The Down Side of Having a Dog

[Charlies Shinpad]

Just had the unfortunate experience of having our Family Dog put to sleep.
He was 17 years old and a great mate and companion to me and the family.

My Boys who are 15 and 14 have never known the house to be without him and they are devastated understandably

So please think ahead when getting yourself a Family pet as this day has to come for all of them one day and it isnt anything I would wish on any person.

Cheers

 

[dougdeep]

I had never really cried until I had to have our Labrador put down. I think that it helps kids to understand mortality. The only sure thing in life is death.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

So please think ahead when getting yourself a Family pet as this day has to come for all of them one day and it isnt anything I would wish on any person.

Cheers

It IS a sad thing. Absolutely. Anybody who ever had a longtime pet would agree. But at the same time it teaches kids an awful lot of good things in life, caring for a pet. Maybe even helps prepare them for some of the rotten things in life too. Chin up mate.

 

[bhaexpress]

That's a great shame Charles, I still miss my old dog even to this day.

Best bet, leeave it a few weeks and get yourself down to a shelter and make a great new home for some lucky doggie.

 

[defrocked priest]

I rescued my pet from an abusive owner with the intention of finding him a new home.The attachment grew and I had him for 16 years.When I had no choice but to put him to sleep,I thought I'd prepared myself to handle it.I sobbed like a baby,just recently I swear he visited me in my sleep and nuzzled under my chin.My ex,used to say I paid more attention to that animal than her.She's right you know and I've never replaced that pet to this day,four years later.I truly empathize.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

He was a Rescue Dog,so he had a great life after we got him.

The Youngest Boy was with me when they put him to sleep and he went from a Boy to a Man in my eyes as they put the Dog to sleep.

 

[Turkey]

We has two Jack Russell's which died - although we now have a Retriever and she rules (even though I ignored the imposter for the first week ).

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Very profound post.
Death is real and difficult for most of us (me too) to deal with.
It is definately something to "experience" in the university of life, however painful.
My experience is with cats not dogs. Cat is now 17 and has diabetes, if she starts to suffer I will have to make that awful decision too. My girls are 10 and 13 so they too have known the cat all of their entire lives ...... not looking forward to the day

 

[Beach Hut]

It is very difficult when pets pass away for kids.

Leo, one of our cats was put down a year ago and it was quite a sad day.

Sammy the elder of our cats is still going strong and having been mugged by all the young cat dudes in the area now has the respect of all of them.

Given your lads ages Charlie I would suggest another dog in the not to distant future which will fill a very big void.

 

[Yorkie]

I know it sounds callous but a good cure for losing a pet is to get another one. You cannot replace the old dog but you can love another one as much.

I had a Rough Collie (Lassie type) for 12 years and had to have her put to sleep because she developed a brain tumour. Then we had a Retrievar/Alsatiion cross. Unfortunately she got run over when she was 8. For some strange reason she suddenly bolted out of the garden when someone left the gate open although she'd never done that before.

As Ned is asthmatic and allergic to dogs we now have cats. One of them was 20 last October and still going strong. In fact I think she is living just to spite me She certainly lets me know when she is unhappy with me. (Like moving home last year - she sulked for 3 months)

 

[GNF on Tour]

You have a 20 year old cat? I thought there was no way they could live that long.

 

[perth seagull]

So please think ahead when getting yourself a Family pet as this day has to come for all of them one day and it isnt anything I would wish on any person.

Surely in the long-run, having your dog for so many happy years will outweigh this very sad time that you're currently experiencing? I have a 14 year old dog who is getting on a bit but is still in good health. But I do know that one day I'll probably have to make the terrible decision to put him down when the time comes. I think about it a lot and I can't imagine life after he is gone because he has been around for so long. I know that I will be gutted for a very long time. But still, the many years of happiness that he brought is better than not experiencing it at all? What do you think?

 

[Yorkie]

You have a 20 year old cat? I thought there was no way they could live that long.

The average age for a cat is 15 years but I think the record is 31.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1433749.stm

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

Re: Re: The Down Side of Having a Dog

Surely in the long-run, having your dog for so many happy years will outweigh this very sad time that you're currently experiencing? I have a 14 year old dog who is getting on a bit but is still in good health. But I do know that one day I'll probably have to make the terrible decision to put him down when the time comes. I think about it a lot and I can't imagine life after he is gone because he has been around for so long. I know that I will be gutted for a very long time. But still, the many years of happiness that he brought is better than not experiencing it at all? What do you think?

12 hours on from the matter I totally agree with you,the good times with him will never be forgotten,but its just the thought of him not being here anymore that really kicks in when you walk thru the front door,but life will go on and we will get over it.

As for getting another dog,well we got this one within 2 weeks of the Collie we had being run over by a Drunk Driver,so may take a bit of time out before going down to a local rescue centre

Thanks for all the advice everyone

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

When our rabbit died - we buried it in the garden with full military honours.

When we moved house a few months later the kids (then around 6 and 7) were in the garden with spades preparing to take it with us.

 

[Biscuit]

I grew up with two Jackrussells. The day the first one died was tough enough, but when his brother passed away a few months later it was awful.

They were older than me at the time, and I had never known a day without them.

Still miss them, and simply couldn't live without another dog in the house. So we snapped up our current girlie, Lady - just 5 months after the death of my two JR's.

I feel for you Charlies Shinpad. Very sad news.

 

[zefarelly]

I still miss Tania our Doberwoman, she had a cancerous growth which spread to her lung and we had to have her put down just shy of her 12th birthday ( a good innings for a Doberman) she was a fantastic dog, companion, family pet, great and getting run over by cars (twice) and howling at the telephone, she is sorely missed