Stu's Dog

[Stu2630]

Today we had to have our beautiful Great Dane ***** put to sleep. For the past few months, she has been suffering with a degenerative condition of the spine which has meant she lost feeling in her back end and had difficulty standing, walking and going to the toilet. Of late, she has been finding it increasingly difficult to find a comfortable position in which to lie down, and would collapse when urinating.

She was 12-years old which, for her breed, is a magnificent age (Danes usually only live to be 7 or 8-years). She was the gentlest and most loving animal I have ever known and we loved her enormously, so we are all grieving for her as a member of our family. We are consoled by the knowledge that she had not only an exceptionally long life, but was also cared for like a child - even to the extent on me making her a warm drink at bedtime, covering her with her blanket and tucking her in.

She was a pure joy and she will be hugely missed by my entire family and her many friends in my neighbourhood. :(

I wanted to share this with my nudist friends.

Stu

[walter05]

I hope you will continue to take comfort in knowing how you and your family enhanced your great dane's life.

[tiger79]

Stu, I know exactly what you're feeling. My wife and I have cats and horses, and we've so far had the sad experience of having 3 cats put to sleep. I think the positive aspect is that they all had great lives, and that we as humans are able to safeguard them from ultimate suffering (something which humans can't really do for humans). I just don't know what my wife will be like when her old horse dies...

[Al Bundy]

Stu, please accept my condolences on your loss. It is one of the hardest things to do when you have to take your pet on a one way trip to the vet. I have had to do this and it is something that takes a long time to get over if ever. I keep telling my wife that when our pets are gone we are not getting another one but I always give in to her pleas.

It sounds like your pet had a wonderful life with you and your family. I think I feel more for pet's than people sometimes. Take care.

[BinCo]

Sorry to hear it. Sound's like she had a long and happy life.:(

[Boreas]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. Pets add so much to our lives and it is always sad to see them go. We have a 9 and a half year old lab/shepherd cross who is starting to show her age. I dread the day when she will no longer be with us.

Do take care.

[Home Nudist]

My deepest sympathy, Stu.

As one who has had to put down 2 cats, I know your grief and your pain. People will say, "It was just an animal," but WE know that they are like little people with personalities all their own.

I don't think the pain of loss ever fully goes away. It just gets easier to live with in time.

As Walter said, take comfort in the good life you gave your Friend. That is what I try to do. That is all we can do.

-Peace

[Sigmund]

Sorry to hear of your loss, Stu. A friend of mine has a sign in his shop that says "The more people I meet, the more I like my dog". I think Tha about sums it up - and I even like many of the people I meet.

[Stu2630]

Thanks for all the empathy and the kind comments everyone - they really have helped me.

My wife and I have been married for 31 years and always had a dog. Our dog is a member of our family but, unlike the human members, the canine ones have a far shorter lifespan, so this is a factor you have to keep in mind. That doesn't stop you loving them, though. We gave her a brilliant life, good food, interesting walks (including taking her camping, which she adored!) and lots of attention. Great Danes always attract attention from strangers, so she learned that humans were friendly and she responded in hind. I'll never forget her party trick: if you sneezed or snuffled, she would go to a box of tissues on the coffee table, take one out and bring it to you! We hadn't actually trained her to do this, so I don't know how she learned it, but it never failed to impress visitors.

I have lots of pictures of her so we'll never forget her.

Stu

[David77]

My sincere condolences. I am glad that you take comfort in feeling that you have provided your dog with a very good life. I too loved my dog dearly and shed many tears after her death.

[boomdriver]

Stu,

We lost our dachshund earlier this year. She passed naturally at home, we were with her. She was only three weeks shy of her eighteenth birthday. We know exactly how you feel, as we will always miss her. Our thoughts are with you.

Dick and Cindy

[Redtan]

I was amazed to read that your Dane was 12! I have never known a Dane to live beyond about 8. You obviously treated her very well and gave her a long rewarding life. But I've been through what you are experiencing and I know that hole in the heart just takes time to heal.

[DenitaLC]

Stu, I'm sorry to read of your loss. Dogs are such loyal companions and friends.

My daugher is losing her gold fish today, I feel helpless to save the little guy. She's had him for over 1.5 years and seeing her tears is so hard. This doesn't even compare to the love a dog gives so I know how deep your grief must be.

My condolences,
Dee

[ki4kxq]

My heart goes out to you. On September 4th, 2001, I had to put down my Great Dane Ebby. Your dog and Ebby sound like they had a lot in common. They were both 12, spoiled rotten, and had the same ailment. I still remember holding her in my arms as she went to sleep. I know your heart is broken. I went and found the poem about the Rainbow Bridge. It has always given me comfort, I'm hoping it will do the same for you.


RainbowsBridge.com
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[Boreas]

I first saw that Rainbow Bridge poem just after our two elderly cats died a few years ago. I still can't get all the way through it! It is very nice.

The obedience trainer that I used had a couple of border collies, and a dane. The dane was a loveable brindle named Cash (not sure if this is the spelling, but you get the idea). Every now and again Cash would forget he was a dane and would start galavanting around like a goofy border collie. We went on a very long walk in the winter with him and several other dogs. You could tell where Cash had been by the slobber at waist level....on dogs, on people.......

[sdcal]

My sympathies to you Stu. We have lost several dogs over the years (all in their mid-teens), and it doesn't get easier. Losing a family member is never easy (and a pet is a family member - they live with us, care about us and we care for them).

[Stu2630]

Rainbow Bridge is a nice poem - I've not seen it before.

I hear people say that, after losing a much loved pet, they would never have another as it is too upsetting. That's not an argument I buy into. Had I taken that view, I would not have had another dog after my previous great dane died and I would have missed the 12-years of joy my last girl brought me. Oops, my eyes are filling up.

As sdcal says, they do become a part of your family and when they are gone they leave one almighty hole.

Stu

[baregreg]

I feel for you Stu.

I lost my white lab back in 2004. I had her for 16 years. She was just a pup of 8 weeks old when she adopted me. My best friend ever. I sure miss her to this day. :cry:

[atalanta]

Sorry to hear of your loss, which makes me very uncomfortable as I fear a similar day may be coming in regard to our nearly 14-year old collie, who has increasing difficulty in getting on her feet. Originally a Christmas present to our then 10 year old daughter, she is unquestionably part of the family and has been a wonderfully loyal and loving companion.

Last year we lost another dog to a hit-and-run driver. She was a street dog who "adopted" us after starting by following me on my dog walks and gradually moved in, while remaining a free spirit who would come and go at her pleasure. Within a very few weeks my wife came up with another young companion of probably rather mixed ancestry and who has settled in nicely. She certainly rejuvenated our "senior dog", who still insists on that position being properly respected, but the effects of age will not be denied. We never had dogs before the collie, nor did I in my youth, although my wife's family used to breed dobermans. I cannot now imagine being without at least one but dread the day we will lose our first.

[Centauri4]

Our sympathy on your loss Stu! Two years ago, my wife and I lost our "Big Dog" a Redbone Coonhound pound puppy she got in Montana, 12 years before that. To this day, we both get teary when talking about him! He was the best!

My wife got him from the pound on a Friday during her lunch hour, and it was his last Friday before being scheduled to be "destroyed". Knute was also the last of a litter of six or so other coonhounds, and so to this day I cannot help but wonder how such a GREAT dog could have been the last pick of a litter. My wife brought this 4 month old, big-pawed, floppy-eared, goofball back to her office and he slept under her desk for the rest of the day without making a peep! Some pound-puppy...

I am attaching one special photo that shows what a curious personality our Big Dog had.

Best wishes to your family; these animals are like children.

[Skinview]

I'm sorry for your loss, Stu. Its very hard to lose a pet. I know what its like.