Being Dogmama Sux

[Aggie_Ama]

(((Hugs))) I am so sorry Dogmama.

My co-worker and her partner had to put down their 20 year old cat last night. We were talking today how only pet people can understand the pain of having a sick animal or an animal that passes. People who don't love animals think it is silly how we grieve. These pets are our children!

Take care of yourself and DH.

[snapdragen]

I'm so sorry dm. I'm sure having you and hubby with her at the end was a big comfort. You helped give her a good life, and knew when it was time to let her go. Hugs to you and hubby.

[Bicyclette]

Dogmama -

I'm so sorry for your loss. She'll be waiting for you on the other side.

Much sympathy to you and you husband -

Pat

[LBTC]

Being dogmama is hard but beautiful

<hugs>

You did the right thing and my heart goes out to you! I've asked my Yogi who's been at the rainbow bridge for almost 6 years now to welcome your furbaby. Yogi loved everybody, so I know they'll get along fine.

Our pets change us (for the better). Their love, their demands, their lives and their passings affect us in ways that make us better people. Feeling the sadness of the end of this part of their journey is part of what keeps us whole and human.

I know you're not ready now, but when you are, consider this for her ashes:
http://www.cheerspottery.com/
I think they are wonderful.

May it take a short time for the lump in your throat to become a warmth in your heart.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[crazycanuck]

Dear Dogmama

I just want you to know that i'm thinking about you & your DH and would like to pass on a hug, a smile and some happiness.

I've never been through having to say goodbye to a loved pet but understand.

take care
c

[Lise]

Dear Dogmama,

I am so sorry for this loss for you and DH. I know that you liberated your beautiful dog from a body that could no longer hold her spirit. When I held our beloved pups in my arms to let them go, I pictured their spirits leaping out as their bodies relaxed, and dancing and thanking us for freeing them from suffering. I miss them still, all these years later. I know that my cats get extra loving from me because of all the love I got from our dogs over the years.

Gentle best wishes for these difficult days. Lise

[Dogmama]

Thank you, everybody. This is so hard. I have always had a dog in the house - always. This is the first time the house is empty.

[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

[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.

[Bikingmomof3]

My deepest Sympathies Dogmama! I am so sorry the loss of your beloved companion. You did the right thing, you gave her a loving home and took care of her when she could no longer. I shall be keeping you and your husband in my prayers. ((((((((Hugs)))))))))

[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

[Trek420]

I am so sorry Dogmama

[Lise]

Dogmama, this thread helped me remember something: Years ago I lived with a partner who had a German Short-Haired Pointer, Brett. Brett was pretty sick when my partner and I broke up. Perhaps six months after the break up, I dreamed that Brett came running down the hill to me, looked in my face, and licked my hand, and then frisked away. When I took my cat in to the vet later that week, he said, "I was so sorry we had to put Brett down." I told him that my ex and I were no longer together, but thanked him for letting me know. Turns out she died the day before the night when she came to me in that dream.

Their spirits never really leave us. (((Dogmama)))

And yeah, I'm rooting for 7/07 for you, too.