Sad day today

[General_01]

We put our oldest dog Jaguar to sleep today. She was an Apricot poodle. She was blind and going on 17 years old. We were already planning to do it at the end of the month because of her sight issues, issues with her teeth, not able to do stairs, and she was getting very fragile. Yesterday my wife's parents came home after taking our daughters to dinner. In the hustle and bustle, Jaguar ventured close to the stairs and nobody saw her. She ended up falling all the way down the stairs to the ceramic floor in the foyer and hit her head hard enough to cause a cut and some bleeding. She also started to have a seizure-like reaction. I held her for a while and the seizures subsided, but she was still limp. Her legs were not working. I kept petting her and after about 10-15 minutes her hind legs began to work. Unfortunately, her front legs never came back. My wife took her to the vet this morning to put her to sleep. The vet thinks it was something in her neck. We have had Jaguar since 1994. My wife will really miss her. The poodles were her dogs really. They would never do what I told them and always followed my wife wherever she went. That is two dogs in a year. 

[FLG]

Sorry to hear that.

At that age you really got to give em credit. She lived a GREAT and VERY long life with you and your family and thats the best thing you could have given her.

[Johnny SixPack]

So sorry for the loss.

It's never easy, even when you know it's coming, or for the best.

You and yours have my sympathy and thoughts.


Johnny

[FlatbackFanatic]

Sorry for your loss Dean. It sucks losing your pet.

[tan top]

awww sorry to hear that

[Guns N Rotors]

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. I know the pain well.

This writing always brought me comfort...

DOING YOUR PET A FAVOR


I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.

You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping. Once in a while, you let out a little yelp just to let me know this was your territory.

Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became such a passion and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes as if to say, "I'm sorry, but I'll do it again as soon as you are not watching!"

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by.

When I had a tough day, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say, "Welcome home, I missed you!" You never had a bad day and I could always count on you to be there for me.

When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head so you could go to sleep on my lap.

As you matured, you moved around more slowly.

Then one day, old age finally took its toll and you couldn't stand up on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you on the head as you lay there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say that you were old and tired, and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me to do one last favor.

With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time you lay next to me.

For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in the hospital- perhaps it was your sense of pride.

As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say, "Thank you for taking care of me."

I thought, "NO, thank YOU for taking care of me!"

[The70RT]

So so sorry. Loosing two has to be devistating. I know exactly how you guys feel. It has been a week tomorrow when we did the same thing with ours "Stumpy" After a week we are still basket cases. I don't know how long the pain last.....may be forever to a certain degree. Hang in there, i just prayed for you and your family. Here is a poem that goes around when one of our furry loved ones pass 

Dennis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      The Rainbow Bridge

       inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over......... together

[Sublime/Sixpack]

It's tough losing a dear pet!

[skip68]

That really sucks Dean.      17 years is a good run.  Hows the wife taking this ?  A new puppy that looks a little like the old one does help.       Sorry to hear this.

[b5blue]

I to have known your pain....17 years is proof you were a wonderful caretaker!    I am saddened for your loss as they are truly named "Man's Best Friend".

[71ChallengeHer]

I'm sorry for your loss 

[bakerhillpins]

Our thoughts are with you. It's hard to let them go. 

Our 14yr old lab has Diabetes and is also blind. We have all the steps in the house blocked off with baby gates and I carry her up and down the stars to keep her with us as that keeps her spirits up. She still gets around ok and wags when she is with us so we are happy to keep with her.

[hemi-hampton]

Sad story, Sorry to hear the bad news.  LEON.

[ipstrategies]

Sorry to hear. Great pets are some of the best friends we could ever hope for.

[General_01]

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and thoughts and prayers. We know she is in a better place. We still have two more that keep us company. A sheltie, Copper, and another poodle, Cinnamon. We got Cinamon last year after Tiger passed away. We will miss Jaguar and keep her in our thoughts . I would post a pic, but we recently got a new computer and I have none of her on this computer.

Thank you again. We really appreciate it.

[mikesbbody]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss  I know what it's like it sucks 

[farmerjon]

a pet loss is always sad  love lost

we just lost our old lab   

stupid dog  but she is missed

[moparmoynihan]

Sorry for your loss. RIP, Johnny 

[68blue]

Sorry to hear that but 17 years was is a good long life, brought a lot of joy.

[vancamp]

Hate to hear that but ive been there as well, sorry for your loss.

[chargergirl]

Never easy...my prayers are with you all.

[mikesbbody]

So sorry to hear about your loss  I have a 3-4? year old Bulldog I would be  so sad if I were to lose him I have lost a Pet before it sucks.

[Mike DC]

 
Sorry man.   

It's always good when they lived long & well.

 

[oldrock]

all dog owners have to go thru that tough, tough time. It is so worth the sadness though when you consider how much fun dogs are. We have two boxers and they are not really dogs but part of the family. One is 12 now and health is starting to slip. I know in a year or two we will have to go thru that but she has been a great dog so when the time comes, I will man up and... make the wife do it 

[PocketThunder]

Dean, sorry to hear that.  We have a Yorkie and even though i was against getting a dog the little guy has grown on me.   

[tricky lugnuts]

My condolences to you and your family...

I remember when my only dog, a Dalmatian, Gypse Rose Lee, had to be put down at age 15. We got her when I was eight and had her until I was 23. I still miss her every day. The house felt so damn empty with her gone.

Mourn, but don't forget to enjoy your time with your other dogs!!!

[General_01]

Thanks everyone. We still think of Jag and Tiger. The other two keep us occupied. Here is a pic of Copper and Cinnamon last Halloween. My daughters thought Cinamon would look cute as a "Bee". lol