Our beloved dog, Lucy, she's missed already...I'm numb

[450knotOffice]

Today has been an awful day for my wife and me. We had to make the gut wrenching decision to call our Vet to our house and allow her to pass on in peace in her own bed at home with us holding her. It was so hard but we knew deep down inside that she was not going to get any better. My wife held Lucy close to her chest and I kneeled down and kissed her on her snout as I spoke softly to her until the very end, and beyond. I am normally not a cryer, but I couldn't help myself this time, which only made it worse for my wife. We stayed with her and held her for a while afterward. As with all of our beloved pets, she will be cremated and hopefully buried with us someday.

She was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in October of 1992 and we brought her home from the Broward County Humane Society, where my wife worked, in March of 1993. She was such a gawky mutt dog that nobody wanted to adopt her and it had been decided by their management that she was going to be put down due to lack of interest and the need for space at the crowded shelter. My wife found out and cried "NO!, I'll take her!" and that's how she came to live with us. My wife saved her and she had another 14 years of a good life with us because of that.

She was such an active, healthy dog. She was mostly Greyhound so she was as fast as the wind and loved to run. She would run in these great big sweeping circles with a big smile on her face and her a$$ to the ground, just loving it. We had another dog at the time, our beloved little Keesh, who had no chance at all to keep up with her and would try instead to cut her off at an angle. It was funny as he11 to watch those two.

She loved to harass wildlife, especially the deadly Buffo toads in South Florida. Those little guys have a deadly poison on their backs that can kill most dogs. Not her. She would corner one and eventually get close enough to try to grab it, which of course would lead to her getting their poison in her mouth. The first few times she did that we'd see her standing by the sliding glass door with foam and drool coming out of her mouth and hers eyes slanted like she was on a he11 of an acid trip (or something). We'd panic, rush her to the hose and wash her mouth out. A few minutes later, she'd be fine, with no sign of a problem. She did it so ofetn I think she became immune to them.

We had a pool in Florida, and she lived for it. She'd jump in that water over and over again like a Lab. She was a great swimmer and swam with a calm, slow precision, like she was telling us that she was born to do this. It got to the point that if we wanted to go swimming, we'd have to lock her in the house, which would drive her mad! How dare we swim without her.

Eventually, we moved back to California. My wife and I drove all the way across for five days. She drove my new pickup and I drove the heavily laden Ryder truck loaded with all of our earthly possessions and with Lucy at my side in the cab. Every time we'd slow down, she'd pop up and look around in anticipation of the next stop. She was a great traveler who loved the adventure I think.

Eventually, in December of 2000, she ended up developing a bad limp. The short story was that she was diagnosed with Canine Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). She had her right front leg amputated and we were told that she would have three to six months to live. We decided then and there that she would get the best possible spoiling we could give her, and we would cherish every moment with her. Well, she must not have gotten the memo, because she ended up living for almost seven more years and she gave us joy every minute of those seven years.

She was a dog who loved food and had no problem making off with a chicken breast on my plate when she thought I wasn't looking - and this happened just six months ago.

She is our wonderful, special Lucy girl. They broke the mold when they made her and she will be missed more than anyone can imagine. It pains me to type this, but I wanted everyone to know who she was and how special she was to us.

See you in the next life, my girl. I miss you.

[trekkor]

I love animals, too.

I'm sorry for your loss and sadness.

I like that last picture, " Can I have your wine, dad"?


KT

[Mo_Gearhead]

Scott,
You and your wife have my sympathies at your loss. Our several dogs (over the years) have given us much pleasure and indeed, losing one is like losing a family member.

Have some satisfaction in the fact that your pet had a great life with the two of you as her owners.

[Mule]

Best to you & your family in your time of loss.

[HardDrive]

I am very sorry for your loss.

[TerryH]

So sorry to hear this, Scott. Lucy was lucky to have such a caring family. She'll remain in your heart forever.

We too, have a few urns on the mantel with collars on them.

[Jeff Alton]

Scott, sorry for your loss. I have two labs (mother and son) and fear the day when one passes. However, I am sure she provided countless happy moments while she was with you and you provided a great life for her. It is the way of the world, it sucks, but focus on the good times of having her in the family.

Cheers

[Dan in Pasadena]

Scott,
So sorry to hear of your loss. As you know, I posted a thread only a month ago or so that I had had to put down my life long friend, Dudley. He was 14 years old and struggling very hard. I cried like a baby and I'm not sorry to admit it. He was THAT good a dog and if you can't feel pain over a long time friend then what touches you? It sounds like Lucy was just as good and just as cared about.

I felt terribly guilty and I still do in some ways but overall I know in my head- but not in my heart, that it was the right thing to do. I couldn't let him linger and struggle. He deserved to be spared that.

I hope you gain some peace about this soon. My deepest sympathies. Dan

[450knotOffice]

Thank you Dan. I thought about you and your loss today. Deep down inside I know I did the right thing because she was basically an invalid these past few weeks. It was so sad to see her succumb to the ravages of old age like this and become but a shadow of her former self. The really bad part was her mind still seemed sharp, all the way to the end. She was just...tired.

My wife and I were both crying at the end. She went peacefully and with my face against her face all the way through it, eye to eye, kissing her muzzle and rubbing her chin.

The sadness just goes to my soul. I know we did the right thing but I miss her so badly.

[slodave]

Sorry to hear the news Scott. I lost one of my birds 5 weeks ago this weekend and it looks like I will have to euthanize my chameleon soon. He had an eye infection (or something, the vet was not sure) in his right eye and now it looks like his left eye is having the same problem. If he can't see, he can't eat.

Your dog looks like she is smiling in every picture and very happy.

Dave

[speeder]

Very sorry to hear, but she had a great run on this earth. I am an animal-lover to the nth degree, and I am acutely aware of the fate of most dogs on earth. The few and lucky ones get loved like your Lucy and my Romeo. Dogs are so happy to be with a good human, think how fortuitous it was for you to spend 14 years of your own short life with that dog. That's how I look at dogs, anyways.

God bless you for being such a great dog person.

[450knotOffice]

All of you guys, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. It means more to me than you might imagine.

[rouxroux]

Scott, we understand your feelings and are so sorry for your loss. A good friend of mine had to make the same decision today for his ailing 18-year old Lab. Just take comfort that she'll be waiting for you at the Bridge. A friend suggested the site www.petloss.com a few years back, and while words alone can not take away the pain, there are some good things t read on that site.
She'll always live in your heart. Take care buddy.

[Jandrews]

Crushing. Godspeed, Lucy. Us dogfolk understand....


JA

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Deep down inside I know I did the right thing because she was basically an invalid these past few weeks. It was so sad to see her succumb to the ravages of old age like this and become but a shadow of her former self. The really bad part was her mind still seemed sharp, all the way to the end. She was just...tired.

My wife and I were both crying at the end. She went peacefully and with my face against her face all the way through it, eye to eye, kissing her muzzle and rubbing her chin.

The sadness just goes to my soul. I know we did the right thing but I miss her so badly.

Scott,
You're tearing me up.

I'm certain you will relate, I can LITERALLY feel Dudley's fur under my fingers as I stroked his head and told him he was a good boy, etc. I stayed with him to the end; as you did, so he wouldn't feel fear or unfamiliarity. It kills me just to write this - he was as you say about Lucy, mentally keen to the end. But he was falling down, he couldn't rise by himself, he didn't have any dignity anymore. He had consistent diarrehea (sic?) and couldn't clean himself when he had always been fastidious.

I can't recall if I posted this. What finally made me do it was memories of the beautiful female Norwegian Elkhound I had years ago. She was very old and struggling but I couldn't bring myself to put her down. I came home one day to find she'd had a stroke during the day and was out in the sun in the heat, couldn't walk and ants had gotten to her privates and she couldn't move to get them off.

TO THIS DAY, I am ashamed of myself for letting her come to that end. No living thing should ever come to that. The thought of something like that for my Dudley was simply repugnant and the only thing that could make me let him go... to make sure it was peaceful and kind. If Lucy could have understood she probably would have licked your hand and said, "It's okay, I have to go now." Peace to you Scott, and to your wife. You did the hard, but right and loving thing.

[rouxroux]

I also saw this on another forum long ago and it really made me think:

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a 10-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we could'nt do anything for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the dog at their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron & Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the 4-year old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as if Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time tht I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me, I'd never heard a more comforting explaination.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life--like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."


Scott, I don't know how many times I've read that, but it still gets me every time. I dearly miss all the great dogs I've had and known over the years, and I truly believe the memories of them have made me a better person. Rest easy Lucy, you were truly loved.

[trekkor]

I lost my dear cat of 17 years a few months back.
The stories shared here always bring back the sad memories of the day I had to place her in the cat carrier...

I'm sad again.

I feel your pain.


KT

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Man, I'm so sorry. Pets are literally members of our families. They talk to us and play with us and share our happiness and pain - and we theirs. Hang in there. At least she was happy to the end because of what you could give her.

[rammstein]

Keep your head up and remember just how great you both were to each other, from start to finish.

Luckily many here have or had dogs, so they understand that a dog is far more than an animal. Sound off if you need to, because its a tough loss.

[pwd72s]

I hope that knowing we know the hurt of losing a pet helps you Scott, if even a little bit.