Ranger

[Zen]

Ranger has been suffering from lowered kidney function for about a month and a half, spent the night in the hospital once to treat his dehydration. He hadn't eaten since last Saturday and was very weak. On Tuesday his blood labs showed his kidneys were barely functioning at all so I decided it was time. I held his head, stroked his ears and looked in his eyes. He was so weak it didn't take long for him to go.
I knew his time was near for a while and I also knew it would be rough for me. He was my best bud for fifteen years and that's a long time for a dog. He had a good life.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words, I tear up every time I come back to this thread.

[madscot13]

Zen,
Once again, I am so sorry for your loss. Your story about Ranger really keeps things in perspective of what is important, our friends and our health. Best wishes to you and Ranger.

Madeline

[IFjane]

Zen, I am so sorry to hear of your loss! Please know that all four of my fur baby kitties and I are thinking of you and send you lots of hugs.

[emily_in_nc]

Zen,

I'm so sorry and understand completely. We had to put our dear Boston Terrier, Pepper, down last December. She was three months shy of her 15th birthday. It hurt a lot, and I still miss her a lot. I put a pretty picture of her in my bedroom and one on top of the TV, and we buried her in our yard, marking her grave with a nice stone. I speak to her pictures and to the grave, just to say "I love you and miss you", nearly every day.

We never forget a beloved pet, but take comfort in knowing that you did the right thing. I'm sure Ranger had a fantastic life!

Emily

[rapid cycler]

He looks like he had a lot of spirit, and I'll bet that mouth never did quite close all the way! Rest in peace, Ranger.

The love we get from our small mammalian companions has got to be worth all the heartache we experience in letting them go, 'cause we keep re-upping, don't we? That's good news for one very special dog out there in the universe who's hoping to find someone just like you.