This week is ending on a sad note.

[Suzette]

Today our family friend, Ginny, passed away. She was 92 and in poor health so we are gateful that she is no longer suffering.
But with her passing we wii have to return to Colorado to settle her affairs. It is a very long, exhausting drive and our dog, Tigger, is also old and in poor health.

Tigger has been our companion for 13 years. He has been our hiking buddy, sailing buddy, and consoled us when we were sick or sad. He has criss crossed the country with us on long road trips. He loves driving!
He is a bit of a clown and loves to chase smoke curls from the grill or fire, bark at snow falling from the sky and will play fetch with himself for hours (but he won't fetch for humans!) When we took him to lake Powel he traded howls with the coyotes and caught fish that came in to close to shore.

Over the past months old injuries from his many adventures have nearly crippled him with arthrtis. He can not stand on his own and can barely walk. He falls often and, recently, has become incontient. The vet has not been able to adequetly ease his pain.

Reluctanly we have decided to let him go and give him the easiest death we can. Our hearts our breaking.

Tigger is so sweet and gentle. Our friends say he is the coolest dog they know. He is infamous in our small community and people often guess who we are simply because they have heard about Tigger from their friends. We have been priveledged and honored to have him in our lives. He will be missed and grieved for the rest of our lives.

 

[RobZombiefan]

Today our family friend, Ginny, passed away. She was 92 and in poor health so we are gateful that she is no longer suffering.
But with her passing we wii have to return to Colorado to settle her affairs. It is a very long, exhausting drive and our dog, Tigger, is also old and in poor health.

Tigger has been our companion for 13 years. He has been our hiking buddy, sailing buddy, and consoled us when we were sick or sad. He has criss crossed the country with us on long road trips. He loves driving!
He is a bit of a clown and loves to chase smoke curls from the grill or fire, bark at snow falling from the sky and will play fetch with himself for hours (but he won't fetch for humans!) When we took him to lake Powel he traded howls with the coyotes and caught fish that came in to close to shore.

Over the past months old injuries from his many adventures have nearly crippled him with arthrtis. He can not stand on his own and can barely walk. He falls often and, recently, has become incontient. The vet has not been able to adequetly ease his pain.

Reluctanly we have decided to let him go and give him the easiest death we can. Our hearts our breaking.

Tigger is so sweet and gentle. Our friends say he is the coolest dog they know. He is infamous in our small community and people often guess who we are simply because they have heard about Tigger from their friends. We have been priveledged and honored to have him in our lives. He will be missed and grieved for the rest of our lives.

I'm sorry for your loss and about the health of your dog.

 

[Luca]

I’m so sorry Suzette… I know how much you love your dog. It’s never easy but you never want to see them suffer either. You gave him a wonderful life and he was loved by everyone.
I’m in a situation now too where I’m trying to assess quality of life of one of my dogs. Another reason I’ve been quiet on here.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend Ginny too.
You can message me if you think it would help to have someone to talk to. You have been very kind to me on here and I think you’re a wonderful person.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

@Suzette I'm so sorry about your friend, and also your fur baby. This post breaks my heart. You are such a sweet woman and you have been through so much lately. We on the forums love you.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

It’s really sad to hear all of this but you should also remember that both have lived long lives. Trigger definitely knows that you love him and you are making sure he’s comfortable in his final days which I’m sure makes him even happier that he is still in a familiar place. Ginny had a long life and saw many things and was lucky to have friends like you. Death is an inevitable part of life but you will always have the memories of both Ginny and Trigger.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

My sympathies. The unconditional acceptance we get from our animal family is special. I loved a cat raised from a kitten, Mia, a tortie with attitude. As I read in bed before going to sleep she always had to get between us and put her paws on my shoulder. She succumbed to liver cancer and I was a mess for a few days after.

[edit] The hardest thing in my life up to then was seeing her decline. When she laid down in the litter box I knew it was time. Just as I was a witness to her life I decided to be a witness to her passing and insisted on cradling her as the drugs were administered. Seeing the light go out of her eyes nearly broke me.

 

[Skittlebisquit]

I lost my dog at about this time last year to cancer. I had the vet put him down, he could still walk a bit but couldnt get in the truck. I still miss him. He went soft and sweet and gentle, its painless and really fast. I'm sorry about your friend.

 

[Tom]

Tigger sounds like a wonderful dog and lived a great doggie life and had the best of owners.

 

[Thinx]

I'm sorry about your loss of your family friend, at least she got to a good age wow! It is very kind of you to help settle things, and I am sure she felt easier knowing what good friends you are.

Your dog sounds great, what a dear, fun companion he has been, it is so hard to part with them. Each animal is unique, I will always remember my pets for who they were, and fun times we had. Got masses of pictures of them too!

 

[aspieoutlaw89]

I’m so sorry Suzette… I know how much you love your dog. It’s never easy but you never want to see them suffer either. You gave him a wonderful life and he was loved by everyone.
I’m in a situation now too where I’m trying to assess quality of life of one of my dogs. Another reason I’ve been quiet on here.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend Ginny too.
You can message me if you think it would help to have someone to talk to. You have been very kind to me on here and I think you’re a wonderful person.

i know what it feels like.

 

[Gracey]

Today our family friend, Ginny, passed away. She was 92 and in poor health so we are gateful that she is no longer suffering.
But with her passing we wii have to return to Colorado to settle her affairs. It is a very long, exhausting drive and our dog, Tigger, is also old and in poor health.

Tigger has been our companion for 13 years. He has been our hiking buddy, sailing buddy, and consoled us when we were sick or sad. He has criss crossed the country with us on long road trips. He loves driving!
He is a bit of a clown and loves to chase smoke curls from the grill or fire, bark at snow falling from the sky and will play fetch with himself for hours (but he won't fetch for humans!) When we took him to lake Powel he traded howls with the coyotes and caught fish that came in to close to shore.

Over the past months old injuries from his many adventures have nearly crippled him with arthrtis. He can not stand on his own and can barely walk. He falls often and, recently, has become incontient. The vet has not been able to adequetly ease his pain.

Reluctanly we have decided to let him go and give him the easiest death we can. Our hearts our breaking.

Tigger is so sweet and gentle. Our friends say he is the coolest dog they know. He is infamous in our small community and people often guess who we are simply because they have heard about Tigger from their friends. We have been priveledged and honored to have him in our lives. He will be missed and grieved for the rest of our lives.

I am so sorry you're having to go through this Suzette.

I thank Tigger's lucky stars he got the opportunity to spend time with you & your family.
Some dogs shine when they fit into a family so well.
Thank you for making your decision and putting Tigger first.
Letting go isn't easy but if he could thank you, he surely would.

I hope all runs smoothly with your travel & organising Ginny's affairs.
Best wishes

 

[VictorR]

My condolences. I hope that everyone find peace, and that loved ones like yourself have support in these challenging times.

 

[Au Naturel]

I've outlived too many beloved pets. It never gets easier.

 

[Mary Terry]

I feel what you are experiencing. It hurts. My old dog probably won't last till Christmas. I don't know when he will be at the point where it is kinder to put him down than to continue helping him walk, go to the bathroom outside, etc. How do we know when it is time to let him go?

 

[Aspychata]

This is incredibly sad to read. This is the end and nothing can be done about these pet children. Please take a picture and blow it up of your lovely dog. I made a video of my friend and their cat, l hope it isn't to painful for them to watch.

Sorry that your family friend left. But she lived very long and perhaps with some quality of life. This reminds us to take each day as a blessing and to remind those, we do love them.

 

[GadAbout]

I'm sorry for these losses. It's natural and healthy to feel sad about it. When things settle down again, you can hope to have another delightful companion animal. They enrich our lives so much.

 

[Gracey]

I feel what you are experiencing. It hurts. My old dog probably won't last till Christmas. I don't know when he will be at the point where it is kinder to put him down than to continue helping him walk, go to the bathroom outside, etc. How do we know when it is time to let him go?

I believe it's a gut feeling Mary.
The animals have a look and a way about them that signals
'it's my time soon'
I believe it to be a quiet, tired, dignified weariness about their eyes.

I have heard the phrase " Six months too early is kinder than a day too late" and would agree.

If you're doubting yourself Mary, maybe talk it over with your vet, ask for their advice and opinion?

I had my Dobermann for 11 years.
He was my shadow and the finest damn dog I've ever spent time with.
I kept on delaying the inevitable slightly
It was more for my benefit, than his.


Whatever you decide, you're not alone

 

[Mary Terry]

I believe it's a gut feeling Mary.
The animals have a look and a way about them that signals
'it's my time soon'
I believe it to be a quiet, tired, dignified weariness about their eyes.

I have heard the phrase " Six months too early is kinder than a day too late" and would agree.

If you're doubting yourself Mary, maybe talk it over with your vet, ask for their advice and opinion?

I had my Dobermann for 11 years.
He was my shadow and the finest damn dog I've ever spent time with.
I kept on delaying the inevitable slightly
It was more for my benefit, than his.


Whatever you decide, you're not alone

Thanks, Gracey. We're doing what the vet says and so far, my old dog is hanging in there. I don't think he has any pain but is so thin from lack of appetite. We've started feeding him canned food instead of dry food in case he has a tooth issue that we can't see. He just doesn't act very hungry anymore.

I know that sad, almost pleading, look in their eyes when the time comes. I have so much sympathy/empathy, whatever, for my pets. I can handle seeing a human in pain better than an animal who can't help itself.

 

[Suzette]

@Mary Terry ,

It is hard to watch our friends decline. Right now my own loss is still too new to be eloquent but you and your pup are in my thoughts.

I also wanted to give a feeding tip. When Tigger wouldn't eat I made him cooked oatmeal mixed with canned pumpkin and a cooked egg. Sometimes I also mixed peanut butter. He loved that! That is all he would eat his last few days. His stomach tolerated it very well.

 

[Mary Terry]

@Mary Terry ,

It is hard to watch our friends decline. Right now my own loss is still too new to be eloquent but you and your pup are in my thoughts.

I also wanted to give a feeding tip. When Tigger wouldn't eat I made him cooked oatmeal mixed with canned pumpkin and a cooked egg. Sometimes I also mixed peanut butter. He loved that! That is all he would eat his last few days. His stomach tolerated it very well.

I'll try oatmeal and pumpkin. I know he's allergic to eggs and poultry. For years, I have made him a big pot of well-cooked, mushy lima beans, green beans, peas and carrots to supplement his food. Then store it in the freezer in one cup containers so I can pull out his veggies to thaw in the fridge as needed. I've been eating oatmeal a lot lately for breakfast so tomorrow morning I'm going to offer him some oatmeal with a scoop of pumpkin puree stirred into it. Thank you!