Posted on 03/10/2017 1:02:17 PM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Farewell, old friend: Touching moment Air Force dog handler hugs his dead K-9 draped in an American flag moments before he was laid to rest
A heartbreaking photo shows the moment an Air Force sergeant had to say goodbye to his K9 partner.
Air Force sergeant Kyle Smith, from Gastonia, North Carolina, said that having to put Bodza down was one of the hardest things that he has ever done.
He was euthanized on Thursday, and a military canine trainer draped a flag over his body. A photo shows Smith giving Bodza one final hug as he was laid to rest.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I know, right. I went to the link, just for a peek. Almost sobbing now.
Almost 8 weeks since we had to put down our 17 year old Dixie. I still cry about it. This strikes a very familiar chord. Dogs are the best people.
*doxie
When I was a kid I had to attend lots of funerals for family members I never knew. I have vague memories but I remember every dog cat and fish
Anyone who has ever said a final goodbye to a beloved pet knows that scene. I call it the Pet Pieta. Been there, done that. As a civilian.
It’s a ripping sort of sorrow, that immobilizes, leaves you all asunder for quite a while. This happens even when there are full and valid reasons to put your friend down.
There is no way to mend that kind of a broken heart except over a period of time and deliberate refocus.
Yea but this was not just a pet this dog fought our us. He was a vet too.
Never really get over the death of someone, human or animal, that we love so much. We learn to live with it, but never truly stop missing them.
RIP ole buddy
A story told by some Native American peoples is that the Great Spirit decided to divide the worlds of animals and man.
He gathered all the living beings on a great plain and drew a line in the dirt.
On one side of the line stood man and on the other side stood all of the animals of the earth.
When that line began to open up into a great canyon and at the last moment before it became too great to cross, the dog jumped over and stood by man.
~~Unknown
When I read that story my eyes started tearing up. Been there.
Tears trickling down my cheeks. .and to think this dog fought for the rights of the degenerative scallywags in this country.
Been there, done this. It’s the price one must pay for loving these guys.
I have a theory about us and dogs. I think God sends us these furbabies with their lifespan of about 1/7th of ours to prepare us for the inevitable losses of our older family members, parents and friends.
Helps a little, I guess...
Just purlioned that lovely story. Thanks!
I’ll repost what I sent sent to the earlier thread...
Note that the soldier has his dog’s leash wrapped around his neck and clasped behind his back.
He has let his friend FREE.
Screen got all blurry.
“Its a ripping sort of sorrow, that immobilizes, leaves you all asunder for quite a while. This happens even when there are full and valid reasons to put your friend down.”
Yep. And those emotions must always be very close to the surface, because stories like this have immediate impact.
Yeah, I should have not gone there either
Heartbreaking, all the more so because we lost three of our four much loved pets within 3 months. Two were put down and one died the day after we made her final appointment at the vet. It was a crushing pain to lose them all so close together.
I hope this man will be able to welcome another into his life and heart at some time. What a wonderful bond.
Peach
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