She's dead.
My wife and me went out for supper and some groceries, gone about 3 1/2 hrs. When we get home, she doesn't meet us in the garage, so we go looking for her.

She is out in the yard in a shadow and laying still.
I speak to her and touch her, tail wags, but that is all.
I called out to the wife that I found her.
By now I'm on my knees checking her for wounds etc.
Some times she crosses the street and some kids drive fast out front.
So , I try lifting her expecting her to yipe, but she is quiet and limp.
I then pick her up and take her into the garage and put her on the tailgate, of her favorite truck. She can't hold herself up. wife runs in and make a frantic call to the vets emergency number. And away we go on a fast trip to the night vet.

They check her out. Takes 30 minutes to get an IV started.
Watching her lay on the stainless steel table without a wimper is a bad sign because she DOES NOT like those tables.
Vet had a tough time listening to her heart because of the breathing noises.
Three hours later they ask us to go home and get some rest. Will do more tests in the AM.
Get home for about an hour and they call and say she is in trouble come in NOW.
It's about a 20 minute trip. When we get there , she has passed.
She was 11 years and 6 months to the day.
Heart failure.
I really miss her.
Some of you guys have met her.
I can't believe I hurt this much. She rode shotgun with me everywhere.

John

 

Found this ,

Loss of a Dog
by Pamela Hardimon.........................................


If you've ever known the welcome of a barking ball of hair,
A sloppy kiss, a friendly paw, a quiet adoring stare,
If you've ever had a special friend to share a tear or two,
Or maybe just a wagging tail to lift you when you're blue.
If you've ever lost your troubles in a joyful romp outside,
Or shared your fears with listening ears that never left your side,
If you've ever felt the wrenching pain that only death can send,
Then you have lost not just a dog, you've truly lost a friend.
A loving God would not destroy the love that He creates,
So rest assured that you will find your dog at Heaven's gate.
That joyful bark, that sloppy kiss will greet you once again
And share your love forevermore; your dog -- your precious friend.

 

Sorry to hear about your loss. I have had some tough ones, so I know how it feels. Atleast you have some good memories.

Phillip

 

j-fox,

I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for you. I know what it feels like.

Quite a few years ago, I lost my black lab, 'Ranger'. He was 14 at the time, so I guess he had a good, long life, but it didn't make it any easier. Like your lab, Ranger went everywhere with me. That is, until my father became sick and bedridden at home.

When dad got sick, Ranger stayed at the side of the hospital bed we put in the living room for dad instead of his own bed in my bedroom. Dad could reach down and give him a pat or just talk softly to him. When dad no longer had the strength to move, Ranger still stayed by his side, day and nite, except to 'go out' or eat. He knew something bad was happening.

At about 4AM one morning, I heard Ranger's toenails on the linoleum of my bedroom floor and I knew dad was gone.

Losing my dad was difficult, but it was nothing in comparison to putting Ranger down. He was in pain and couldn't breath, so it was the 'right' thing to do I guess. The vet let me administer the lethal injection because I felt it was the least I could do for my most precious friend. I didn't want him to die at the hands of a stranger. He was relaxed, (as much as he could be), and went peacefully.

I cried for almost an hour like an 8 year old, right there in the vets examination room. And it pained me to tears for many weeks after that as well. I can still get teary eyed when I see a pic of him. I don't care, call me a wimp! He was my best friend, beside me unquestionably, thru thick and thin. He was a family member!

So I DO know what you're going thru. There's no other way to say it except that 'IT SUCKS'. Some people will say, "Yeah, we get really atached to them." But it's more than an 'attachment'. That's like saying we become 'attached' to our kids. They are friends, confidants and family members. And it's a HUGE loss.

Hang in there, the pain will lessen with time, (it never completely goes away), but you'll never forget her.

chaikwa.

 

I felt like that when my cat Moose was put down. I cried like a baby for over an hour in the vet's office. 7 years later and I still miss him. There's nothing like the unconditional love of a pet or a small child - that complete trust is something you won't get anywhere else.

 

Almost sounds like bloat or twisting of the internals. I'm sorry to hear about your loss J-Fox. As anyone knows here, I'm a fanatical dog lover too. I've lost a couple over the years. The last collie I had required me to wait about two years before the next one. He also died a similar way in terms of his body just twisting all up. He was 15 yrs old which is UP THERE for his breed. It was heartbreaking. It'll get better with time. That's all I can tell you.

 

Truly sorry for your loss. Hope you feel better soon.

 

Sorry for your loss. A good dog is the only animal in this world that knows the meaning of "unconditional love." (in my opinion). It can be tougher than losing a relative...

 

I know exactly how you feel. Below is a link to the last girl I had to put to sleep. Unlike your case though, I was there through her last seconds. The vet asked me if I wanted to be there and I said try to keep me away. She said so many bring them in, drop them off and walk out. Not me.
Someone posted a story on the Rainbow Bridge when I had Courtney put to sleep. I will see if I can find it. The bad thing is, I have three more following in her foot steps and they are really attached to me already. One thing to maybe help a little is that she is no longer suffering.

Gone but sure not forgotten.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...cat/500/page/5

 

I know how you feel we had to put or Blaclk Lab to sleep in January after an 8 month battle with bone cancer. Still brings me to tears...............

 

Sorry for you lose, John. We all know how much you loved her, any dog lover would.

take care.

 

Sorry J -fox!!! I know how it feels too. My first dog I had to put down was my girlfriends dog (now my wife). She was a lab mix with who knows what. Disney would have loved her. We were supposed to Dj that night but it had gotten cancelled. After a nice evening we came home only to find "Crystal" had lost control over her body. She had a stroke as the vet said. Her eyes were going nuts and was scared out of her mind. SHe had a "mini" stroke months before so we new she was getting to her end. She was 14 when we put her down. It was the worse night of my life and my wifes as well. This was the first dog I ever had a friendship with. We(wife and I) are thankful that we got to spend Crystals last moments together. We were not with her to do the injection as we were holding each other up and we just couldn't do it. Luckily her family had gotten a Golden Retriever pup about a month later and he got us through it. Her ashes along with her collar and bone sit on our bedroom dresser. I always give her a pat.

We are now married with our own Golden pup and he is the best. In my oppinion what makes the dog/person relationship so special as there are never verbal conversations between the two as with people. He cannot tell you he/she loves you, or he/she doens't feel well ,etc,etc. He/she just always manages to get their point across by their action. Whether it is a simple bark,lick or their head in your lap you know that there is nothing like the relationship with a dog!!

My prayers are with you J fox

 

I am truely sorry for your loss.

 

Sorry for your loss J-Fox.

Like many others here I too have lost a pet, about a year and 1/2 ago we lost our 11 year old Lab/Shepherd named Bear. By far the best dog I've ever owned. We still have no desire to have another dog as yet, but I'm sure we will in th future.

 

Man I hate reading these stories. Brings back all the memories of the dogs we have had. You can have the worst day in the world but your dog will be there waiting for you when you get home with a wagging tail so happy to see you. When I see this my crappy day goes away and I sit with them for a few minutes. Hurts to put them down or have them go but I just try to remember all the joy they give when they are here. You have to be a dog lover to understand. I still miss my first Dal, and he has been gone a long time. Sorry to hear of your loss John.