Being Dogmama Sux

[Dogmama]

I just received an email from a co-worker that a faculty member was quite irritated that I wasn't as work yesterday - she had a grant that she wanted me to work on. This is the same dept that knocked me down on my performance evaluation because I "wasn't around" - that year, my husband had colon cancer, MRSA infection and hernia operation not to mention hospitalizations for dehydration due to chemo.

Just reconfirms my decision that the minute I'm eligible to retire, I'm gone. 30 years of this crap is enough. July 2007 can't come soon enough.

Oh and "wasn't around" didn't quite jive with the fact that I loose vacation every year because I don't have time to take it - or that they'll have to pay me $3,000 for unused sick time when I retire.

Ranting. Good to expend angry energy.

[kaybee]

Dogmama, I'm so very sorry for your loss. You did the right thing, but I know it still hurts. I had to do the same thing 13 years ago (and it still makes me cry when I think about it), and know I'll be facing it again soon with Sam -- he's 16 years old. Please take comfort in the fact that you gave this wonderful dog a great, happy life and enabled her to go with dignity. My thoughts are with you.

Edited to add: You go ahead and rant all you want -- everyone here understands how you feel.

KB

[Xrayted]

Oh, I'm so very sorry for your loss. It's the hardest thing we as pet parents have to go through. I fully understand. Take comfort in knowing that you gave her a great life and much love while she was here. My thoughts are with you today.

Cindy

(My Cheyenne has been gone 3 years now and I still haven't been able to bring myself to adopt another. I know I did the right thing but it still hurts. She was the one who got me to try to walk again and brought me back into the land of the living. She gave me my smile back. I miss her so.)

[Clare]

Dogmama,

I am very sorry for your loss. We had two shepherds that passed away within 1 year of each other, and they were only 9 yrs old. I remember so well, after our Sierra died, taking a walk with a friend and feeling such loss and sadness. And then, I had this distinct impression that Sierra was with us, and she was running and was tremendously happy and free from pain. That helped ease my sorrow at losing my best friend. Your love one is surely experiencing that joy at being free of pain and her old body. And I'm sure, she is sad, too, that she had to leave you.

Take special good care of yourself.

Clare

[esther231]

Dogmama, my heart goes out to you. Painful as all get out.

We had a dog named King that we had to put down. He had cancer. My DH could not bring himself to do it. We fought bitterly for a couple of weeks cause King was suffering before my DH admitted he knew it was the right thing to do but just couldn't. If I could, he would be grateful. So I took King to the vet and I was glad I did but I missed him like crazy. I would see people with dogs and I would get jealous.

Eventually, we found Maggie and we knew we wanted her. It's 14 years later and she's having a hard time getting around. She's on pain pills and heart pills but is just very old and her hips are terrible now. At least this time, we both agree that putting her down is better than letting her suffer. Our line in the sand is close to yours - when she can't get up and down the steps to go out, we'll go to the vet. Grateful that we won't be fighting this time but dreading saying goodbye to her. She's such a good dog.

What a mess I made of this. I came to give you a hug. I think I'm too much in the same boat right now to do a good job.

Hang in there. After King, we found Maggie. She helped us heal. Time might come when you find yourself falling in love all over again with another puppy or kitten. And falling in love always feels good.

Keep you in my thoughts and prayers.