The DOG thread

[Baz]

Thanks for all the Aussie pics of Murphy, Bugs....he had a good life with you! And for that amazing story of the man in Texas, Zavo....good stuff!

[trader220]

Stella.... Aka "The Dipper"

She will be 14 in January. She still goes nuts when I bust out the hose to wash the car.

[MysticLlama]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

Just brought Natasja home yesterday.

And here she is 20 days and about 4lbs later. Averages .2 to .25lbs per day of growth.

[SiberianDVM]

This whole page is good stuff!!! Made me smile.

[Wilywilly]

Linus the minus

[Wilywilly]

I have their attention

[KevinTodd]

We said goodbye to the second of our little friends last evening.

Harley was rescued at 8 months to be a companion animal to Koby, who was 5 at the time.

This little guy went from absolute terror as a puppy to loving, playful juvenile, to amazingly athletic adult, to sweet little old man in only 16 years.

My wife wasn't even in the picture when he joined my life, yet she's upstairs at this very moment crying because he's gone.

The decision to put an animal down humanely is so difficult; yet it was time. His body and mind were both failing him, and the delicate balance between a quality life and complete dependence finally shifted to the latter, so we made the call last Friday.

I had been sleeping on the couch for nearly 3 months just so I could try to match his routine of needing to go out every two hours without disturbing my wife. Was I frustrated? Yes. Was I at times angry? Yes, but I'd do it again--because what he gave us in return was priceless.

Going through the weekend and awaiting the Vet's arrival yesterday was tough. We picked him up and held his little bag-of-bones body way too much. We fed him bacon and eggs and steak and other things that he was never allowed to eat otherwise.

He looked at us as though we were crazy. Maybe we were.

We said our goodbyes, the vet gave him a sedative, and I held him and waited as he slowly drifted into near unconsciousness. It only took a minute more when she gave him the final shot, and he passed quietly lying on my chest.

Anyway, I came downstairs this morning and began putting away the water and food bowls, blankets, toys, and all the other stuff pertaining to his life, and the silence in the house was deafening. No shuffling of paws, no stinky kiss on the face.

I'm glad my wife is upstairs, because otherwise she'd be able to see me crying, too.

Godspeed, Harley, old buddy.

We'll miss you.

[Chocaholic]

All too familiar it seems. Your story is heart wrenching but you can take pleasure in being Harley's companion for a long, full life. Doesn't make it easier right now, but I suspect it will in the long run.

Earth's cry/Heaven's smile.

[Baz]

I'm so sorry Kevin......much respect to you for being there for your best buddy when he needed you.

I think about this scenario every night when my girls are with me.....they are both about 10 years old right now so the day is going to come when I must do the right thing and I know I will be a mess.

Best wishes to you and yours as you morn little Harley....he's out of pain now....and running free.....

[billybek]

Sorry that you have lost a buddy.
One of the hardest decisions to make.

[wdfifteen]

Kevin, what a wonderfully written story. It is sad, but so clear that you loved that little guy and gave him a great life. I'm sorry for your loss, but happy for Harley - he had you. Godspeed, Harley!

[widgeon13]

Sounds like Harley had heaven on earth.

Hate these stories.

[SiberianDVM]

Good on you, mate.

I tell you what: if I don't get to be with my dogs again after I die, I'm going to be pissed off.

[Rikao4]

sorry for your loss Kevin...
wonderful tribute to your friend Harley..

lol DVM..
that was my response in the..'ever been dead thread'

Rika

[syncroid]

Thank you for sharing Harley's story Kevin. It put a lump in my throat this morning when I read it.

[KevinTodd]

Thanks, everyone. I just picked him up and he's back home where he belongs.

Hug your spouse. Hug your parents. Hug your kids. Hug your pets.

Glad I can share here where you guys understand.

[vash]

my turn to tell a story:



^^ that is Harry. that picture was taken the day we brought him home from his teeth cleaning (last Saturday). he was about to turn 16, so he was no spring chicken. his age was a factor in his teeth cleaning recovery. he just kinda spiraled downwards.

wife and i have a saying about Harry. we say, "he put the Terror in Terrior". to say Harry was brave was an understatement. we didnt get along in the beginning. he would snap at me, charge me when i kissed my wife..but my wife taught me patience. we adopted Harry when he was 11, so he was already older and set in his ways. he was abused some..we couldnt have a flyswatter in the house..he would freak out. first time i swatted a fly, he peed a bit and started barking madly. i tossed the fly swatter into the garbage.

he has been so sick the last several days..he would rush to get to the doggie door so he could vomit outside..he usually didnt make it..he was so tired he would sometimes lay down too close to the stomach content stuff and make a mess. we would wash him all the time. we didnt sleep. when we did, i would nap on the couch with him nearby..so i could rush him to a hard surface. he would sneak out and vomit and be too weak to come back in. last night, i had to go and find him in the backyard and bring him back in. he just laid down where he was. wife gave him a warm bath to clean diarrhea he got all over himself.

today..coming home from work he could barely lift his head. i took him back the ER vet. they ultra sounded him and they found a mass on his pancreas. whatever the outcome..it didnt look good. wife is not in town, so over a speaker phone with the VET, we made the call. Harry is at rest now.

quick story. in the beginning Harry was a runner. open door or gate. voosh!! gone! wife and i took him camping. on the drive up we discussed Harry management. 100% leash. one of us would take him out in the dark to pee/poo (me). we got to camp, set up and had plenty of daylight. we hiked a good portion of the Pacific Crest trail. we got way back and Harry walked it like a Champion. head down. leading the way. he hit the wall. i scooped him up and carried him all the way out. he would just lay in my arms. no wiggling. i would put him down to rest, and he would just stand there and wait for me to scoop him back up for the ride. no running. we got back to camp and i took a chance. i unleashed him. he looked around..i put my feet in the imaginary sprinters blocks..and got ready to run after him. he layed down and never ever ran away again. he would stay with me. we sipped wine and he had enough..he waddled into the tent to sleep solo. it was the cutest thing i ever saw. i think that was the first day we really got along.

i will miss him. a lot. that dog had heart. it never got into his thick brain that he couldnt leap into my truck anymore. if i hesitated to scoop him up..he would try and crash. out too..

sorry for my ramblings. it was a rough day.

[Rikao4]

So sorry...
You did good...
And Harry ...
Awesome looking dog...

[Baz]

Sorry Cliff.....16 years is a good run. They never live long enough though, do they?

Appreciate your posting his pics and stories...he was a great companion and deserves to be remembered.

I don't know if I'll be able to post anything when our time comes....hardest thing in the world is to lose your best buddy......

RIP Harry...running free now and out of pain....

[billybek]

Oh man. Two in one day.
Sorry for your loss, Vash.