It's just a dog.

[lifelinksplit]

Had to put down the wifes almost 13 yr old golden last week. Was doing perfectly fine until he wasn't, day before we left for a 10 day trip to the desert. Weird only having the one dog (my husky) with us. Kinda a blessing in disguise not having the constant reminders being around the house. R.I.P Henry. You had a good long life.

[Sirshredalot]

We lopped some big fatty tumors off my wife's dog this week. We suspect that she just turned 12, so this was her shot at getting comfortable while she eases into some legit old age. In another year, we will be much more reluctant to put her through surgery, so she'd better not just grow them back!

She seems to be recovering well so far. I think she will have some quality miles left to go.

[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."

I watch for opportunities to link the OP near the top of a page --

apparently BSS isn't here anymore, and this is one of my all-time favorite essays...

a while back, it was explained to me - how this became the tribute thread...

IF 'Blue' aint in my heaven, I won't need to be there either.


I remember standing in the parking lot at Alta weeping in 1995, after ninety-nine inches of snow in four days, thinking,

' IF this is as close to heaven as I get, it's okay . . . '

that week, I never felt [ the base ] under my skis - we just floated through the snow...


anyway... I digress. " Just A Dog " I do understand...


Thank you, BloodSweatSteel.

and Thank You, tgr, for hosting This community... tj

.

[liv2ski]

Yep, one of the best threads in this wacky corner of the internet. I always kind of crinch as I click it, as I hate to hear another person lost a best friend (sorry for your loss LLS) but sometimes the story of two life's well shared together more than makes up for the tears and the sore heart I have for a little while.
I have only had 3 of my best friends pass on me so far and it was tough every time. When I finally say good bye to my present two dogs it is going to be tough, as I will be in my early to mid 60's at that point and will have shared the last of my life's really good years with them. Going forward without them will be tough. I hope living in Yurp for a few years will be worth not having a dog anymore.

[axebiker]

IF 'Blue' aint in my heaven, I won't need to be there either.

I was saying something very similar to my wife about Salomon the other day... I hope you & Blue and all the rest of the Mags and their awesome pups around here will be reunited in the afterlife...

[smmokan]

We lost a legend this afternoon: after a tough 2-1/2 month battle with osteosarcoma, today was our last day with our awesome 14 yr old black lab, Yoshi. We rescued him as a stray off the streets of Denver, and way back then he was totally lost but full of energy. It didn't take much attention and love to turn him into one of the coolest dogs ever, who absolutely loved everyone and everything he met. He was full of excitement and showed my wife and I both how to enjoy life with enthusiasm- he was always by our side no matter what we were doing.

It's only been a few hours, but there's already a gaping hole in my heart and my life where he once was. This really sucks, but it was so worth it to have almost 13 years to spend with one of the best dogs ever. We'll miss you buddy, and we love you so much. Say hi to Talley and Tasker up there, little man.

[Supermoon]

So sorry smmokan. Yoshi looks like a great dog.

[PNWbrit]

Sorry man. What an awesome tribute.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Mazderati]

RIP, Yoshi.

[axebiker]

Run fast & free, Yoshi!

[irul&ublo]

Yoshi lived a good life. What you did is the final kindness we show to our friends.

[SkiBall]

There are a few dogs in the hood that have passed recently and a couple on the doorstep. Fortunately (?) they are all older dogs as well. There is a local park that peeps had the idea of turning a gazebo into a dog (pet?) memorial with tiles or something. I need to look into it as it is in the works and get a place for my pup. Pretty cool idea.
Just got the ashes back yesterday and although it re-opened the heart up a bit, I have really been moving into the appreciation and gratitude that having him in my life has given me.

[smmokan]

“It is impossible to forget a dog that gave you so much to remember.”

[Elkhound Odin]

Condolences. Great dogs are easy to love and hard to let go.

[2bjenny]

So sorry smmokan for your loss.

[mall walker]

just got bridgett, our first dog together, a 3 or 4 month old shepherd from a litter rescued off the side of the road in new mexico. she was the last one unadopted... welcome home!

[mall walker]

^congrats, pretty pup

thanks mang! she had a little mange so the hair on her face is just growing back. so far so good though, she's already housebroken it seems, doesn't really bark... we're pretty psyched

[snowaddict91]

just got bridgett, our first dog together, a 3 or 4 month old shepherd from a litter rescued off the side of the road in new mexico. she was the last one unadopted... welcome home!

Nice dude!

[skiJ]

We lost a legend this afternoon: after a tough 2-1/2 month battle with osteosarcoma, today was our last day with our awesome 14 yr old black lab, Yoshi. We rescued him as a stray off the streets of Denver, and way back then he was totally lost but full of energy. It didn't take much attention and love to turn him into one of the coolest dogs ever, who absolutely loved everyone and everything he met. He was full of excitement and showed my wife and I both how to enjoy life with enthusiasm- he was always by our side no matter what we were doing.

It's only been a few hours, but there's already a gaping hole in my heart and my life where he once was. This really sucks, but it was so worth it to have almost 13 years to spend with one of the best dogs ever. We'll miss you buddy, and we love you so much. Say hi to Talley and Tasker up there, little man.

Great tribute, smmokan - my condolences for Yoshi's passing. . .

I feel like I remember your fourth pic. ( dog Play ) and I Love your last pic. : Grand fellow...


Please... enjoy the Good memories ; the pain can ease


Thank you, smmokan... from tj and 'Blue'

.

[liv2ski]

Great dogs are easy to love and hard to let go.

Very quote worthy. Say hi to Shadow and Kava Yoshi. May your days be filled with fun until you see your best friend again.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[happytimefunbox]

Gandolf aka GDizzle wasn't just a dog. He was a member of the family. When had recently lost our beloved Lilly and his mugshot came across my facebook feed and we adopted him on the spot without ever meeting him. He bonded instantly with the wife and was not outside of a 3 foot radius of her for the 2 years he was with us. He was smart, driven and a goddamn perv. You see he had this thing for soiled women's panties and no matter what engineering or administrative controls we put into place he would still get em and do unspeakable things. I have spent nearly a college tuition's worth of dough on panties and not just for women in my clan He also quickly conspired with the cat to finish off all the birds and mice the cat wanted to "play" with, there is no joy like the scream in the night of a wife whose pooch has brought a still squeaking mouse into bed to dine on. He couldn't swim an inch and would sink like a rock but gave zero fucks about that. He would huck himself off of the SUP, boat, raft, shore whatever if Mrs. TheFugitive disembarked from where he was at. After 5 or 6 times baywatching that little fucker I got him a cool life vest that he would spin circles and be so stoked to see cause he knew he was going for a float. We never bonded much, I'm boning his lady and yell at him all the time about being a pervo, I get it. A couple months ago he started being stoked I was home, wanting to hang out with me, following me out the door when I'd leave and finding a location that was equidistant between me and the misses to keep tabs on us.

I kinda hated that shithead dog for a long time and now my world is shattered that he is gone.

What no??? I'm not crying, I got something in my eye

[Mazderati]

Sorry to hear.

[wyeaster]

i'm sorry to read that, bro.

[liv2ski]

i'm sorry to read that, bro.

Yup, me three. Well, no reason not to give him steak and ice cream anymore. Make his last days the best.

[Supermoon]

So sorry Bro. He’s a beautiful dog.