Posted on 02/28/2014 5:44:31 AM PST by Kartographer
Old Man Doug did not go quietly into some random night. Instead, he waited until the whole family was gathered for the holidays, and then, with much less ado than I would have chosen, he took his final bow at age 18. That he chose Dec. 25 confirms my belief that he wanted to assure his place in family history, and make sure it was timed so he didn't have to be anywhere near the post-holiday decoration take-down he so despised. His exit was dignified and sad beyond all words. And yet, the old fellow was always happiest when we were all together, in one room, even if we were sobbing into his furry neck as we said our goodbyes.
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RIP Doug you will be missed!
What a wonderful story.
Thanks for the ping.
well said
My old dog Boots waiting until I was home from college, then he died. I still miss him. I learned a lot from him.... how to ramble around in open fields without a particular place I had to go, how to endure pain, how to make friends, what fun it was to dig up a decaying jack rabbit and go back again and again to watch it continue to decay. How to run off but always come back. How to die.
One other thing - the best ever movie about dogs and dying is Dean Spanley.
I can’t see through the blurry in my eyes.
The screen is blurry and I am quietly sobbing.
I am facing a similar decision with my great friend Charlie, my dear and faithful friend for many years. It is so hard to lose a loving pet yet I would trade nothing for the love and wisdom he has shown me through times good and bad. He is blind now and cannot get up the stairs. But he still is a gentleman in the rule of the house and enjoys his favorite foods ( which he gets quite often.. hand fed as well ) and races to the door when it rings albeit bumping into furniture when he goes too fast.
Yes I know the time is soon coming and I hope I will face it with the same grace, courage and charity of spirit that he does.
If I do not see a younger and more vivacious Charlie in my next world I know that it is I who will have fallen short of my hopeful goal.
srbfl
I was a cat person most of my life. About 8 yrs ago my brother and sister-in-law were visiting her cousin in PA and went up to get together with them.
Cousin had a a 6yr old dog. He got “Sparky” as a companton for his pure bred. The dogs got lose and the pure bred run over by a car. A killer dog he said!
The dog was well fed and space kept clean but was totally ignored. I took the “Killer Dog”.
He has lost his hearing and can sometimes be a pain in the butt, but I love him dearly and can’t imagine how things were or will be without him.
The Old Brown Dog is wonderful!
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