Show us your pets!

[Ana]

I had a guinea pig as a pet in college. They are super cool but don't live very long. I loved when I got home, I'd say "Lucy...I'm home" (she was red/white) and she made these squealing pig noises. When you pick them up they purr like a kitten. They are a little messy though but a cool personality for a rodent.

The hardest part of having a pet is when they leave us I don't think I could get attached to something that would be gone in a couple years Why can't they just coincide with our own lifespans?

[sundial]

The hardest part of having a pet is when they leave us I don't think I could get attached to something that would be gone in a couple years Why can't they just coincide with our own lifespans?

Galapagos tortoise can live to 150+ years.

[pfunk12]

This is Mari. She is about 14 years old. We have had her for almost 6 years. We got her from my friend's family. Mari was their family dog but their 2 kids had grown up, moved out, went to college, got a job, etc. The parents had jobs that had them traveling domestically and even internationally for weeks at a time so they wanted to find a new good home for Mari. We're so glad that we offered to take her because she is the sweetest dog. Because she was originally a shelter dog, we have no idea what kind she is. She is either a unique purebred (like a Tibetan Terrier) or she is a wonderful mutt.

[Zen]

She looks to have some Schnauzer.

[pfunk12]

We've heard that from a lot of people. Also, Terrypoo mix.

She looks to have some Schnauzer.

[Selkie]

The hardest part of having a pet is when they leave us I don't think I could get attached to something that would be gone in a couple years Why can't they just coincide with our own lifespans?

Ana, it's worth the broken heart. I lost the dog of my heart (Agnes) to cancer after only 8.5 years, a loss I will never truly get over. But I would do it again for that time with such a special soul. I also know I will see her again.

I love my other goldens and was heartbroken to lose Maud in March. They bring so much joy and ask for so little in return.

That's the thing about life. Loss is inevitable, be it to death, distance, or the end of a relationship.

[Ana]

Ana, it's worth the broken heart. I lost the dog of my heart (Agnes) to cancer after only 8.5 years, a loss I will never truly get over. But I would do it again for that time with such a special soul. I also know I will see her again.

I love my other goldens and was heartbroken to lose Maud in March. They bring so much joy and ask for so little in return.

That's the thing about life. Loss is inevitable, be it to death, distance, or the end of a relationship.

I agree. I know they worth it but I know I am not prepared at this time My heart mends slowly. I am still somewhat mourning my childhood dog It is definitely my aim to have a dog when I'm ready, though

[Aggie_Ama]

+1 Mick.

I expected to have Maggie live to be 15 years like most schnauzers but she only got to be 9 and only 5 of those were ours. Three months later I am still trying to move past the pain, you are blessed to get a special soul like Agnes or Maggie. The love we got was worth it but I won't lie to anyone, letting her go was one of the worst things I have felt.

[Michelemarrano]

Here's a pic of the two dogs I have now--both neutered males!

As you can see, my mare was a far more dignified creature!

[Michelemarrano]

Oooops..heres the pic...aren't the boys priceless?

[jesvetmed]

Hi all... I've just been reading through several pages of this thread catching up on everyone's new pets, and the losses, also.

I've been pre-occupied by own dog's illness lately. Mac, my 11 yr old black lab, came down with cancer. Not just one, but TWO kinds... leave it to a vet's dog to manage that one.

We had to remove her spleen in an emergency surgery, as it was bleeding. She recovered very well, but then got more and more sore on her left leg. Turns out there is (presumably) another type of cancer in that bone in two places.

SO.... wow. What do you do with that? Well, we found a great pain control cocktail of meds, and she thinks she is still 2 yrs old again! That is really nice to see. And I think I will start a little chemo for her this week and see how she handles it -- it's only once every 3 wks for 4 treatments, and hopefully she'll have more comfort and prolonged survival if we do.

Wish her the best of luck! Dogs' spirits are truly amazing -- she is just still SO happy, it is unbelievable. Funny, as a vet I deal with this with clients and friends all the time, but this will be my first dog lost of my own (at least as an adult, away from mom and dad). I didn't get a dog till after I was 30 yrs old after leaving home.

Here she is from this winter!