Putting a Dog to Rest Forever, our journey will come to a close this month

[Number_35]

This thread gets me teared-up every time I read more posts. Both our dogs died in my arms, Nug (the female) April 14, 2015, and Deuce (the male) June 2, 2016. I still miss them a lot.

We were cycling out in cottage country on Friday, and this memorial to a beloved dog reminded me of this thread:

And here's the view of Falcon Lake from Izzy's lookout:

 

[alarmguy]

This thread gets me teared-up every time I read more posts. Both our dogs died in my arms, Nug (the female) April 14, 2015, and Deuce (the male) June 2, 2016. I still miss them a lot.

We were cycling out in cottage country on Friday, and this memorial to a beloved dog reminded me of this thread:
View attachment 245067

And here's the view of Falcon Lake from Izzy's lookout:
View attachment 245069

Oh man. Beautiful place there.

Each day goes by we are getting better handling it. It's been a rough week. Now just over 5 days ago. I still expect him to be in certain places of the home when I walk in a room

There was one short period that keeps replaying through my mind that I find really upsetting, it was very brief but still.
Wife and I were petting and cuddling his back, neck and face as he was laying on his day bed that we put up on the couch.
The dr was great. She told us what to expect at each moment. When we were ready, she injected the heavy sedative. Told us in 10 to 15 minutes he will be in a very deep sleep. She told us of possible reactions he might have.
He had two of them. The one unsettling was for a brief minute he tried to stand up on his front paws and then his legs at the joints started to give way and he gently laid down, as he did, you could tell he was getting knocked out and his head swayed slowly back and forth until completely down again. He was in a deep sleep with his tongue laying partly out of his mouth.
Once confirmed the final dose was injected into his veins.

 

[alarmguy]

The cremation place delivered his ashes to our home this past Friday 3 days after being put to forever asleep. It was a REALLY hard emotional week for me, slowly coming to peace with it. Just the fact that I can post this photo today is sort of that proof. They did a really nice job, that is his real paw print not a precast, the proof is on the back where they with a sharp object have his name and date free hand written in what was the soft plaster at the time. The actual urn feels of amazing quality. The card itself was signed I jsut didnt want the names exposed.

Man, I loved this dog. Everything of his is still in place in our home, toy box, food bowls and his nighttime bed. When ready I will take them out of there.
Since it was heart disease, I knew this day was coming since last Christmas and that should have helped but it didnt.

 

[4WD]

Oh man. Each day goes by we are getting better handling it. It's been a rough week. Now just over 5 days ago. I still expect him to be in certain places of the home when I walk in a room

There was one short period that keeps replaying through my mind that I find really upsetting, it was very brief but still.
Wife and I were petting and cuddling his back, neck and face as he was laying on his day bed that we put up on the couch.
The dr was great. She told us what to expect at each moment. When we were ready, she injected the heavy sedative. Told us in 10 to 15 minutes he will be in a very deep sleep. She told us of possible reactions he might have.
He had two of them. The one unsettling was for a brief minute he tried to stand up on his front paws and then his legs at the joints started to give way and he gently laid down, as he did, you could tell he was getting knocked out and his head swayed slowly back and forth until completely down again. He was in a deep sleep with his tongue laying partly out of his mouth.
Once confirmed the final dose was injected into his veins.

some say never again - many years later - (I gave them the first) - the Lab I gave BiL/sister died. They were dinks and tore up . Unexpectedly - I came by bringing a gorgeous (identical) puppy dropped in his lap. Hour later was getting, papers, food, meds, and toys from my truck - they even re ran the name (fine by me)

 

[UncleDave]

Rough day. I'm feeling for you and family AG.

Our beautiful Madeleine went through the same heart issues and medication.

 

[alarmguy]

Rough day. I'm feeling for you and family AG.

Our beautiful Madeleine went through the same heart issues and medication.

Thank you, one thing we have realized, it was hard to understand when someone lost a pet what they were going through.

some say never again - many years later - (I gave them the first) - the Lab I gave BiL/sister died. They were dinks and tore up . Unexpectedly - I came by bringing a gorgeous (identical) puppy dropped in his lap. Hour later was getting, papers, food, meds, and toys from my truck - they even re ran the name (fine by me)

Yeah, I am a never again person, at the moment I would feel like I am betraying him, I know those thoughts will fade. But a dog in the future is uncertain, not sure, again, at this point, if our feelings can ever be as strong as they were for Benson.

 

[4WD]

Thank you, one thing we have realized, it was hard to understand when someone lost a pet what they were going through.

Yeah, I am a never again person, at the moment I would feel like I am betraying him, I know those thoughts will fade. But a dog in the future is uncertain, not sure, again, at this point, if our feelings can ever be as strong as they were for Benson.

Well, I will agree no human will change your mind - but humans are inferior to dogs in the companionship space …

 

[HemiBenny]

Well, I will agree no human will change your mind - but humans are inferior to dogs in the companionship space …

Amen brother, amen!

 

[billt460]

I'm very sorry. He reminds me of our little guy that we lost last February. I can't believe it's been over 7 months already.

 

[alarmguy]

I'm very sorry. He reminds me of our little guy that we lost last February. I can't believe it's been over 7 months already.

Thank you for that and sorry to hear about your dog if I have not responded back then.

Im done feeling strange/ashamed about mourning our dog more than I have humans in my life. As I tell people that and I was surprised how many knew and felt exactly the same way.
So far I have not moved any of his belongings. His toy box it still there, food bowls and mat on which they sit still there and his bed is still in our master bedroom of which I took my wife's cross off of her dresser and put it on his bed.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Im done feeling strange/ashamed about mourning our dog more than I have humans in my life. As I tell people that and I was surprised how many knew and felt exactly the same way.
So far I have not moved any of his belongings. His toy box it still there, food bowls and mat on which they sit still there and his bed is still in our master bedroom of which I took my wife's cross off of her dresser and put it on his bed.

Benson (in afterlife) reported back to your home and stuck around just long enough to realize that he cannot communicate with his belongings like toys....etc - cannot communicate with you anymore and neither can you do the same with him. So you need to come to terms that Benson has moved-on and will either seek friendships with his former parents and litter family (or) he will be greeted by departed human family members from his past associations at your home (or) he will enter deep hibernation until either you or your wife arrive in the afterlife.

What you are currently doing should be resolved (sooner the better). Either fill that dog-bed and food dishes with another dog, or remove them to be put in storage somewhere. If you want to heal fully and correctly, you need to either "let go" or get another dog to replace Benson. Do it soon ....... like maybe even this weekend.

Peace-out alarmguy. Heal my friend and don't let the hurt linger too long. It's unhealthy for both your heart and soul

 

[alarmguy]

@Triple_Se7en
I think the way you interpret my posts is incorrect. Everyone has their own way of grieving.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

@Triple_Se7en
I think the way you interpret my posts is incorrect. Everyone has their own way of grieving.

Your healing won't begin until you remove the dog's attractions inside your home and come to grips that a new chapter of friendships and love await you. Go to a Dog Rescue or Humane Society place and your next loving furry friend will draw your eyeballs instantly. You won't pick the next new dog. He will pick you and guess who will be there to help introduce the new blessing & marriage..... yep, Benson!!! He wants you to heal too. Seeing you like this makes him miserable.

Enjoy your near future mission. They only occur once every 10-15 years.

 

[Sedin26]

Let him grieve the loss in his own way. Your way is not appropriate for everyone and people don’t need to be told how to feel or act.

He lost a great dog and what he’s doing is perfectly normal and healthy. I would argue that removing everything and rushing out to get a new dog is not a healthy approach.

Let’s please leave it at this - message me in private if you need to but we can keep this thread for alarmguy to remember his dog

 

[Merek]

I am sorry but also going down that road at the moment. My dog stopped eating and drinking about 2 months ago and I thought it was over then but she started eating again, wasn't the same but at least it was something. Last week she stopped again and is basically immobile, she's had problems with her hips but I know that's a common issue with some breeds. I should've taken her to the vet but you know how that goes, I would've paid $500-$1000 just for an evaluation, tests and they'd still recommend putting her down... I just went through all that with both of my cats having kidney disease. I got my dog around 2009-2010 so she's had a good run. She is acting the exact same way the cats did, stopped eating and drinking and they clamp their mouth shut so you can't get anything in there, when I offer her something she just turns her head.

I think right now I'm done with pets for awhile.

 

[fat biker]

Don't scatter them where it creates a mix / blend with your other multiple dogs remains. Keep them separate as you scatter (or) do what I'm about to do.
Dig a big hole in the backyard and put the dog's collars and few favorite toys in the hole. Then place either the dog's ashes (or) the entire fancy box where the remains might exist today - all in the ground, then fill what should still be a relatively deep hole with the remaining dirt.

Never mix multiple dog remaining ashes (and/or multiple people. Someday our bodies (pets too) will rise from the dead - better whole versus being scattered in a billion specs all over one of our oceans (as some family members do their loved ones).

Thanks for your suggestions.
They will be scattered seperately.
They will be scattered at a place that all four loved, not my backyard.
I have keepsakes from all of them.
#4 had a cashmere sweater from his first mom. Spoiled you ask? Not at my house.

 

[alarmguy]

I am sorry but also going down that road at the moment. My dog stopped eating and drinking about 2 months ago and I thought it was over then but she started eating again, wasn't the same but at least it was something. Last week she stopped again and is basically immobile, she's had problems with her hips but I know that's a common issue with some breeds. I should've taken her to the vet but you know how that goes, I would've paid $500-$1000 just for an evaluation, tests and they'd still recommend putting her down... I just went through all that with both of my cats having kidney disease. I got my dog around 2009-2010 so she's had a good run. She is acting the exact same way the cats did, stopped eating and drinking and they clamp their mouth shut so you can't get anything in there, when I offer her something she just turns her head.

I think right now I'm done with pets for awhile.

It’s rough to make the right decision for your pet. You read my story so I’ll keep it short, yeah it’s been rough, same time frame. He joined our family at 8 weeks of age in 2009.
He loved life, loved us, faithful to the end.
As of now my mindset is we will never get another, he was so much a part of our family.

Loved the boat, beach, swimming or simply tugging a rope or chasing a ball even after he went blind.