[RMDupree]

Grab some over the counter Claritin to have in a pinch! It's great stuff! I haven't tried Alavert yet (the one that melts in your mouth so you don't need water), but I hear it's good too.

G'nad will have his hands full this week it looks like. It'll be great once he's settled into his new place.

I've been crying off and on all morning because I had to put my Dino to sleep today. He's been with me for 11 years (since he was 4 months old), but his heart was giving out and he stopped eating and lost all control of his bathroom manners. I dropped him off this morning and the Doc called me 10 minutes ago to tell me that his heart is in really bad shape. Dino's body is working so hard just to keep breathing. I couldn't see putting my old friend through anything else, so I had to make the decision to let him go.

There are no dogs left in my home now. Pudgy, Dino's son, was hit by a car last year and Spencer was given back to his original owner. Scruffy, my big ol mutt, lives with my mother-in-law, but even he is fast approaching the end (he's a big dog and 9 years old already). How sad my yard will be now. :(

Thanks for letting me dump all of that out on this post. I needed to share it.

[2Jedismom]

You know that's what we're here for.

May I suggest you take your own advice and get another puppy soon? A nice solid black poodle would be good! They are loads of fun!

Pippin is doing really well, he prances every where he goes and uses his front like hands.

Pepper is still very young and about half his size, but is calmer and you can cradle her like a baby and carry her all over the house!

[Corin Stormhands]

I'm sorry to hear about Dino. Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy.

As much as he annoys me, I know it will be hard, years from now hopefully, when we have to say goodbye to Sam (Samuel Adams "Stormhands", the Lab) and Abby (Abigail Maria "Stormhands" or "Abby Maria" for short, the cat).

But I never really grieved too much over the goldfish and the hermit crabs...

[Wneighbor]

I can't type enough sympathy. I'm teary in my classroom while my students work away. I wish I could hug you real big right now and be with you today because this is aweful.

I putzed out after my last dog was killed by an unruly pickup. It was so hard I decided I had to not go through that again. NO MORE DOGS! But, alas, Myranda wouldn't stand for it so now we have Smeagol. But Smeagol is hers. And I keep telling myself that so I won't get attached. Yeah, right.

I am praying somebody to come into your office and hug you now.

[RosieCotton]

Ruthy, my condolences. It's never easy letting them go.

I read your later post, about all the good times you had together. Remember that no matter what, you'll always have those memories to hold on to. And maybe he and Logan are having a Hobbit Hole pet moot up there somewhere! I'd like to think so.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sorry Ruthy! Gosh!

I was just going to check in briefly to say that I would catch up later, but I am glad I saw your post.

Lend Me a Pup


I will lend to you for a while, a Pup, God said,
For you to love him while he lives and mourn for him when he's dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three,
But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and (should his stay be brief)
You'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.
I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true,
And from the folk that crowd life's land, I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to take my Pup back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy Will be Done,"
For all the joys this Pup will bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness; we'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay.
But should you call him back much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If, by our love, we've managed, your wishes to achieve,
In memory of him we loved to help us while we grieve,
When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife,
We'll have yet another Pup, and love him all his life.

-- Author unknown



O Dear... Lend me a pup indeed.

May your Dino rest in peace now! I did not know that you were dealing with a little one that was ailing too. I have had a lot of tears here this morning looking out where Logan lays and looking at Zulu here, and trying to come up with words that do justice to the love and grief and madness and laughs our dogs bring.

Sorry for your loss. I hope you find some space now to bring another pooch a lifetime with you.... We can live to see the lifetimes of many, from birth to goofy adolescence to maturity and to death.... living at double time, and never wasting any of it.

[Dawntreader]

((((HUGS))))

[osagebowman]

RMD: although it has been said better, we are very sorry to hear that you have lost your beloved Dino.

Recently our sup at work had to put his old Golden Retriever down, I went to a card store and got a sympathy card. I'll tell you, this grizzled, cynical ol' phart about lost it several times, reading the verses on the various cards. Needed to get one that had the right tone for work place card. Those animals sure do work their way deep into your heart, but it was very well received and all signed it even the one who had never had a dog or cat.

Here's hoping you won't wait the 4 years we did before we got another dog.

[SuziQ]

I needed to share it.

God Bless ya, Ruthy. Our pets really DO become members of our families, don't they?