And they say into each life a little rain must fall......

[dcycleman]

That completely sucks, I'm sorry, those who have dogs know they are members of the family.

 

[xxkcxx]

It helps me some in similar circumstances to realize that it hurts so much because I have enjoyed so much over the years. I then focus on those times and realize it was a gift.

 

[cmroberts1]

It helps me some in similar circumstances to realize that it hurts so much because I have enjoyed so much over the years. I then focus on those times and realize it was a gift.

Very good way to look at it! It does make you realize all the joy. :thumbup:

 

[Crano]

Rob
Sorry to hear about Mags mate. It's never an easy decision to make but I think you made the right one.
You have a fine young son their Rob obviously a reflection of your wife and yourself.
Just recently we had our 14 year old Blue Cattle Dog " Bluey" (very original name) put to sleep , she had cancer of the mouth and could no longer eat. The vet said he could give her some very strong meds and surgery that might help but there was no guarantee of course. In the end the we decided to have her put to sleep. We agreed that it would be the best for her.The vet kindly said he would come to our home to do it which I thought was just amazing, all of our children came and their wives and our grandson and we all patted her and said our goodbye's as she went to sleep it was very emotional but it was a great show of love and support for our best mate.
She was a wonderful friend and companion and feircly loyal.
Now we remember all the good times we had with her.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of loss.
Take care Mick

 

[Englishrob]

Apologies if this image is not the right way round is from phone. Pic of Mags looking very regal.

 

[Englishrob]

Very good way to look at it! It does make you realize all the joy. :thumbup:

Great way to look at things. Certainly a gift

 

[Englishrob]

Decisions we have both made are so difficult as they are an integral part of the family. I know as time passes things do get easier. It's still sickening though. Thanks for your thoughts and words they are appreciated.

 

[FeralGentleman]

Sorry to hear of your loss Rob.

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm sorry to hear Rob. It is an easy decision to make when you see them suffering, but not so easy to act on it. I'm glad your son was able to understand. There was no slow decline for my daughter's cat, she was only 18 months old. She was fine when Alayna went to bed, but then about 1am she gave birth and some of her insides came outside. She was in pain, and in shock, and still trying to nurse the kitten. We made calls to vets and animal adoption places trying to find a way we could afford to help her, but just didn't have the $2,000 the vet wanted to do the surgery. I had no choice but to ease her passing, and I was/am glad the little one wasn't around to watch or hear that.

 

[VANCE]

Edit////////////////nevermind i cant get it to work

 

[McVeyMac]

We are taking our 10 y.o. Cane Corso Mastiff to have a CT scan tomorrow AM. She has been loosing weight over the past year, has had some physical problems over the past year and a half, first paw, then neck and finally knee. We have not been able to diagnose a cause for the most recent ailments, but she responds positively to prednisone. But recently, we have had to increase the dosages. We are very fearful of what we are going to find, and pray that whatever it is that we can treat it.

She is a very protective, athletic and noble beast. She wiggles her entire body every day I come home from work. But she would sacrifice her life for any of our family without hesitation. My wife has always had an incredible bond with all of our dogs over the past 33 years, and she is already talking that there will be no more after Lucy (the Mastiff) is gone, That the pain is just too great. But I think that to deny a dog in our lives is to deny a part of life that makes it worth living. They teach us what Agape love is, and if we pay attention, can teach us many things about nature.

I know that there is now a void in your family. They have such a presence in our lives, and we are reminded of this void with every room that we walk into within our homes. All we can do is rejoice in the time that we have had together, and remain open to the next canine relationship as our broken heart heals. I hope that my wife is open to another after Lucy is gone. I cannot imagine life without a dog.

 

[Fiddleback]

Man it is so hard to loose a dog. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Ed G]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Rob.
I dread the day I lose my guys or have to watch them suffer ...
But the time we have them … that bond … nothing like it.
Try to take comfort from that ...

 

[Englishrob]

I'm sorry to hear Rob. It is an easy decision to make when you see them suffering, but not so easy to act on it. I'm glad your son was able to understand. There was no slow decline for my daughter's cat, she was only 18 months old. She was fine when Alayna went to bed, but then about 1am she gave birth and some of her insides came outside. She was in pain, and in shock, and still trying to nurse the kitten. We made calls to vets and animal adoption places trying to find a way we could afford to help her, but just didn't have the $2,000 the vet wanted to do the surgery. I had no choice but to ease her passing, and I was/am glad the little one wasn't around to watch or hear that.

I really am sorry you had to ease her passing. To be honest this is really quite hard to hear and digest. Now I might live in a different place, or maybe "cloud cuckoo land", but I would have thought a call to a vet at 1am would have received a more compassionate reply. Man, you and your family needed help, not to faced with a sky high quote! Had I received the call, money would not have been the forefront of mind. But then I guess I havent trained to be a vet, and I dont know about costs of surgery and medication and the such like. However, I can deduce from a phone call that another human being is in need of assistance. Surely the role of a vet has these inbuilt empathies. Again I am really sorry for you and your family to have to experience the loss of your daughters cat in such circumstances. Harvey sends a hug to Alayna.

 

[Englishrob]

We are taking our 10 y.o. Cane Corso Mastiff to have a CT scan tomorrow AM. She has been loosing weight over the past year, has had some physical problems over the past year and a half, first paw, then neck and finally knee. We have not been able to diagnose a cause for the most recent ailments, but she responds positively to prednisone. But recently, we have had to increase the dosages. We are very fearful of what we are going to find, and pray that whatever it is that we can treat it.

She is a very protective, athletic and noble beast. She wiggles her entire body every day I come home from work. But she would sacrifice her life for any of our family without hesitation. My wife has always had an incredible bond with all of our dogs over the past 33 years, and she is already talking that there will be no more after Lucy (the Mastiff) is gone, That the pain is just too great. But I think that to deny a dog in our lives is to deny a part of life that makes it worth living. They teach us what Agape love is, and if we pay attention, can teach us many things about nature.

I know that there is now a void in your family. They have such a presence in our lives, and we are reminded of this void with every room that we walk into within our homes. All we can do is rejoice in the time that we have had together, and remain open to the next canine relationship as our broken heart heals. I hope that my wife is open to another after Lucy is gone. I cannot imagine life without a dog.

You, your family and faithful friend Lucy, is in my family thoughts and prayers. I really do hope that all is well. Please be in touch. You are so right in saying that the void exists in every room in the house. Her presence was everywhere. Thank you again

 

[Englishrob]

I really am happy and proud to be a member of this forum. I seriously am so overwhelmed with the support shown here. I say in all honesty that I feel part of a Fiddleback family. Thank you friends.

 

[Mistwalker]

I really am sorry you had to ease her passing. To be honest this is really quite hard to hear and digest. Now I might live in a different place, or maybe "cloud cuckoo land", but I would have thought a call to a vet at 1am would have received a more compassionate reply. Man, you and your family needed help, not to faced with a sky high quote! Had I received the call, money would not have been the forefront of mind. But then I guess I havent trained to be a vet, and I dont know about costs of surgery and medication and the such like. However, I can deduce from a phone call that another human being is in need of assistance. Surely the role of a vet has these inbuilt empathies. Again I am really sorry for you and your family to have to experience the loss of your daughters cat in such circumstances. Harvey sends a hug to Alayna.

Thanks Rob. It was a lesson in compassion I was taught long ago. We didn't have much money when I was little, and my second dog was hurt badly by a car when it escaped the fence. My father grew up hard during the great depression, and was a very pragmatic man. He made calls, then had a grim look on his face when he said I'm really sorry son, and then my mom took me to the store with her to help carry stuff, and then out to a park for a little while. When we came hone Snoopy, my Beagle, was buried in a spot in the woods in the back yard with a stone with his name painted on it. Like Alayna now, I thought for years that he had passed on his own from the injuries. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that my brother told me the truth, when he let it slip one day when we were talking about the only times we had ever seen that man with tears in his eyes. Last Friday morning I got to find out exactly how he felt. It's odd how doing the right thing can make you feel so horrible inside. I'll relay that hug, tell Harvey I said thank you

 

[Englishrob]

Thanks Rob. It was a lesson in compassion I was taught long ago. We didn't have much money when I was little, and my second dog was hurt badly by a car when it escaped the fence. My father grew up hard during the great depression, and was a very pragmatic man. He made calls, then had a grim look on his face when he said I'm really sorry son, and then my mom took me to the store with her to help carry stuff, and then out to a park for a little while. When we came hone Snoopy, my Beagle, was buried in a spot in the woods in the back yard with a stone with his name painted on it. Like Alayna now, I thought for years that he had passed on his own from the injuries. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that my brother told me the truth, when he let it slip one day when we were talking about the only times we had ever seen that man with tears in his eyes. Last Friday morning I got to find out exactly how he felt. It's odd how doing the right thing can make you feel so horrible inside. I'll relay that hug, tell Harvey I said thank you

You, like your dad, did the right thing. But boy it tears your heart apart, and then again in the morning when you looked into your daughters eyes, and see the pain in her heart. Doing the right thing leads to real emotional turmoil. We gave Harvey plenty of hugs at 2am this morning, when he awoke in floods of tears. Alayna I know will receive plenty too.

 

[schmittie]

Rob, you have my sympathies. Loosing a dog, or even making the decision to end their life and spare them suffering, it's a difficult road. Your post made me draw up some emotions from a few years ago. Here is my story:

Growing up, we were not allowed to have dogs. Dad just wouldn't allow it. I guess he had his reasons. Don't get me wrong, we had pets and big animals. My favorite chapter was the horses we had. The decade from when I was 12 to 22 was largely spent riding and training horses. It was a good time I still miss it today.

When I was out of the house and married, my wife and I decided we wanted a dog. I did lots of research and talked to many friends I respected. Eventually we settled on a breed that would be very close to us and not disconnected. There are a number of breeds who honestly, don't give a crap about what their owner wants. You can scream at them and they will ignore you. I've seen it myself countless times. As a former horse trainer and rider, this IS NOT WHAT I WANT in a dog. We found a breed that we felt would WANT to make us happy, no matter what. A breed that although intimidating, would be very loving and gentle. A breed that would be protective and obedient.


For me and Mrs Schmittie, our first dog was a Rottweiler. Here is my first dog, 7 weeks old, 15 lbs.

I had no idea this little guy was actually a giant puppy! A puppy of this age and breed should be about 7 lbs, he was my best buddy for a long time. In his prime he grew into this:

Here he topped out at 160. This dog scared the crap out of almost EVERYONE. But he was a gentle giant. He would do ANYTHING if it made you happy. Your approval was at the top of his list.

Eventually, we got a second rot, actually his niece. This little brat:

We named her Bailey.

Despite their size difference, they were almost as close as Old Dan and Little Ann. (You know, from 'Where the Red Fern Grows'. Oh come on, it's a classic!!!!!!) she maxed out at about 90 lbs.

In 2009 we were hit with quite a devastating blow. Brutis developed a terrible limp for no reason. In a few weeks it seemed to go away. A month later it came back and overnight, his wrist swelled to baseball size. I took him into the vet, only to find out he had bone cancer. At this stage, our best possible scenario was to have his leg amputated and go through radiation. The vet guessed we may get 6 more months out of him at best. The next day we had him put down; he could barely walk and for such a large dog it was unfair. He was only 6 1/2. I felt like such a failure that he died so young. I still miss him today. The house isn't the same without that giant running around and laying at my feet.

But, there is good news. Bailey is doing great. Her and I are closer than ever. She sleeps at the foot of our bed every night. She goes camping and hiking with us. She is attached to us by an invisible leash. And of course, she will do anything to make us happy. She just turned 8 this month and she acts the same as she did 6 years ago.

(March 2013 storm)

Everyone, like me, believes they have the perfect dog. We love our companions and would do anything for them, as they would for us. Whatever dog we have in our family, we will probably have 5-15 unforgettable years, then an ending you wish was never written. It's tough, but worth every minute.

 

[Englishrob]

Rob, you have my sympathies. Loosing a dog, or even making the decision to end their life and spare them suffering, it's a difficult road. Your post made me draw up some emotions from a few years ago. Here is my story:

Growing up, we were not allowed to have dogs. Dad just wouldn't allow it. I guess he had his reasons. Don't get me wrong, we had pets and big animals. My favorite chapter was the horses we had. The decade from when I was 12 to 22 was largely spent riding and training horses. It was a good time I still miss it today.

When I was out of the house and married, my wife and I decided we wanted a dog. I did lots of research and talked to many friends I respected. Eventually we settled on a breed that would be very close to us and not disconnected. There are a number of breeds who honestly, don't give a crap about what their owner wants. You can scream at them and they will ignore you. I've seen it myself countless times. As a former horse trainer and rider, this IS NOT WHAT I WANT in a dog. We found a breed that we felt would WANT to make us happy, no matter what. A breed that although intimidating, would be very loving and gentle. A breed that would be protective and obedient.


For me and Mrs Schmittie, our first dog was a Rottweiler. Here is my first dog, 7 weeks old, 15 lbs.

I had no idea this little guy was actually a giant puppy! A puppy of this age and breed should be about 7 lbs, he was my best buddy for a long time. In his prime he grew into this:

Here he topped out at 160. This dog scared the crap out of almost EVERYONE. But he was a gentle giant. He would do ANYTHING if it made you happy. Your approval was at the top of his list.

Eventually, we got a second rot, actually his niece. This little brat:

We named her Bailey.

Despite their size difference, they were almost as close as Old Dan and Little Ann. (You know, from 'Where the Red Fern Grows'. Oh come on, it's a classic!!!!!!) she maxed out at about 90 lbs.

In 2009 we were hit with quite a devastating blow. Brutis developed a terrible limp for no reason. In a few weeks it seemed to go away. A month later it came back and overnight, his wrist swelled to baseball size. I took him into the vet, only to find out he had bone cancer. At this stage, our best possible scenario was to have his leg amputated and go through radiation. The vet guessed we may get 6 more months out of him at best. The next day we had him put down; he could barely walk and for such a large dog it was unfair. He was only 6 1/2. I felt like such a failure that he died so young. I still miss him today. The house isn't the same without that giant running around and laying at my feet.

But, there is good news. Bailey is doing great. Her and I are closer than ever. She sleeps at the foot of our bed every night. She goes camping and hiking with us. She is attached to us by an invisible leash. And of course, she will do anything to make us happy. She just turned 8 this month and she acts the same as she did 6 years ago.

(March 2013 storm)

Everyone, like me, believes they have the perfect dog. We love our companions and would do anything for them, as they would for us. Whatever dog we have in our family, we will probably have 5-15 unforgettable years, then an ending you wish was never written. It's tough, but worth every minute.

I am sorry to have disturbed painful emotions with Brutis, but then I am really glad you could share your story, your thoughts and your photos. Very personal, and painful to hear of the loss of him. But then Bailey has provided comfort and help to fill a void (not or ever 100%) but in a small way. We as a family have talked non-stop all weekend about the time with Mags, shed some tears, and mourn her passing. Snap (a rescue dog - in avatar) is forlorn (she came into the rescue centre with two other strays, which were named Crackle and Pop), and will not leave my side. She keeps checking to see where her friend is. Dogs give us their all, thats why we so mourn their passing. Thank you for taking the time to add to this thread, it is appreciated.