My girl is sick.

Aly, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jo

Aly, another voice sorry to hear the news. Branwen is at the Bridge to welcome Jane. She'll have lots of TE fur friends to play with. Having an ill cat, that I'm still not sure she'll actually recover, I can feel your pain.

Enjoy the weekend with Bronco and your Aussie.

My tears are for you and your loss! She had a good home for a year and that means a lot!
There was a dog on my street who spent 7 years in a home that never gave him any attention. He was never alloud to come in and lived in a yard full of dog sh*t. They threw food on the ground not even in a bowl. He had no shelter except for an old car. He had a another dog who had been living longer in those conditions. He seemed very mean which I think was the point to the treatment. He was a gaurd dog. Well another nieghbor and I couldn't stand it anymore and we called animal regs on them. This is a family who own's a business here in town. It''s not like they had no money to care for them. They found the one dog not able to stand up anymore and was in terrible shape. But the other younger one was saved. The older dog was put out of her pain (thank goodness). Well the nighbor that i had done this with took the younger dog into her home with her 3 other golden labs. He spent the next year of he's life really living it up! And it turns out he was not a mean dog at all! He just wanted attention and love! He was about 7 they figured. But after a year he started having hip problems that were due from the years of living outside. and they got so bad he had to be put down. I was sad but the fact that I know he was pampered for a year gave me some comfort. It was a hard dission turning our neighbors in like that. You worry about retaliation and what not. They are banned from having any animals for a while not sure how long. Turns out they really didn't care that we did that. I think they should have been punished more. Oh they were fined I think it was $500.00 and a 5 year suspension from owning any animal.I hope your girl is running around with Bart right now and saying how wonderful it was to be loved!

I'm feeling better. Bronco and Oliver are keeping me very distracted (Oliver won't stop terrorizing the poor kitties). So is my BF (keeping me distracted that is, not terrorizing the kitties). He has been cruising the rescue pages and has all sorts of ideas. There are just so many homeless dogs- it's heartbreaking.

bmccasland- I hope she gets better- I'll send some thoughts her way.
Sundial- thank you for the pm and the poem!
Oakleaf- The article is so perfect. I passed it on to my BF and some other friends.

To all of you whose fur-babies met Jane at the Rainbow Bridge- I'm sorry for your losses as well, but rest assured that Jane is now driving them all nuts with her awkward doggie social skills, never-ending kisses and compulsive chasing!

hugs to all of you!

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Originally Posted by aly

rest assured that Jane is now driving them all nuts with her awkward doggie social skills, never-ending kisses and compulsive chasing!

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She should get along with Measle just fine :) We are scattering his ashes on Sunday, almost two years late (it's a long story). Hang in there.

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Originally Posted by aly

There are just so many homeless dogs- it's heartbreaking.

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Yes, and so many of the dogs we get at the rescue are not spayed or neutered:(

Brandi-There was a dog like that next to my house in West Virginia, so heartbreaking to see a dog chained to a tree. but it was West Virginia and they're a bit behind when it comes to animal welfare

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Originally Posted by aly

I truly appreciate everyone's well-wishes and suggestions. After much testing, discussing and research of other options, we eventually made the decision that, as difficult as it is, we had to put Jane to sleep. We tested everything. It was definitely a spinal injury. Her pain came and went, but her spine was so compromised in so many places, that it looked like a matter of when, not if, it would be injured again. She never regained any movement in her back legs and lost all control of her bladder and bowels. That was what finally put me over the line. She was in obvious discomfort and was peeing and defecating on herself. We discussed wheelchairs, but there were many reasons that it wasn't the right decision for Jane. We thought about waiting a few days, but it wouldn't have been the right thing to do.

We spoke to three different vets and all basically brought us to the same conclusion. Now it's done. The vet cried, we cried, but Jane went quickly.

I'm sorry for anyone else who has had to make such a decision, or who may in the future.

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I went through this with my German Shepherd. When she lost movement, I put her to sleep. Quality of life is more important than quantity for dogs.

Here is what I believe. There is some little kid in Heaven that really needed a pup. God looked down, saw your baby with a big heart and lots of love, but a physical body that was suffering. God gave you the right decision. Now, the little kid is very happy and your pup is playing happily. You'll see them when you pass on.

I'm not particularly religious, but this little fantasy gets me through these times.

(((((((HUGS)))))))

I like to create a living memorial for my girls when they pass. I usually plant a dogwood.

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Originally Posted by sundial

I like to create a living memorial for my girls when they pass. I usually plant a dogwood.

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Does that mean I ought to plant an acacia (cat claw?) for Erin? Need a soft plant for kitties, ***** Willows won't grow here (south Louisiana). Sorry for the slight hijack. Am a bit blue at the moment. Hope Jane likes kitties.

I am so sorry.

"Here is what I believe. There is some little kid in Heaven that really needed a pup. God looked down, saw your baby with a big heart and lots of love, but a physical body that was suffering. God gave you the right decision. Now, the little kid is very happy and your pup is playing happily. You'll see them when you pass on."

That is so perfect dogmama, thank you.

Sundial- I think a living memorial is a great idea. We'll do that.
Bmccasland- Jane will be thrilled to meet Erin. Erin may not as thrilled to meet Jane (our kitties just barely tolerated her!), but Jane is easily put in her place.

We're going to meet some dogs today- our house feels empty. We're meeting a German Shepherd and a Shepherd mix. I love the rotties, but the rottie rescue only has one that might fit our household right now (we have a large bird and two cats), the other rescues don't have any that are cat friendly. We'll meet her next week. It seems very quick, but it also feels really good.