demagogue on 19/1/2017 at 14:40

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I had two amazing cats, a mother and son, both grey, Tigger and Sam. The mother was kind of grouchy but Sam was a cat superstar. Really charismatic. Losing them both in the same month for different reasons, I think in 2013, was too sad for me to deal with and still is I guess.

When I was a kid, ages ago, we had a feisty and so-done-with-this-shit black cat named Scamper that lived through and tolerated I think 5 or 6 different dogs that came and went and chased him endlessly. Maybe my first real hero.

Renault on 23/11/2021 at 21:44

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I needed a place to vent, and this seems appropriate. It's been a rough couple of days, I lost my companion of 14 years this past Sunday, and I'm just feeling gutted and lost. Some people will say he's "just a dog," but he was a genuine part of our family. He was there every morning when I left for work, and greeted me enthusiastically every night when me and my wife came home. I can honestly say there wasn't a single day that I didn't look forward to seeing him when I walked through the door. And now he's gone, forever. And that is really hard to stomach.

So I'm hurting. I know each day it will get a little better, but that doesn't help now when I'm at my desk, trying to work, and I break down in tears. I can usually walk away, quietly, and find a place to be alone. But I know it'll happen again in a few hours. It's amazing how these beasts can work their way into your life. We don't have any kids, so he literally was our kid.

He loved being outdoors. Of course he did, he was a lab. I'll miss going to the park with him. Camping. Going on our vacations to northern Wisconsin, where he'd swim in Lake Superior and chase rabbits/squirrels/chipmunks all day, then take a long nap in the sun. So many other things too, too many to list. Even just quiet time at home, where he'd curl up next to you, it was so comforting.

You always have doubts and 2nd guess yourself in these situations. Should we have held on a little longer? Wouldn't a couple more weeks have been nice? But he got sick, and had stopped eating, and I wasn't about to watch him starve. The vet thought he might have cancer, and said we could do an ultrasound or body scan to confirm. But he was 14 1/2. We weren't going to operate on him, or do anything invasive, so what's the point? We loved him to death, and wanted to stop things before he started to suffer.

It's just a cruel fact that we will typically outlive our pets. It's the cycle of life, and you just kind of have to accept it. But that doesn't make it much easier atm. But I'll be fine, eventually, but it sucks right now.

With that, I give you...Raffi. My awesome red lab/hound mix. I miss you pal.

https://i.imgur.com/Fv5L9r0.jpg

Starker on 23/11/2021 at 22:13

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Aw, man, I've had several dogs and I don't know if I have the heart to get another. Someone who you spend quality time with, who is happy to see you and vice versa, cheers you up when you're feeling down, etc, is never "just a dog". That's like saying the partner you live with is "just a cohabitant". It's only natural to grieve the loss and remember all the happy times.

It's a tough choice, but trust me, it would have been even tougher to have seen your dog suffer. Death isn't always a quiet dozing off.

nickie on 25/11/2021 at 11:57

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I am so sorry, Brethren. I've had lots of animals in my life, all loved to pieces and each death is devastating however it happens. My heart goes out to you and your wife.

Tocky on 25/11/2021 at 19:11

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Every evening when I get home from work my wife opens the door and all my animals run to my truck. Shins and heads are rubbed. It's nice to be loved. They are pure and accept who you are without argument. They are happy to see you always. I even have dogs and cats on my work route. Part of that is I always share my lunch but they never fault me for not having any left of having given it to another animal along the way. When I asked one of my customers where Topper was recently he told me he had died. It hurt me as much as hearing a friend had. There is a T shirt out now that says, "I want to be the person my dog thinks I am" and I can't think of a better thing to be.

I'm sorry, Brethren. He looks like he was a very good boy.