RIP buddy - another dog story
 

My dog Kona passed last week. I had driven to Portland from Seattle on Monday for a conference that started early on Tuesday and dropped my race car off at the shop for some pre season prep. Got to the hotel and had dinner. My GF who was housesitting called to tell me the dog was having a hard time all of the sudden. Long story short she takes him to the vet ER and he has cancer on his spleen that was now ruptured. No reasonable way to treat him. I jumped in the car at 11pm, loaded up on coffee and drove back to Seattle arriving about 2am and luckily hugged him before they had to put him down.

He was almost 12, I adopted him when he was 4. He had a tough early life as a stud dog in a breeding program. Had been shot with a pellet gun, teeth worn and missing from too much alone time with tennis balls, elbows bare from laying on concrete. He didn't much like strangers at first. Over the years he mellowed and was a wonderful pet. Poorly behaved in the house at times, much like the famous Marley but made up for it in many ways.

The hardest part was telling my daughter who just arrived in Argentina on a study abroad program. Ugh....

I miss him terribly. I'm now watching the every move of my other lab who's even older. My relationships with humans have not been so great in the last several years. I see why people get so attached to animals. They are way more reliable and trustworthy.

Kona is on the left in this pic

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1297196151.jpg

In his prime

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1297196306.jpg

So sorry Jerry. :(:(

Working from home this afternoon, on hold waiting for a telcon to start...reading your post is sad but in a good way. You've got to know them to love them, to then miss them.

Best.

Sorry to hear Jerry; it's great he had such a better life once you rescued him...

I'm so sorry. We had a pair of Boston Terriers and one died two months ago- almost out of the blue. I miss that dog every day and now spoil her brother as much as I can.

Sorry to hear about your loss. It's never easy to lose one of your best friends.

So sorry to hear this Jerry...they are such important parts of our lives. Run free @ the bridge Kona.

My condolences. I've lost a dog suddenly, so I understand. I don't look forward to the day that either one of our dogs is ready to pass on. It'll be a sad day indeed. It seems the older I get, the more attached I get.

At least you were able to greatly improve the quality of life and happiness of Kona. You each provided each other with much happiness for many years.

Sorry for your loss, it is amazing how much they become part of our life.

sorry man...

rjp

thank you for making that trip..

have done this many times..
will do so again someday..
the tears will fade..
the memories never...
you did more than good Jerry..
you cared & held him in the end..
cause that's what REAL friends do..


Rika

That is exactly what happened to my Airedale Misty...seemingly out of the blue...putting her to sleep was the hardest thing to do...and I still miss that girl O mine.

Now I have a rescue Jack Russel ,Zoey.. I call her my honorary Airedale...and I love her so..

Sorry for your loss :(

Sounds like he had a great life once he found you. With loving care animals can tolerate a lot, he just had too much to deal with.

Sorry to hear such sad news.

I'm very sorry for your loss...

RIP Buddy.
Sorry for your family's loss.

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of a pauper as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert... he remains.

Rest in peace Buddy.

So sorry to hear of your loss-all my dogs are rescues-and thanks for making his life so much better once you found each other-that's good Karma anyway you look at it.

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;

But when we are certain of sorrow in store
Why do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and sisters I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Rudyard Kipling

Kona looks so happy in the photo by the water.
He was lucky to have a good and kind family to take him in.
Sorry for your loss....