Topic: The passing of a friend

[ledbetter]

Today I am mourning the loss of my best friend and buddie of the last 15 years,she liked to go for ride's in the truck and always got her cheese burger if we went anywere near a burger joint.
 When my daughter was born she would sleep next to the cribe every night and was never 2 steps away from where she was playing outside.
 So today give your pet a hug or a little rub on the head.
R.I.P Big Dog 1990-2007(Josaphine)

[750goes]

alway sad but 17 years is a good innnings for mans best friend..

[firecracker]

Sorry to hear.

I lost my 13½ year old Australian Shepherd in December.  Still hurts sometimes.  Best thing I could have done was put a picture of her on the refrigerator.  This way I can still talk to her on occasion.  Probably odd to those of you without dogs, but hey - I knew her longer than my wife (or kids for that matter).

Family is family, no matter how much fur they have.

[burmashave]

Ledbetter, I am truly sorry for your great loss. Someone once told me that dogs don't live long enough -- even if they lived to be 100, it still wouldn't be long enough. Dogs do more than live in our hearts. Those who truly know dogs are changed by them, for the better. I have been blessed to learn things from my dogs that no person could ever teach me. You carry her teaching and smiles with you always, and that is one of the miracles of dogs.

I don't believe a person truly "gets over" loss of a loved one over time. However, I do know that the sharpness of loss mellows over time. Your pain is sharp now. It will lose its sting over time, and my prayers are with you.

Somehow, I think I can tell what kind of dog and friend she was just by her picture. I hope you don't mind, I thought a big picture of a big dog would be fitting:



[edit 28 June 07: removed date from picture]

[Steve F]

I feel for ya.  That's always such a blow to the family, and you can't get over it for quite some time.  I just lost our family friend just 8 weeks ago, and know it's tough.  When you have a dog that's been a part of the family for years, the kids grow up with him, and all your relatives love him too, they too miss him.  The other dog doesn't seem the same either, I think he's missing "uncle Fritz".
He was  a long-haired miniature Dacshund, we nick named him "Dude"....was just too cool for any other name.  He died from kidney failure right around the time all of the problems with certain dog foods were showing up.  We're not certain that the food was the problem as the brand we were using wasn't ever listed as a suspect.  But hey, you never know.
God love the doggie friends.

Steve F

[bill440cars]

       Hey ledbetter,

               Sure was sorry to hear about your loss. Folks here really seem to have a feeling for their pets and that is rightly so. Too many times, I've heard "It was just a DOG (or a CAT)" and that's just so insensitive! My buddy "Kevin" was quite a sight, almost like a little man in a furry suit! He passed on about 5yrs ago, and Kandi hasn't been the same. She used to go outside most of the time and he'd stay in the house most of the time. When they were in or out (with each each other), Kevin would pester the fool out of Kandi. Kandi will stay outside more now, if I go outside and stay out for awhile. But, if I come in, she'll be right there to come in also.   I really hate to hear about anyone loosing their pet, because I know just how close you can get to an animal.

                                    Later on, Bill       

[BobbyR]

Led,

There are no words that can comfort your loss. I rescued a mangy Pit mix from the local shelter. He was loyal, gentle, loving and a neighborhood favorite. He lasted to 17, when I had to put him down. I still mist up when I think about it. Now, I will be facing the same thing in the next year or so with another mangy Pit mix I rescued from a Shelter. If you can't love a Dog, you can't love.   

[bill440cars]

Led,

There are no words that can comfort your loss. I rescued a mangy Pit mix from the local shelter. He was loyal, gentle, loving and a neighborhood favorite. He lasted to 17, when I had to put him down. I still mist up when I think about it. Now, I will be facing the same thing in the next year or so with another mangy Pit mix I rescued from a Shelter. If you can't love a Dog, you can't love.   

          I hear ya Bobby, all my pets have come from shelters or were strays.
         
          And about your saying, "If You Can't Love A Dog, You Can't Love", No truer words have ever been spoken! And to that, I add "AMEN BROTHER, AMEN!"

                                      Later on, Bill            

[BobbyR]

Rainbow Bridge

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, someone who was 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 begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.  Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

Author Unknown

[bill440cars]

Rainbow Bridge

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, someone who was 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 begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.  Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

Author Unknown

           Whoa!!! When my time comes, I'm gonna be in so much trouble. I've lost 7 dogs, 8 cats and 1 skunk (that had it's Stinker taken care of)! Seriously though Bobby, that was one great piece that you posted there. Thanks for that. It should give some folks, some good feelin'.

                                 Later on, Bill

[ledbetter]

Thank's each and everyone of you,the response have made me smile and weep,but the smiles help make it a little easier

Ledbetter

[oldbiker]

Now you've done it. I was just about getting over the loss of Max on 3/12/07 and now I'm sitting here crying my eyes out. I know how you feel and send you my best wishes.

[Rocking-M]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Led. I think someone said on here that it's better to have them
and loose them than never to have to them. So get another pup.

This year we lost our Aussie/Shepard/heeler cross, Jackson was his name, or old scare face as I called him
(he'd been kicked a lot by horses).
Also lost our Squirrel Hemlock, raised him from a hairless rat looking baby and had him
6 years, he loved mountain dew and most anything I ate he had to check out.

I still miss greatly my Coon Dog Lester and I lost him 17 years ago.
Don't know if y'all ever saw the movie Sweet Home Alabama with the Coon Dog Graveyard,
but if you've ever followed a Coon hound through the swamps at night it's one of life's
greatest pleasures! I have a cassette tape of Lester striking and treeing a coon, I don't really need
it cause to this day I can tell you his strike bark, his locate bark and his tree bark.
Ok, I got to get a hanky now.

[BobbyR]

           Whoa!!! When my time comes, I'm gonna be in so much trouble. I've lost 7 dogs, 8 cats and 1 skunk (that had it's Stinker taken care of)! Seriously though Bobby, that was one great piece that you posted there. Thanks for that. It should give some folks, some good feelin'.

                                 Later on, Bill
[/quote]
Bill, at least when your time comes you will have plenty of company. Ride safe so that time comes later than sooner. They will be waiting for you.

[firecracker]

Rainbow Bridge...

Man, it's a good thing I'm the first one into the office.  Can't have others see me going all soft...   Grrrr...   

 


Since we're getting all emotional-like, here's something you might appreciate...

A Dog’s Prayer

Treat me kindly my beloved master,
for no heart in all the world is more grateful
for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick,
for though I should lick your hand between the blows,
your patience and your understanding will more quickly
teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often,
for your voice is the world’s sweetest music
as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail
when your foot-steps falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet,
please take me inside,
for I am now a domesticated animal,
no longer used to bitter elements.
And I ask no greater glory
than the privilege of sitting at your feet by the hearth.
Though you had no home,
I would rather follow you through ice and snow
than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in the land
for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water,
for although I should not reproach you were it dry,
I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food that I may stay well,
to romp, and play, and do your bidding,
to walk by your side, and stand ready,
willing and able to protect you with my life
should your life be in danger.

And beloved master,
should the great Master see fit to deprive me
of my health or sight,
do not turn me away from you.
Rather hold me gently in your arms
as skilled hands grant me the
merciful boon of eternal rest-
and I will leave you knowing
with the last breath I drew,
my fate was ever safest in your hands.

-Beth Norman Harris-

[bill440cars]

        I hear ya Bobby. Not only will I be seeing my "2-legged" family, I'll be seeing my 4-legged family as well.

        Gotta tell you all about old "Bruno". When I was about in the 3rd grade, a classmate of mine gave me a puppy from his dog's litter. It was just a regular dog, no certain breed (saw a picture of a dog in a book that looked kinda like him once and it was called a "Straffordshire", I think. Anyway he was mostly black with some white on his face, chest, paws and belly. Before I got him, they bobbed his tail. I didn't think that was right, but it was done, so what could I do? Anyway, Bruno quickly became my buddy. I never really thought about how old he was, when he passed on (I was in the Air Force and Stationed in Japan, when it happened). When my brother was little and got in trouble, he always claimed that "Bruno did it!" The two most memorable times that I remember about him were, when I came home on leave, I went to the back gate of my Grandparent's back yard and when I came into the yard, Bruno came out from underneath the house and got up on the back porch barking loudly (it was a little ways from the house to the back fence). I walked into the yard just a little bit and stopped. He was still barking until I called his name. That little stub of a tail stood straight up and then started wagging (I don't know how he kept from slinging it off!). I walked a few more steps and then he ran out to meet me. I started patting him the way that he liked (that meant slapping him on the back, right over his rear legs and he would slowly lower his rear while I did this. He loved it!). Then I stopped and started walking to the back porch, opened the back door and tried to go in the house, he wrapped his front paws around my leg and I couldn't go it. He wasn't ready for me to leave him yet. So, I had to pat him quite a while before he would let me leave. I'll always remember those times (He did it everytime I came home, after being away for a while) The other time was when I came home on "Emergency Leave" when my Grandfather passed away and "Old Bruno" would just walk around and look at everyone and I know he was looking for my Grandfather. I've always believed that my Grandfather and I were special to him and I know he was special to us. I missed him for quite a long time and I still think of him on occasion, like now. He was quite a dog and also quite a buddy.
     
       BTW I've got stories about all of them:Curly, Bruno, Missy, Heidi, Butch, Patches, & Kevin were the dogs. Scooter (when I was little and named after an "Arkansas Traveler Baseball Team Pitcher"),
Scooter (#2, after I got married), Boots, Shadow, Whiskers (I called him "Whiskey"), Frosty, Sparkles, Sam (lived almost to her 21st birthday!), & Matilda were the cats. Still have Kandi the dog and the cats are Molly Belle and Joy.

                                Later on, Bill  
 
                                   
      Well, I know I've spent too much time writing, when someone can slip in before I can finish. But firecracker, you've done it in style my friend. You've kicked out another great piece there. Well done you old softy, from another old softy.
     

[BobbyR]

Yeah Bill, they are all different and also the same. BTW a Staffordshire Terrier is the AKC name for a Pit Bull. They are not mean dogs, they are made mean by bad people. Real smart dogs. 

[ledbetter]

Firecraker that was one of the sweets things I have ever read

Ledbetter

[bill440cars]

Yeah Bill, they are all different and also the same. BTW a Staffordshire Terrier is the AKC name for a Pit Bull. They are not mean dogs, they are made mean by bad people. Real smart dogs. 

         "Learn Something New Every Day", thanks for that Bobby. Back in the  50's, I'd never even heard of some of the breed of dogs that they have.
                                    later on, Bill

[eldar]

That is a sad story Led. But be glad you had those years. Be glad she did not die getting hit by a car or lost and never found. Things like that are much worse.   

When I was little, about 6, I got a black Cocker spaniel. She was the Greatest dog I ever had, bar none. My family had other dogs and they were all good dogs but nothing like my dog. She was amazingly smart and if she was outside, went everywhere I did.  One time I was going into the barn and she kept pulling at my pant leg and barking. She was going nuts, finally I went and told some and when we went in, we saw a mama raccoon with some babies. Imagine the result had I gone in without knowing!   I probably would have been torn to shreds since I was maybe 8.  Few years later, my grandpa got himself a norwegian  elkhound. It was dumb as a brick but worse than that, it had been beaten by adults so I was about the only one who could go near it. It was friendly to me but dumb. Well my dog and it were playing and he ran my dog under a dual axle boat trailer. And not jsut the trailer but the boat as well and not some speedboat, it was a 16 footer cabin cruiser style with a bit 350 inboard. By all rights she should have died. I practically never left her side and fully expected her to die.  Somehow, by some miracle, she pulled through but during her recovery, she was pulling herself around. I figure she was tired of laying in one spot. People do, so why not animals. But she fell off the deck she was on and pulled out the ligaments and such in her right front leg. Well she healed from gettign run over AND from the damage to her leg!
Imagine how happy I was to have her back running around with me! 

Well some time later, during the winter, she slipped on ice and pulled that same leg out and this time it never fully healed so she almost always had a limp but still followed me everywhere. I learned then that a dog cares more about its friend than its own pain.  She even followed me all the way AROUND not across a field when I went with my grandma in the tractor. I saw that and knew I had to get out, what kind of owner would I be if I kept going and she had to struggle in soft dirt to follow me?

On top of all of this, she was every bit the hunting dog as ANY lab could ever be. No bird was safe, not even in the thickest brush.

Then one day, she was gone. She was only 8. At the time my parents told me she must have run away. Only a couple years ago did I find out she had supposedly gotten Distemper and had to be put down. I dont know if I believe that as I dont remember getting sick. My mother and stepfather though can be tremendous liars so that does not help.

So here I had a great dog which I still think about and I really have no idea what happened to her.

[bill440cars]

         Eldar, That definitely WAS a friend that you lost. If you can, take some comfort in knowing that we all have probably suffered the loss of our own "Best Friend" and we know that pain! My first dog "Curly", a black Water Spaniel was a great sitter for me. When my Mom wanted to know where I was, she'd look for Curly. Curly always seemed to be where my Mom could see her and then Curly would go to me and Mom would know where I was. When I started my first year of school, Curly would walk with me and be there to walk me home. She did this for a few days and then, one day I started to go to school and she wouldn't go with me. Mom & Dad said that she was making sure that I knew how to get there and back. And when she thought I knew my way, she'd just wait at home for me. Then, real early one morning, she got run over by a milk truck (back then, milk was delivered). I didn't think I'd ever get over that.   She was very special to me, like yours was to you. So, I truly DO understand your pain. Take care guy.
                                 Later on, Bill   

[ledbetter]

Thank you for all the great story's,made me think of some great times we had,not long after I got her,she was outside in the back yard,well Ihad to run to the store or someplace c,was gone to be gone long,well it started storming be for I returned home,I run in the house to let her in the back door,but she had already torn a hole in and let her self in ,
could not get mad at her for it and after that if it even looked like rain I would make sure she was in the and you could never leave bread on the counter cause she would eat a whole loaf bread

[Dawdlin Dog]

Sorry to hear of your loss Ledbetter. It always leaves huge holes in your heart and life when you loose such a loyal friend.
It sounds like she had a good safe life with you and you have many happy memories of her.

Thinking of you at this sad time.


Dawdlin

[Ingrid]

Sorry for your loss.
Dogs are always there when you need them. For the good times and the bad!!

[burmashave]

Sorry for your loss.
Dogs are always there when you need them. For the good times and the bad!!

So true. A few years back, I was fully ready to say goodbye to all, but I couldn't say goodbye to Sasha. I don't know how many days I spent crying my eyes out because I could barely continue on, but Sasha would lie next to the sofa, and every now and then, he'd poke his head up to let me know he was there. I doubt I'd be here now were it not for him.

If anyone's concerned, I am much, much better now. Good doctors, good dogs, good friends, good family, good meds and the good Lord have helped me get my depression fully under control for the first time in my life. And that's a tall statement, given that I, now 42, first attempted suicide at 11. I simply do not know how I could have gotten through the last 15 years without Sasha and then Lucy. I cannot imagine living without dogs, and when I look into Lucy's eyes, I cannot believe that she is the product of a world that is one big accident.

As I see it, Led, this is their gift to us, and at the same time, this is why we mourn them so painfully. They teach us and touch us. Josaphine cared most about your little daughter. What higher calling could there be? On the other hand, you gave her what she needed most -- a place in the pack, love, food and shelter.