Posted on 01/05/2022 10:09:28 AM PST by MountainWalker
We lost our dear dog, Sully, yesterday, and I'm absolutely heartbroken. He was our second recuse dog - the older one is strangely still alive and well. So, this was our first time going through the process. I expected it to be terrible, and it's worse than expected.
He was about 13 and getting pretty rickety, falling down a lot, had trouble going up and down stairs, had poor bladder and bowel control anymore and had some dementia - staring off into walls at times. But, he was still as sweet as he was the day that we decided to keep him after fostering him through the rescue organization that my wife has volunteered for.
He had cancer surgery right before Labor Day when he was starting to get a little wobbly and the surgeon estimated that we might have bought him another year or so. It was eye-wateringly expensive, but we did it anyway without a second thought.
His arthritis accelerated quickly, however. Toward the end of his life, his lower back would slouch down because his hind legs were too weak to hold him up, especially near the end of the day, and had trouble getting comfortable even laying down. We tried some pain killers, but that made him even more clumsy.
It makes no sense, but the sharpness of pain is as much as I remember feeling when we got my father's terminal illness diagnosis. Maybe time has only softened my memory of the pain compared to now, but it's definitely in the same ballpark. Watching a helpless creature whose life revolved around you and was by your side constantly pass away based upon your call is indescribably painful. He was sleeping wedged against me with his head on my pillow next to mine on Monday night and now he's gone.
Any prayers or suggestions for how to manage the pain are appreciated. Thanks, FRiends.
How depressing to come read all this. Most of it so helpful and compassionate.
Then there is you.
One pathetic individual. Can’t imagine walking in your shoes.
You are such an insensitive ass. You have no idea of the circumstances of other peoples' lives, yet you take it upon your ignorant narcissistic self to pronounce judgment on other peoples' feelings and priorities. Who died and appointed you as the Arbiter of Other Peoples' Feelings?
Post of the day! I still mourn for kitties lost fifty years ago...people? Not so much.
Its always hard. Sorry you lost your friend.
I certainly hope other Roman Catholics were raised better and are a much better messenger.
Thank you. Suck kind words. He is currently sleeping at my feet. He reads me like a book. Always watching anticipating my next move. I cherish every moment. He is still eating and pretty heavy as I have pick up his back legs to get up onto the couch. That’s the good news. I hear him whining . I fear it’s pain. Aspirin seems to help
RIP, sweet Sully. Losing a dear pet leaves a big whole in one’s life. I’d encourage you to adopt another. Maybe not immediately, but be thinking in that direction. I volunteer at a local humane society, & there are so many lovely animals who need a loving home. For now, prayers for consolation in your time of grief.
“Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.” ~Roger Caras
I understand how you feel. I promised my first rescue rednosed Pit that I wouldn’t ever allow him to suffer. 14 years later he began to suffer with lymphoma cancer. He was walking on the tops of his feet and couldn’t find the water level in his bowl. He’d lost a lot of weight. When we realized he was that sick,we had him euthanized. I cried for years so ya...I do understand. Big comfort hugs for you. Remember the rainbow bridge. Maybe some lucky night, in your sleep, he will bark from the other side of the bridge and show you how strong and healthy he is once again, how happy and free he is, and thank you for everything you did for him. He will be playing in the fields nearby so he can be the first to see you when it’s time for you to cross over that bridge.
You are such an insensitive ass. You have no idea of the circumstances of other peoples’ lives, yet you take it upon your ignorant narcissistic self to pronounce judgment on other peoples’ feelings and priorities. Who died and appointed you as the Arbiter of Other Peoples’ Feelings?
____________________________-
Did you read your words? Not very nice. I am a Roman Catholic and we believe that God created man in His own image. We are to have dominion over the creatures of the earth. We are not to elevate a dog to the same level as a human, even if most dogs are a lot more loving that most people.
My brother has the cremains of 3 dogs and his mother in law sitting on his mantle. He has no respect for the human body.
So yes, I am saying that it is just a DOG.
We need more respect for the human body.
Barb
ps do you Matthew Cummings? He lives in NYC
certainly hope other Roman Cat
holics were raised better and are a much’better messenger.
Paging Sal.
I have no words adequate for my sorrow over your loss.
We lost our sweet Seven November 7th when she dropped dead in yard with no warning.
They are our greatest hello and our worst goodbye.
:’(
I am sharing his sorrow and his loss.
Recent loss of our own.
It just guts you.
"Not very nice"...and I suppose your belittling of someone else's grief is NICE? I think that you are a very emotionally empty person who interprets their religion in such a way as to "justify" their own insensitivity toward G-d's creatures. I cannot believe that your religion would not mourn the loss of one of His creations. Or ignore the suffering of the person who lost a beloved companion--no matter how many legs they had.
I was in your place exactly this month last year.
Found her in a shelter in 2009, she was ironically in quarantine.
Well she wagged her tail at me and saw her brown eyes and pink nose and adopted.
She was there with me through thick and thin.
Well I knew it was time. She wouldn't eat, peed on the floor, and was trying to get behind the ratty couch, which was her throne.
I know what you are going through and take time to grieve, and don't let anyone ridicule you over your loss.
In another ironic twist, the thread I put up about my dear Heidi, was invaded by a malcontent and a mini flame war erupted.
Take care and know that your dog is in a better place.
I’m really sorry to hear that. I had wondered if that’s a better way for owners to see their dogs go instead of euthanasia. Natural but without proper goodbyes vs planned goodbyes with excruciating guilt. Sounds like it’s heart wrenching either way. Thanks for your note.
Thanks, DB. There’s always one. Hopefully, it was the same person as I hope there aren’t too many like BarbM here. Sorry about your sweet girl.
Classic case of “I’m miserable so I’m gonna make you miserable, too”.
/I deleted a bunch of words that would’ve gotten me zotted
Well I’m just crying now.
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