My heart goes out to you; these beloved pets are parts of our families. The pain you feel is every bit as acute as if this were your child. I wish I could do something; other than tell you that I share your pain, and I never had the pleasure of meeting your friend.
I live in dread of the day my companion's time will come due. Out-living your loved ones is a sad thing.
Spend what time you can while she's still here. She knows you love her, all you can do is comfort her while you may. God bless you, for if more people had a heart like yours; life on this lonely planet would be a lot happier, friendlier and easier than it currently is.
My heart breaks just reading your post. I'm sitting here with all 3 of my buddies within 4 or 5 feet of me. It just kills me to imagine losing one of them.
I pray God's comfort for you.
So sorry about your fur-baby. We'll say a prayer for your beloved pet and your family to deal with the coming loss.
There’s just something special and unique about a loyal, affectionate dog. They ask for so little, and in return they give all that they have.
We lost our dog of eighteen years almost exactly a year ago (Labor Day 2005), and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think of her.
Despite the fact that losing her was not unlike losing a child, we adopted another dog from a rescue society three days later. Not to replace her – no other dog ever could do that -- but for the same reason we had adopted her eighteen years earlier: to open our home to a dog that otherwise might not have one.
I hope you’ll consider doing the same once Ginger has gone. Yours is obviously a home that would warmly welcome a dog in need of loving human companionship.
May the time that Ginger has left not be too painful for her. She knows that you love her, and just being with her and softly telling her so, even when she does not appear to know that you are there, will provide the comfort that will allow her to ‘let go’ in peace. Your voice and your touch are all that she needs, now that the world’s remedies have failed her.
God bless and strengthen you and your family, and may He relieve Ginger’s suffering soon.
The one best place to bury a dog is in the heart of his master.
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for although I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements.
And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though, had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in the land.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food so that I may stay well to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather, hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest ... and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I draw, my fate was ever safest in your hands.
… Beth Harris
God bless you and Ginger, neighbor. All I can tell you is, if there are no dogs in Heaven, I'm not setting foot inside.
Ginger knows you love her. She will be waiting at the door for you someday. Just think how good and jumpy she will feel to be released from this suffering Earthly body.
Such a sad, sad thing to see a pet slowly dying. Prayers and blessings...
Very sad.
Very sad. The good news is there are animals in heaven! Thanks for sharing Ginger with us.
Sorry to hear about your dog Ginger. Losing a pet is tough - hang in there Blood.
Sorry to hear that. These critters make it mighty easy to love them.
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year- old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.
We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
It's hard, my heart goes out to you.
t.
Mate,
I had to put Big Tess down, three years ago. Osteosarcoma: very aggressive form of bone cancer, took less than a week to become fatal, she died visibly by the minute until I could take no more. A trip to the vet and a needle while I held her close: she knew and she thanked me with a lick on my tear-stained face as she died. Then she was gone: my beautiful German Shepherd -- gone.
I feel for you right now. I mourn your loss.
God give you strength
From DownUnder
*DieHard*
NEAR THIS SPOT
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF ONE
WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY WITHOUT VANITY
STRENGTH WITHOUT INSOLENCE
COURAGE WITHOUT FEROCITY
AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF MAN WITHOUT HIS VICES
THIS PRAISE WHICH WOULD BE UNMEANING FLATTERY
IF INSCRIBED OVER HUMAN ASHES
IS BUT A JUST TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF
BOATSWAIN, A DOG
WHO WAS BORN AT NEWFOUNDLAND, MAY 1803,
AND DIED AT NEWSTEAD, NOVEMBER 18, 1808.
.
Updated 12:59 PM ET December 22, 1999
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A dog saved his four-year-old master from a swarm of bees by covering him with his body, and then died from the stings, Argentine police said Wednesday.
Kharin Toloza was playing with his dog Chocolate in Valle Viejo, northwestern Argentina, when he was attacked by the insects, local police told the state-run Telam news agency.
The dog jumped and stayed on top of the boy, who was taken to hospital but was declared out of danger after receiving just a few stings. The dog died. .
I too, once had a dog named Ginger. She was a rollicking Irish Setter. She was a puppy until the day she died. I was fortunate that she didn't have a prolonging death. She died from congestive heart failure. I never had to make the decision to put her down, which was good. But she died minutes before I got to the vets office. She was still warm when I said my good byes. And now tears drop from my eyes, 240 lbs. of rough, tough construction worker, as I remember her, 15 years after she left me.
I had another friend of 11 years, a Golden named Cody. A gentle and lovable and faithful friend. He passed 2-1/2 years ago from cancer.
Today, I once again have a rollicking Irish Setter, Molly, who brings many smiles to my face and heart. She is 11 months old, and was a Christmas present to myself last year.
I mourn your loss with you. I don't know if dogs go to heaven. Some say they don't because they don't have souls. But I have read the bible front to back in its entirety a number of times, and there is nothing in there stating a soul is required to go to heaven. Angels don't have souls. And pets no matter how "good" or "bad" we view them, don't sin. So sin will not keep them out. And the Bible talks about the lion laying down with the lamb, in the end. And since the Bible says the Jesus is preparing heaven for us, why wouldn't there be the possibility of our favorite friends there to greet us? I choose to believe that Ginger and Cody have met up there and are both youthful and healthy, and chasing each other all over heaven, bringing a smile to the face of Jesus, as he watches them. And every once in awhile they stop, and look, and listen, and sniff the air, and look to Jesus, and he tells them, not yet guys.
But someday, Jesus is going to say "Ginger, Cody (and probably Molly too), he's coming home, lets go meet him." And I'll walk through the Pearl Gates and see my savior, and he'll be accompanied by 3 of my best friends.