Been through this many times in my life. It never gets easier. Dogs do seem to fail very quickly. So sorry for your loss and I’ll hug my little 11 year old rescue that much closer tonight.
My Teddy was a rescue. He came off of a farm in Indiana where he wasn't treated very well. When we got him I was just shocked at how sweet, well mannered and gentle he was. I'd have sworn he was well trained.
We got him about six months after my dog Jerry passed away and I was finally getting to the point where I was ok without a dog in the house. My kids were 6 and 8 at the time, they didn't seem to care there was no dog in the house and honestly I was more affected by it than anyone else in the house.
Then a friend calls and asks "are you ready for a new dog yet?" I told him no and he should look elsewhere. Then I hung up the phone. He called back. Asked me to come look at this dog (Teddy) and said if I didn't want him after looking at him he'd look elsewhere. Like an idiot, I agreed to go look.
Wife asks as I'm leaving where I'm going and upon hearing I'm going to my friend Dave's to look at a dog, she says she was missing one in the house and wanted a family friendly dog again.
Shaking my head, I left the house and drove the ten minutes to my friend Dave's house. I arrived, he opened the door, and this beautiful black maned and very tall black labradoodle gently walks up to the door and looks right at me.
Then I go inside, look at my friend Dave and say "I f**king hate you right now Dave! I f**king hate you!" He laughs and says "you love him already don't you?"
I spent 30 minutes with Teddy that day. He was about ten months old, incredibly well mannered, so gentle and I'd never guess he was abused or mistreated. He was just this gentle, loving dog.
I agreed to bring my two sons and wife by the next day, if they got along with Teddy I'd take him.
Well, of course they all took to each other and I reminded my friend Dave how much I hated him for doing this to me.
I have to admit, I really tried my best to NOT love him. And I think he knew it because that dog worked on me for WEEKS letting me know it wasn't acceptable that I wouldn't pet him or most times even acknowledge he was there. He refused to quit, I eventually gave in.
I'd teach him how to fetch, stay in his yard and actually had to teach him how to play like a puppy! Oh what fun that was for me!!! We'd take him everywhere we went, including vacations.
As the years passed and the kids grew, the wife and I divorced and all the changes that caused, Teddy was my one constant. Always here for me to love, take care of, greet me when I came home and ask to go on car rides even when I was just out running short quick errands.
Of all the things I'm grateful for right now is all the time I had with him, just the two of us one on one these past few years. I don't think I'd have made it through all the turmoil without him.
And believe it or not, I'm grateful my now ex wife was there with me as we eased his pain into the next life.
Finally, this was the text I sent to my friend Dave just ten minutes ago letting him know the news:
Hi Dave, just wanted to let you know
that Teddy passed today. I know that I
jokingly say "I hate you" for calling
that day so many years ago now asking if
I was ready for another dog. Truth is,
Teddy's been the most loyal, smart and
wonderful dog I've ever had. I wouldn't
trade a minute of him in my life for anything.
Thank you and Meredith for entrusting him to
me. I am so grateful for that I don't have
the right words to express it. (Larry)
I miss you Teddy, I'll see you soon. I love you! Dad.