It's just a dog.

[bmg97]

I didn't think I'd ever post in here but I just got news my Rotti / Lab mix has fucking cancer in her spine and bones. Vet said only a few months to live. Love her so much and crying as I write this. I've had her since she was 5 weeks old and the sweetest ever. I hate this part of life.

[Mazderati]

Good looking dog. Sorry to hear.

[fool]

That's rough, bmg. +++vibes for ya.

[bmg97]

Coco, you will be missed every day. Apparently the cancer was so advanced that she broke her leg when getting up today while my parents were picking her up from the specialist. She never cried or let us know how much pain she was in. Always wagging her tail and giving kisses. It must have been years shes had this and I feel so guilty for not knowing sooner. i am so angry with my vet for not catching this. There was no choice but to put her to sleep because her back legs were not working well either. There are no words to describe how special she was to me and my family. She was an angel.

[Art Shirk]

Dang bmg. Sorry to hear. No doubt you gave her as great of a life as she gave you. My condolences.

[skiJ]

bmg. pm sent.

Grief is strong ... +Positive vibes+ as is said Here, and

Sincere Condolences ...

J

[liv2ski]

bmg, our condolences. Some people don't get it, but for those of us that have bonded so closely with our best friends, the parting is so painful, until the kiss and the wag of a tail, from a new best buddy helps to heal us. Take care.

[Bobby Stainless]

BMG,

Sounds like you two really loved each other.

I am sorry for your loss.

[bmg97]

I loved her so much. No matter how shitty I was feeling, she was always there. Just waiting to try and lick me in my mouth when I wasn't paying attention. She was a sneak tongue kisser..hahaha.

11 years ago a messenger that I've know for a long time came into my office. He knew I loved dogs and asked me if I wanted a puppy. I said no because I just got a lab 6 months earlier. He asked me to just see her, and that was it. I've had her since she could fit in the palm of my hand until she was thigh high and 90 lbs. She just had this personality that will always be with me. It's so amazing how they become your life. I don't know how to explain her presence in mine and my families life. She was a special pup.

Thanks for all the support. It helps a lot.

Brian

[skiJ]

Dear diary --

well., it has been a year Today since 'Blue' had her seizure .

None subsequently, and No complications .

we Walked A lot this Summer --
She won't go with me Everyday this Winter .
She does Not like getting left (behind) , and I Hate leaving her . But I do believe it is ' for the better ' .

I might try to add another photo, later ( No access right-now ) ...


I am not sure when this thread became The memorial thread, But ' Thanks ' to everyone who has kept it going ;
it is a favorite .

skiJ

[liv2ski]

Today felt like one of the worst of my life, for 30 minutes. Went to breakfast with the out of town family and left the fur kids at home. We were gone an hour and came home to one confused looking GSD. I drove all over looking for Maya before my wife called me to say she found her in the next door neighbors yard, all tied up in a bush from jumping our wall, in the one easy spot where the BBQ is built in. Man was I happy to see her. I was ready to start crying right before my wife called, because I thought she may have been stolen and I couldn't imagine our lives without her. Now I am buying a lock for the driveway gates too. My babies

[skiJ]

bump. for Kya ...

[skifishbum]

and a bump for otis
vibes bro hope you and freds
doin well w/out the little guy

[corn dog]

Its been 5 months since I had to say goodbye to Annie.
I got her from the shelter in Bozeman nearly 7 years ago. She came with me from Bozeman to Portland and then to NYC. She skied the Great One, ran on the beach in Oregon, and walked down the East River the morning after Hurricane Sandy.
But mostly we spent many days playing in the snow around Mt Hood.
She was a very sweet girl and brought a lot of smiles to people who met her.

[booner]

We just moved into the city 2 weeks ago and my golden hasn't had much time outside since I've been so busy. He ran away at 5AM yesterday as I'm loading car to take family to the airport. I only had 10 min to look for him and of course he was nowhere to be found. I had to leave and just hope he'd be OK...hate that feeling. I drove all the neighborhood streets about 3 times when I got back...nothing. I found him passed out at bottom of back steps 4 hours later. Fucker got some good sleep after that romp. He's getting old and I think about losing him all the time. He was my first born I say...got him a year before my son was born. Dogs are the best

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Condolences to those dealing with the departure of their buddies.

This seems like a fitting thread to post this, 'cause some people would look at me and say "what's the problem, it's just a dog?"

Jack has another lump on his head. This is the third one. First one was 2-1/2 years ago. Second was just a few months ago. Biopsy on the first one came back as - and I may not be remembering this right - a basal-cell tumor(?). Doc said better remove it as it might become cancerous. Biopsy on the second one was inconclusive, but it presented exactly the same as the first one, and as this latest one. Starts out as a very small hard bump that grows at a pretty good pace. The last one went from nothing to the size of a pea in about 3 months.

Having these things removed is expensive. If I'm having to have potentially cancerous lumps taken off him every few months it'll bankrupt me. Every few years I could deal with... What the hell do I do? Let this thing grow and potentially kill my Jack-dog, my furry buddy, my shadow? Say "fuck my finances" and spend myself into the poor house to keep the vet in business?

Dammit.

[liv2ski]

Willie, have you looked into any doggie medical insurance? You would have to lie about the previous lumps and not mention them and go to a new vet, but maybe that is the cheaper way to go in the future??? In San Diego there is a plan/pet hospital called Banfield that is in the Petco's or Petsmart stores that looked pretty reasonable. I am sure it is up where you are too.

[13]

RE: Insurance -- I use Trupanion but it's only for emergencies and I have a $2500 deductible that I have yet to hit.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Yeah, I'm gonna look into the insurance. I've always felt there was no way it was worth it, but in this case it might be.

[Sicks]

Willie, you do what you need to do. It's expensive, but its priceless. When the time comes you'll know it, and its worth every penny until then.

Bump for the best friend I ever had. I promised him I would be there until the very end, and I promised myself I wouldn't cry. At least I kept my promise to him. Love to the mag that went with us, we needed you.

[liv2ski]

My condolences Sicks. I hope you can deal with not having your buddy around better than I ever did. Dogs are my prozac and without them for long, I start to really loose it. Take care man.

[skiJ]

hey, folks ... Mostly Just 'bumping' a Favorite thread --


a dear friend lost her Golden last weekend ; Age-related...


My 'Blue' continues to amaze -- She is Ten now;

we needed to make a short (by foot) delivery last night -- Almost Always I use a leash; last night I was without --

as we would approach an intersection, she would Stop. until I said, "okay -- " and then we would clear the intersection .

It seems small ... and I am Old.

... This dog Is a Grrreat Gift to me; I Hope You are as lucky .


' Get 'Em ! Blue ! !! ' ... skiJ

[skiJ]

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or "That's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed when my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog", then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise", or "just a promise".

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand >that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile, because they "just don't understand."

you ' ll have to Excuse me for bumpin' this thread - and BSS's op in - particular -- I Just need to :

Winter has been brutal around here -- This Ain't AK, nor The Great White North, and for twenty-six days straight it was Below zero ;

a month ago, the Chill was minusFifty-four ( - 54 F ) .

somehow, the truck runs --

so what ... well., old 'Blue' don't care -- keep her fed; let her Out when She needs to Go. ... it is All - Good.

I try to Remember this(,) when My sense of humor is as Frozen as the big Lake .


( Please ) Be SAFE out there ... skiJ

[sb]

I would like to nominate this thread or at least the original post for HOF status.

Note to self, get another dog soon.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

^^ I second that ^^

I was cleaning out my "computer stuff" drawer the other day and came across a DVD full of files off the hard drive from my previous computer - stuff that I thought was lost forever including a bunch of old pics of my Elkhounds.

Rikki was such a sweet boy and kind of goofy- for an Elkhound he was a real pleaser. His slightly more subservient nature made him Tor's bitch even though he was larger, but he made up for it by being a badass hunter of vermin and birds, something Tor never really did:





Here they are with a present Rikki brought me one warm summer night... Note how proud he looks, and how Tor looks mildly disgusted.


Tor (Torvald) I raised from a pup. He was the master of his domain, mr. Alpha through and through. What he lacked in size he made up for in attitude. Absolutely fearless, aloof, yet protective he embodied the Elkhound spirit.

8 weeks


Year and a half


On his last hiking trip at 12


I have Jack now, but think about these guys often.