[InfantryYJ]

I got her as a stray in 94, she was a couple of years old then. She's gone through a bit. When I first got her, she had heartworms but the vet said that she could live a long life but I'd notice her health deteriorate, got her checked out again when I moved to NC, she still had them, brought her back a year later, and the vet was amazed that the heartworms had disappeared, he said he'd never seen that happen before. Anyway, over the past year or so, her health has been going downhill, she couldn't last long on a three mile run as good and she started putting on the weight. She then got the Cherry eyes, and the vet said that possibly glaucoma would set in. Well, it was time to make the decision, so we're gonna put her down as she's not seeing so well and the vet said that if she has glaucoma, it can be painful for her.

She wasn't a full fledged jeepdog, but when I was single, she'd ride with me everywhere in my stock 95. I even took her for rides on my NightHawk.

She's a friend.

 

[517]

Very sorry to hear that.

 

[mbalbritton]

That sucks... sorry to hear it Richard.....

 

[JBTater]

Sorry to hear that, Richard.
I'm impressed that you have the guts to make this tough decision, though, and put what's best for her ahead of your self. Alot of people can't do that and the pet has to pay for it.
Again, sorry for your loss.
Jim

 

[Dirt Dog]

That really sucks Richard.

Remember that you are doing the best thing. (I know you already know that)
Be strong bro.

And I'm not too far from going through the same thing. (his sight and hearing is going)

 

[Tippy]

Sorry to hear that. It is always tough decision. Be strong. She'll be there to great you when you reach the happy Jeeping ground.

 

[Hank]

Sorry Dude...
I understand the phrase "Man's best friend". When it came time to put down my baby of 14 years - it wasn't easy. Hell I came apart at the seams. But the look of peace in his eyes let me know I did the right thing.

If I had the whole thing to do over again - I'd do the same thing. He showed me unconditional love and I was glad I could do the same for him.

 

[gigolo]

That sucks. I know the feeling. I have an 8 year old boxer that has had never ending problems with ear infections because I left her ears long instead of cropping them. The latest was pretty bad and almost ended in putting her to sleep. It got into the nerves in her spine and caused some nasty nonstop seizures and made her eyes twitch real fast for about 2 days. It also got into her eye and respiratory system. She still can't use the left side of her face (ear, eye, or lip), and has a nasty cough.When at the vet the evening the seizures happened, they were talking about brain tumors and wanted almost $700 to keep her that night. I said give her the valium and i'll take her home. I thought she'd have to be put down the next day, but the vet gave her more meds and she's slowly gotten better. Sorry to hear your's isn't going to have as good of luck.

 

[Guest]

Sorry to hear that. I went through this with my 10 year old boxer (Wheezer) about a month ago. She developed a horrible hacking, gagging cough when she laid down. After taking some x-rays, the vet said she had a mass growing near her heart, and it was closing off her trachea when she got excited or laid in a certain position. No way to ease her pain or to treat it. We made the decision to end her misery quickly, only a day after the diagnosis was made. The hard part was while she was not going through her coughing spells, she was her regular old self. She even ate all her regular meals the night before, but she never would lay down, because she knew that would trigger the coughing. She was falling asleep while standing up, and couldn't ever catch her breath.

It was a hard decision to make, but in retrospect, it was the correct one. She was a true friend to me her entire life, and brought such joy into mine, I felt it was the best I could do for her. Hell, I was more broke up over her death than my grandmothers.

It's a very peaceful procedure when they put them to sleep. I held Wheezer the entire time, and am so glad I did. My pain has been unlike anything I could imagine, but just knowing that I eliminated her suffering makes it worth it.

Good luck and God bless...

Greg J.

 

[IN2DEEP]

Rich,

I can not express how bad I feel for you. I have never had to go thru this (thankfully). But not so thankfully my dogs have always come to unhappy endings (dogfights, cars). But I can't imagine having to make this decision. I'm sure it's rough, especially since you've had her quite some time. For being JUST animals, they sure have a way of growing on us.

Just know that you have to do the right thing FOR HER. It makes it just a little easier. And moving on, doesn't mean that you didn't care.......

Sorry for your loss........

 

[Dirt Dog]

and words Drew.
I hate to hear about this stuff. Dogs can bring a tear to my eye faster than all but the closest family member. (they really are mans best friend)

 

[RRich]

Would you do that to your wife because she was losing her sight?
Your son?
Why your best friend?

There are medications that will stop gloucoma.
There are pain medications for dogs.

Find a vet that doesn't have web feet!

Dogs don't depend on their eyes like we do - even totally blind they do OK. Just put a fence around the pool so she won't fall in.

Give her a chance, she may have several good years left in her.

I had a severe heart attack, they didn't think I'd survive the operation. Then they gave me 5 years max. That was almost 10 years ago. Sure glad I wasn't your best friend.

She wouldn't do that to you! Be her friend like she's been yours.

 

[1437]

sorry to see any dog put to sleep...even if it is better for them..........sorry richard

later
john

 

[LEVE]

1. All dogs,
2. Are kinda like Marines,
3. They all go to heaven when they die...
4. But that don't make it easier here and now...

 

[1696]

Sorry to hear about it, InfantryYJ. There is no more loyal friend than a dog, and the price we pay for it is high; We almost always outlive them.

Sappy Stuff Warning! </font color>

This site always makes me unbearably sad: Rainbow Bridge

And this story does the same:

In reply to:

"Choices"
by Anne Kolaczyk
© 1998

A long long time ago, the Loving Ones went to the Angel in Charge. They were
lonesome and asked the angel to help them.

The angel took them to a wall of windows and let them look out the first
window at all sorts of things--dolls and stuffed animals and cars and toys and
sporting events.

"Here are things you can love," the angel said. "They will keep you from
being lonesome."

"Oh, thank you," the Loving Ones said. "These are just what we need."

"You have chosen Pleasure," the angel told them.

But after a time the Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "Things
are okay to love," they said. "But they don't care that we love them."

The Angel in Charge led them over to the second window. It looked out at all
sorts of wild animals. "Here are animals to love," he said. "They will know
you love them."

So the Loving Ones hurried out to care for the wild animals. "You have chosen
Satisfaction," the angel said.

Some of the Loving Ones worked at zoos and wild animal preserves, some just
had bird feeders in their yards, but after a time they all came back to the
Angel in Charge.

"They know we love them," they told the angel. "But they don't love us back.
We want to be loved in return."

So the angel took them to the third window and showed them lots of people
walking around, hurrying places. "Here are people for you to love," the angel
told them. So the Loving Ones hurried off to find other people to love. "You
have chosen Commitment," the angel said.

But after a time a lot of Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge.
"People were okay to love," they said. "But sometimes they stopped loving us
and left. They broke our hearts."

The angel just shook his head. "I cannot help you," he said. "You will have
to be satisfied with the choices I gave you."

As the Loving Ones were leaving, someone saw a window off to one side and
hurried to look out. Through it, they could see puppies and kittens and dogs
and cats and lizards and hamsters and ferrets. The other Loving Ones hurried
over. "What about these?" they asked.

But the angel just tried to shoo them away. "Those are Personal Empathy
Trainers," he said. "But there's a problem with their system operations."

"Would they know that we love them?" someone asked.

"Yes," the angel said.

"Would they love us back?" another asked.

"Yes," the angel said.

"Will they stop loving us?" someone else asked.

"No," the angel admitted. "They will love you forever."

"Then these are what we want," the Loving Ones said.

But the angel was very upset. "You don't understand," he told them. "You
will have to feed these animals."

"That's all right," the Loving Ones said.

"You will have to clean up after them and take care of them forever."

"We don't care."

The Loving Ones did not listen. They went down to where the Pets were and
picked them up, seeing the love in their own hearts reflected in the animals' eyes.

"They were not programmed right," the angel said. "We can't offer a warranty.
We don't know how durable they are. Some of their systems malfunction very
quickly, others last a long time."

But the Loving Ones did not care. They were holding the warm little bodies
and finding their hearts so filled with love that they thought they would
burst. "We will take our chances," they said.

"You do not understand." The angel tried one more time. "They are so
dependent on you that even the most well-made of them is not designed to
outlive you. You are destined to suffer their loss."

The Loving Ones looked at the sweetness in their arms and nodded. "That is
how it should be. It is a fair trade for the love they offer."

The angel just watched them all go, shaking his head. "You have chosen
Tears," he whispered.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[CJ7Taz]

Sorry to here that.

Several years ago, I got a call from my mother. A dog (Sam) she had had ever since he was weaned was getting pretty old. He had arthritis and got short of breath easy. That morning he could hardly get around so she called me to ask if I would take him in and have it done. The vet let me stay with him while it was done. Sam looked so peaceful that I wondered why they couldn't do this for people. It changed they way I feel about the inevitable.

 

[Mike86CJ7]

A dog is a special friend that is unmatched by anyone or anything else. Know in your heart that you're doing the right thing and that some day, you'll meet again in a happier place.
I think this poem is rather fitting.

"If it be I grow frail and weak,
And pain should wake me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle can’t be won.

You will be sad, I’ll understand,
Don’t let your grief then stay your hand,
For this day more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.

We’ve had so many happy years,
What is to come will hold no fears,
You’ll not want me to suffer, so,
When the time comes, please let me go.

I know in time, you too will see,
It is a kindness you do me,
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering, I’ve been saved.

Do not grieve that it should be you,
Who has to decide this thing to do
We’ve been so close, we two, these years,
Don’t let your heart hold any tears."

Author Unknown

 

[1675]

Richard,
I know it's not an easy discission to make, I've had several dogs and had to watch many of them go.
I truely understand your loss.

 

[BUCKYOO7]

sorry to her that i lost my best freind a few months back after 14 years it hurts but your making the right choice.good luck and hang tuff

 

[Guest]

I had a beagle that my father-in-law gave me as a puppy when we bought our first house. When it was 4 years old, it did something (we think it jumped off our bed) which caused a slipped disk & fractured vert. in her lower back. It happened on friday night, and we noticed because she wasn't walking right. I told the wife if she was still having problems in the morning, I would take her to the vet. Well, the next morning @ 7 I went downstairs to start working in the backyard and she was not able to stand up. I immediately took her to the vet. That is when I found out what was wrong. They said that it would cost about 1500 to do the surgery to fix her back, and then she wouldn't be able to stand for atleast 3 weeks, and would be in a lot of pain. Also couldn't guarantee that the surgery would work. I couldn't stand the thought of putting her thru that much pain and it not working, so I had her put to sleep. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I think she knew what was coming at the end, because she had been listless all morning, and then at the very end she licked my hand and wagged her tail twice. Kinda like she was saying thank you for taking away my pain. I still have her collar hanging from the rear view mirror in my car. That was 3 years ago. It is a very hard thing for you to do, but it is best for the dog.