal decoration my wife had above the cupboards in the kitchen fell. This had been up there a long time and had never fallen or moved. When it fell it fell right to the new hard wood floors I had put in.

Thinking that was odd I went up to get it put back up, and I was never able to see a mark on my wood floors, no mark on the counter top, nothing done to the new appliances.

I felt as if Molly just wanted to let me know she had made it to the other side. I can’t wait to see her again one day.

We want another dog but I am not sure I could do it again. Call me a wuss but it is cool that no matter what you have done, or said this is a friend that will never judge you and will always be there for you. [image][/image]

My day is coming with my 13 year old lab. Hard times ahead. Retired her from hunting this past season and she knew it. I’ll just have to enjoy her until that time comes…RR

This isn’t anything new, but when someone loses a dog I always think of the following which my breeder gave me.

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.”

Of course you have shed a few tears,perhaps more then a few. There is something about a dog that can transend our feelings about literally anything else on earth.

Good Looking dog there. Damn hard thing to do.

-J.

Sorry to hear of your loss.. Such a sad day we all regret..

My Lab Abby is healthy now, but I can see the hips are getting old and tired. I know in a few years I will asked to make that decision, and I am not afraid to admit I will cry as if losing my dad and mom.

My thoughts go out to you today and I share your loss.

eyedoctor2

Sorry to hear that Dave. Those Viszlas tear right into your heart, and show you what love really is.

Sorry for your loss Dave.Don’t worry about a few tears. They desearve our grief and more

Dave my thoughts are with you – I had to put down my first lab 3 years ago and it wasn’t an easy thing. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t see somehting that reminds me of him. Know that you and your family loved him and made a great life for you buddy.

Here’s another exerpt like the rainbow bridge that I used during that time.

—
A Dog’s Plea:

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the living heart that beats inside of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you musk know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside with you when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding; to walk by your side and protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old and no longer enjoy good health, hearing, and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me with you. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with he last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.
—

my thoughts are with you.

ted merdan

Very sorry to hear about your loss. There is nothing wrong with shedding tears over a dog…when you think about all the smiles, affection, and curses…Its only natural to think about them as one of the family.

Joe

Dave,

Sorry for your loss. I’m not looking forward to the day I have to say goodbye to my canine friend.

Sorry to hear it. Sounds like he had a great time on this earth with your family.

Sorry to hear that Dave. Keep the memories close. I remember holding my Shep/Lab cross Bear as the vets put him down. It was about the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I am not ashamed either to say I cried, actually it was more like wailing than crying. I have an urge now to take out some old pictures when I get home.

My heart goes out to you
Dogs are more than a pet, they are family and a friend through thick and thin,it’s sad that they cannot live as long as we do, but it does make you appreciate them more for the good times you spent together.

A very difficult decision to make however in the end you know its best. A dog of this scenario is campanion and a friend. They want nothing more than to please you, and will try to do just that until they can no longer. When I was trying to get over the loss of my dogs, I liked to think about what made them happy. Front seat of the truck, a run in the woods, greetings at the door, being talked to, being congratulated, Seeing the gun come out, or just laying around their family happy to be by them. Its tough to do. But you know when its time just by the look in their eyes. You know hes in a better place

Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I came home from a business trip yesterday and it was strange not to have that happy dog with his tail wagging meet me at the door….

I have to give kudos to my vet. It was tough for all of us to be in the room when the vet acually gave him the shot, but it was very, very fast and peaceful. However, I have always had in mind a place up at the cabin where I had planeed to bury the dog when it came time. Little did I know it would be in mid-winter. I asked the vet if he could possibly “store” my buddy until spring when the ground is thawed so I can dig the hole. He glady said sure, and so I have a few months to wait and then I can say good bye one more time as we lay him in the ground. That’s a great vet!

Dave

Dave I buried my Buck out back and plated a crabapple next to his resting spot. I thought I’d mention something my wife’s cousin did. He had his dog creamated and spread ashes in a couple huntung areas and also has an urn – but a really cool thing he did was took one of those little waterproof stainless vials people with heart conditions use for carrying nitro pills and put some ashes in that – he then put it on a chain and wears it around his neck. His wife thought that was cool and put one on her car key ring too.

Dave, so sorry to hear about your loss. Such a difficult thing to go through. My wife and I parted ways with our ten year old choc. lab last spring due to his uncontrollable cancer. We think of him every day, as you will your beloved pet. We both shed some tears again by reading your post that brought us back to that difficult day. The one thing that eases our pain is to reflect on all of the wonderful experiences we were able to share with our loved one. I’m sure you and yours will do the same. Our thoughts are with you and your family.