Sad Day-Had to say Good Bye

[Iwannacamp]

I must say I love dogs. They love unconditionally. It is amazing how much they provide their human family. I for one truly believe dogs have souls. They may not be the same....but it's definitely there. My oldest dog is not in great health....I fear she is in the short rows.


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[DDC]

So sorry for your loss, we miss them terribly when they go they are so much one of the family but are around such a short time.

[BigBaron]

My condolences. Unfortunately I have had to do this with several dogs.
Time for another dog!

[trikebubble]

I too am very sorry for your loss. We had ot say goodbye to our 14 year old furry family member last year, and it still pains me to think about him not being here.
It's funny, I can read a hundred stories of the passing of humans and keep it together, but every single time I read a thread or story such as this, about the great loss of a furry family member, it brings a tear to my eye. Every time.

Words can't really make thing better so soon after a loss such as this. However, when we had to send Jet over the Rainbow Bridge last year someone said something which stuck with me, and maybe will help ease the pain, even just a tad.

He said something like this; no matter the loss and how hard it is to bear right now, a kid up there somewhere now has a new best friend.

[M&K Hoffman]

Very sorry for your loss and I know how hard it is. I can still tear up over dogs put down 20+ years ago.

[Torch]

Sorry to hear of this, I had to put down my GSD Neeka last year, there's something about a GSD that no other dog has, She'll join my Remy(yellow lab),Chelsea(Goldie), Brandi(Mutt) and finally Neeka,she'll be in good company...

[Sharon455]

So sorry for your loss of Polly. We've had to make that tough decision 3 times in just the last 2 years, My husband's beloved labs, Harley and Kaedy, and my sweet shih tzu Duchess. I cried like a baby, but knew it was for the best.

I had a shepherd, Kimi, that went through the same hip problems. On bad days I would kick myself for not putting her out of her pain, and then on good days I was mortified that I even considered it. One night she lost control of all of her bodily functions and I knew it was time. I was crying so hard that the vet tech removed me from the exam room before giving her that last shot. That was 1999 and I'm blubbering just writing about it.

[Weezer]

Originally Posted by asquared

Thank you for loving Polly enough to give her the gift of peace. She will be guarding the rainbow bridge waiting for you. My Maddie will be there with her (she was a shepherd lab mix). This was sent to me when I had to make the same difficult choice for Maddie. You will cry when you read it and that is ok. Eventually, you will understand and embrace it.


THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF AN EXTREMELY DISTINGUISHED DOG

I, Chelsea, because of the burden of my illness and realizing the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my Last Will and Testament in the mind of my Master. She will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in her loneliness, she will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask her to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master, Vicky, who I know will mourn me the most, to my companion, Will, but if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely exceptional dog.

I ask my Master to remember me always but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to her in time of sorrow and a reason for added joy in her happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause her pain. Let her remember that, while no dog ever had a happier life, I have now grown ill and pained. I should not want my pride to sink to a bewildered humiliation. It is time for me to say "good-bye". It will sorrow me to leave her but not sorrow me to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What will come to me after death? I will be in a place where one is always young; where I will someday be joined by companions I have known in life; where I will romp in lovely fields with those that have gone before me; where every hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and remembers the old brave days on earth and the love of one's Master.

This is much to expect but peace, at least, is certain, and a long rest for these weakened limbs. And eternal sleep is perhaps, after all, the best.

One last request I earnestly make. I ask her, for love of me to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have another Lab. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me, she cannot live without one! I have never had a narrow spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good. Some dogs are better than others--like me--and so I suggest a Black Lab as my successor. She can hardly be as well bred or as mannered or as distinguished and beautiful as I, but my Master must not ask the impossible. She will do her best, I am sure, and even her inevitable defects will help keep my memory green. To her I bequeath my collar and leash. I leave her my place in the car which I loved so much and wish for her long rides with open windows.

One last word of farewell, dear Master. Whenever you think of me, say to yourself with regret but also with happiness in your heart at the remembrance of my happy life with you, "She is the one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep, I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

Oh dear, how deeply this hit me. You see, we had to escort our dear friend Chelsea Dianne (gave her a middle name, all good dogs deserve that) at the age of 16, to the rainbow bridge Wednesday.

Physically she was still sound, though totally deaf and going blind. She was still very mobile, but was going into renal failure.

As I stated elsewhere, it's the hardest thing we've ever done and pray to God we never have to do again.

Though tears are pouring freely (again), thank you for posting this.

[jb3-7-77]

Originally Posted by asquared

Thank you for loving Polly enough to give her the gift of peace. She will be guarding the rainbow bridge waiting for you. My Maddie will be there with her (she was a shepherd lab mix). This was sent to me when I had to make the same difficult choice for Maddie. You will cry when you read it and that is ok. Eventually, you will understand and embrace it.





THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF AN EXTREMELY DISTINGUISHED DOG



I, Chelsea, because of the burden of my illness and realizing the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my Last Will and Testament in the mind of my Master. She will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in her loneliness, she will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask her to inscribe it as a memorial to me.



I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master, Vicky, who I know will mourn me the most, to my companion, Will, but if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely exceptional dog.



I ask my Master to remember me always but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to her in time of sorrow and a reason for added joy in her happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause her pain. Let her remember that, while no dog ever had a happier life, I have now grown ill and pained. I should not want my pride to sink to a bewildered humiliation. It is time for me to say "good-bye". It will sorrow me to leave her but not sorrow me to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What will come to me after death? I will be in a place where one is always young; where I will someday be joined by companions I have known in life; where I will romp in lovely fields with those that have gone before me; where every hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and remembers the old brave days on earth and the love of one's Master.



This is much to expect but peace, at least, is certain, and a long rest for these weakened limbs. And eternal sleep is perhaps, after all, the best.



One last request I earnestly make. I ask her, for love of me to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have another Lab. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me, she cannot live without one! I have never had a narrow spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good. Some dogs are better than others--like me--and so I suggest a Black Lab as my successor. She can hardly be as well bred or as mannered or as distinguished and beautiful as I, but my Master must not ask the impossible. She will do her best, I am sure, and even her inevitable defects will help keep my memory green. To her I bequeath my collar and leash. I leave her my place in the car which I loved so much and wish for her long rides with open windows.



One last word of farewell, dear Master. Whenever you think of me, say to yourself with regret but also with happiness in your heart at the remembrance of my happy life with you, "She is the one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep, I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

As I cuddle with my dogs and DW reading this eloquently written post, a tear formed in my eye. Thank you for sharing.

[camperdave825]

Anyone who has ever lost a pet knows the empty feeling it brings. Here is a site I have found some comfort in when i have lost "my best friend"
Rainbow Bridge Poem - Petloss.com

[cpaulsen]

Just lost our 12 year old yellow lab on the 30th. It is hard.....and hurt.

[Sharon455]

Originally Posted by cpaulsen

Just lost our 12 year old yellow lab on the 30th. It is hard.....and hurt.

So very sorry for your loss. I grew up with labs and my husband had two labs when we met (Chocolate and White.)


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[pt1655]

So sorry for your loss; I know it's harder than heck. Keep on camping.