Appreciate your pet tonight

labatt · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Below is a picture of our dog Fred. It's T minus 45 minutes until we bring him to the vet to put him down. Unfortunately, he got diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his leg about 8 months ago. It's grown and grown, and he's been on pain pills for about 2 months now. About two days ago, he stopped being able to stand up on his own. While he can still walk when up, he's in a lot of pain, so we made the tough decision today to put him to sleep. He's a Shephard mix and weighed about 80 lbs in his prime. My wife and I got him together about 3 months after we started going out almost 18 years ago. He's seen a lot of the best parts of my life and we'll be very sad to see him go.

Anyway, make sure to give your pet an extra little attention tonight!

T34C · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

labatt- Sorry to hear that. Always a tuf decision.

PBzeer · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Been there, and it sucks big time having to make that kind of decision.

teshannon · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Chris,
Done that a couple of times and it's really hard every time. You get really attached to the buggers don't you.

sailaway21 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Both "Mac" and I appreciate the sentiment. Ben Stein says that dogs are so wonderful because they have no sense of mortality. They just keep loving us right up until they're not here anymore. The thing I like most about dogs is that they are not trying to be something they are not. You get a dog and many years later he's still the same dog. They're quite content in their own skin, just being a dog. The fact that we get such joy and fun from them matters not the least to them as they're just being a dog. They're always glad to see us, whether we had a good day or a bad day. If we yell at them one day, they've forgotten it the next day. Dog's don't sweat the details. Sleeping in the truck is as good as sleeping in the house. They don't understand a word we say, yet they sit and listen to us for years. They don't complain; they like oatmeal as much as they do ice cream. They know the difference between big people and little people. They know the difference between good people and bad people. And nobody had to teach them the difference either. Dogs are non-union workers too. They'll answer the door all day long, even if it means getting up twenty times. They don't demand overtime for after hours work and a walk at midnight is just as good as one at five o'clock. If we forget them, and they can't hold it, they're the ones who are sorry first. They never mean to upset us and the only time they do is when we expect them to be, well, not a dog. Dogs can only be dogs; there is no surmounting their inherent dogness. I wish I was that good at being anything.

Goodbye Fred. You're gonna be missed.

Danny33 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Labatt.. Sorry to hear about your pup.
Went thru the same thing . They are still family I feel.
Swore Id never get another one ....and inhertied a wacked out JRT.
Wound up like a clock most of the time .

SailorMitch · #7 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Labatt -- My sympathies also. Been there, done that. It's a hard decision, but you know it's the right one. Fair winds to Fred.

poopdeckpappy · #8 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Been there too Labatt, we feel your pain

teshannon · #9 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Both "Mac" and I appreciate the sentiment. Ben Stein says that dogs are so wonderful because they have no sense of mortality. They just keep loving us right up until they're not here anymore. The thing I like most about dogs is that they are not trying to be something they are not. You get a dog and many years later he's still the same dog. They're quite content in their own skin, just being a dog. The fact that we get such joy and fun from them matters not the least to them as they're just being a dog. They're always glad to see us, whether we had a good day or a bad day. If we yell at them one day, they've forgotten it the next day. Dog's don't sweat the details. Sleeping in the truck is as good as sleeping in the house. They don't understand a word we say, yet they sit and listen to us for years. They don't complain; they like oatmeal as much as they do ice cream. They know the difference between big people and little people. They know the difference between good people and bad people. And nobody had to teach them the difference either. Dogs are non-union workers too. They'll answer the door all day long, even if it means getting up twenty times. They don't demand overtime for after hours work and a walk at midnight is just as good as one at five o'clock. If we forget them, and they can't hold it, they're the ones who are sorry first. They never mean to upset us and the only time they do is when we expect them to be, well, not a dog. Dogs can only be dogs; there is no surmounting their inherent dogness. I wish I was that good at being anything.

Goodbye Fred. You're gonna be missed.

Hey that was really well written, I'm now impressed!

CharlieCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

I hear ya Labatt. My pup Damani has cancer as well, stage 3, terminal. After having her for 9 yrs. and watching her go from puppy to a dog that does stuff ya only see in movies, it's gonna be hard to put her down this month. My Grandkids learned to walk chasing her. She'll be the last. I ain't going through this **** again.