The love of a dog...

[milosh]

Sorry to hear about your loss Daniel, and, like Jon said, I hope that soon you will have a new friend by your side.

[Matthias099]

So sorry to hear. They are truly part of our family.... I know my dog is. She is now pretty old (for a olden Retriever) and going blind. And we are afraid of the day when we have to let her go...

[CurlyCorry]

I am so very sorry for you Daniel...very hard to lose a pet.... they're part of the family for sure!!

[Krusty79]

I know it's tough. You get so used to having your dog greet you when you get home and seeing him in his favorite spots around the house. There's nothing like a loyal dog. My sympathies to you and your wife.

[DanielLane]

Mahalo Nui Loa to you all! I appreciate it more than you can know. I got all teary eyed again reading all of your great posts. My wife read them all as well and tears welled up in her eyes too. Love you all.

We still have another dog. Lucy is still here. She is a little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They were the best of friends. She is also sad and we keep finding her looking for her buddy. If she's not looking for him, she is curled up right next to my wife. Won't really leave her side.

It wasn't the food. We have always fed our dogs really high end food from a natural foods pet store. Always high quality stuff that I was ready to eat if it came down to it. (well, not really, but you know what I mean) All organic food and all that. Half the time my wife actually cooked him dinner too.He sometimes ate better than I did...

The symptoms that were visible earlier just seemed like him getting a little older. Nothing too major. It seems to happen in about 15% to 20% of purebred dogs actually. And there is no cure. We researched the heck out of this over the past week. It looks like he had been getting just a little more sick every day for months. Almost impossible to see.

He was one hardcore dog. He was bombing into huge waves at the beach running around like he was a two year old puppy the day before we brought him to the vet. Actually one week ago today. Nobody would ever have suspected there was anything wrong with him. The one consolation is that it at least went very quickly.

[kirbinster]

I am sorry to hear of your loss, I know how hard it can being having to put down my 15 year old Husky around this time last year. He had cancer since he was 11 and had gone through four surgeries that kept he going good and strong. The vet told us we would know when it was time to let him go, and we did. We had two other Huskies, one 13 and one 4 but it was still very hard. The thing that helped the most was when we got Roxy, who is now 9 months old. She is not a replacement for Kirby, but having the puppy around really helped.

Here is a poem that I really like about the loss of a pet:
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The Rainbow Bridge

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 and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have 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 begins to quiver. 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 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 together you and your special pet cross the Rainbow Bridge...

--Author Unknown

[lunathea]

My heart goes out to you, your wife, and Lucy. We put my fiancé's dog down a few weeks ago and it was incredibly hard for me (I blubbered like a baby when I told myself I'd be strong for him, that didn't work so well). Goof was such a character but I'm glad her suffering is over (a tumor of sorts had her crashing all over the place like a drunken sailor). It is my belief that good pets make better humans and we are lucky to have had them in our lives.

[TrinaF]

I am so sorry about your loss, these four legged critters become such a part of our lives and such good friends. I have been in your shoes a few times and its never easy.. but I can't imagine life without a friend like that around my house. How old was he? Sure was a beautiful pup, was he a Springer?

[DanielLane]

Thanks again all.

Yes, He was a Springer Spaniel. He would have turned 11 in December. He was literally the best friend and best dog I have ever known. And I'm not just saying that because he was my dog or anything. Everyone who ever met him said the same thing. I just found out a few friends put together a memorial for Baxter for this Saturday. I was told they have over 80 people that have rsvp'd that they are coming. Crazy how much love that dog brought about.

BTW, that was the last picture ever taken of him. It was the day before he went into the hospital. You'd never guess how sick he was in that shot...


F*** I miss him...

[mosgood]

Daniel,

I can sure see the love & devotion in his eyes. 11 years...he looked great & happy, even if he was in a lot of pain.

Looks like he will be greatly missed by you & your wife as well as many others. I'm glad you have so many great memories, it softens the pain of losing a family member somewhat.

Again, my condolences.