Our beloved Springer died today

[Twrch62]

He usually comes to work with me, today,(yesterday) being so hot I left him at home and asked youngest son16 to walk him. He did, had a panicked phone call to say he had gone in a hedge and wouldn't come out.I was passing and got to him 15 mins later. Heartbeat, but otherwise lifeless, got him to the vet straightaway, Heatstroke with what appeared underlying problems we were unaware of. Organ failure, brain damage followed, had to let him go 2 hrs later, just going to youngest son now as can here him sobbing, middle son distraught, they were so close the dog was his best friend. Eldest got in from work 10-30 and shut down, I wish it was me who died.8-1/2 too young, he was the most laid back, loving, fit and healthy dog you could wish for, FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[soddinghormones]

Oh your poor dog and poor you - that's so sad

I hope your son isn't blaming himself :(

[affafantoosh]

:( that's so sad :(

[MitchellMummy]

So sorry ... I know what it's like to lose a dog suddenly, no time to get used to it. RIP lovely doggie. x

[WilliamShatner]

How heartbreaking for all of you.

Please take comfort that he was so loved by you all and had the most wonderful of lives with you.

Not all dogs are as fortunate in life.

Your bereavement at losing a family member in such an unexpected manner is bound to cause terrible upset and I hope you can all unite and support each other by finding a way for you all to remember your beautiful boy.

[Owllady]

I'm sorry, what a horrible shock :( he was a lucky dog to be so loved by all of you x x

[moosemama]

Oh I am so sorry, what a horrible shock for you all.

Just a terrible accident, no-one's fault. No-one could have known about the underlying conditions.

If you or your sons need it, I've heard the Blue Cross pet bereavement support service is very helpful.

[Twrch62]

Thank you for all your kind words, the vet was initially optimistic,but a blood test showed an abnormally low white blood cell count? I think thats what she said anyway, and he was getting worse quickly. It was really traumatic for my 2 younger sons, seeing the state he was in, although they both wanted to be with him at the end. The 16 year old is blaming himself whatever we say. The 18 year old had an unbelievably close bond with the dog, they are both still absolutely distraught. (as am I)

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Oh how truly sad :(

So very sorry

[LastTango]

I am so sorry, OP. It is heartbreaking, I know.

[Twrch62]

This is awful, I wish I could take their pain. Putting dog bed/toys/bowls away, they were sobbing unconsolably. We've lost 3 out of 4 parents, several dogs (our last 2 springers were 14 and 16.) We thought we had years to go with him. They were toddlers b4, this is their first real loss as young adults. So sorry for the rambling, its pathetic. No more dogs, EVER.
Supposed to be going on holiday for the first time in 3 years saturday, and was worried about putting him in kennels for the first time ever, how stupid was that. I know the pain will pass, just can't remember it this bad, he should still be here.

[Owllady]

It's very difficult watching your older children grieve :( and they and you will grieve for a long time, especially as it has been a shock too.
Be kind to yourself x

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I'm sorry your children are so upset :(

Your dog was immensely lucky to have so many people who loved him.

I hope in time you are all able to laugh and cry at all the things he got up to.

He won't forget any of you as you won't forget him! X

[Twrch62]

Slightly better tonight, watched the football with the younger 2, a lot of talk about the good times with our dog, positive but with a lot of tears. Eldest 20, came in from work around 10-30, felt quite sorry for him, he wasn't around the trauma of monday, he was at work, and over the last few years has had girlfriend and uni to to keep him from being so attached to the dog. So he seems a bit of an outsider as far as grief is at the moment.
I wish the others hadn't had to witness him being carried from the field, hardly breathing, glassed eyes and tongue hanging out, that is the image they keep seeing, not the happy boy he was.

[Twrch62]

Shit, youngest sobbing in his room again now, keep telling them its ok, feel a hypocrite as i just want him back as well.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Oh god your post made me cry. I'm so sorry for you. Your poor boys. And your poor dog. He looks lovely. What was his name?

[YouMakeMeHappy]

That's the saddest thing I've ever read. Your poor poor boys. I'm so sorry. I don't particularly like animals and I've never had pets, but you talk about him as if he was a person. I'm so sorry. He is very beautiful.

[therealeasterbunny]

Oh I'm so sorry, your posts are heartbreaking and made me cry. Losing a dog is so horrible, I really hope you and your boys are feeling better soon. [Thanks]

[therealeasterbunny]

Whoops...was supposed to be

[Owllady]

You poor things :(
These dogs, they get right into your heart don't they? He looks a lovely fella x x

[soddinghormones]

Your posts are taking me back to when I was 14 and my beloved cat got hit by a car at the age of 3. The sense of shock was like a physical blow and it took ages before I could think of her and not see her stiff little body as we'd found her. At the time I thought the pain of losing a pet was too great and wasn't counteracted by the joys

Many, many years later we've had several more animals and although the grief when they've gone has been hideous I wouldn't have wanted not to have known them. We now have two cats and a puppy, all much-loved and yes, my heart clenches at the thought that we will one day lose them but they bring so much happiness to each moment that in the end I think it is worth it

A cliche I know, but it will take time for your boys and you to recover both from the shock and the grief

He was a very beautiful little dog

[WilliamShatner]

You sound like the most wonderful of families. If I was a dog I would want to be adopted by you all!

Have you thought of a positive and practical way to remember your beloved dog?

I was thinking of something that you could all contribute to. An album or scrapbook titled with your dogs name so that it will be a lasting tribute and recollection of pictures and stories that you could all write down or type and print off.

Your grief is raw at the moment but as life goes on for you all, the tears will lessen and it would be a lovely idea to have a special book that in times of feeling sad the book can be looked at and cherished.

I think it would be therapeutic to have you all collate photographs and talk about happier times and get those thoughts on paper.

[Twrch62]

Thanks all, getting teary reading all your kind comment,we've thousands of photos of him enjoying himself, and looking through them we've all found something to smile about today.
My 18 year old is struggling, he works for me, and he has found it difficult being in the van where he spent so much time with him, Max's routine was to jump in the van, put his front paws over my sons legs, and his head in his lap and go to sleep being stroked.They really had a special bond.
We keep telling them, (and ourselves) that he had more walks, love and affection in his 8-1/2 years than most dogs that might live to 16 will have.That his last living memory would be doing his favourite thing, Walkies, and doing it with someone he loves, much better than dying slowly of a terrible illness.
I know I am lucky, I have a wonderful wife, 3 great kids, and a good life, part of which I was lucky enough to share with a fantastic dog.
I found out about the rainbow bridge poem recently, and the first photo reminded me of it today.

[Owllady]

Beautiful photos :)
My friend sent me this when my last dog died, also in shocking circumstances (and I do think that adds to the emotion, even though it's bad any way)


JUST A DOG

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 travelled, 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 and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought aobut 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 probably understand
phrases 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 its' not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man" or "just a woman."

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

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Aww Owllady that's lovely.

Twrch take it easy, give yourself time to grieve. And yes I'm sure he was a happy little dog with you, sounds like he had a great life. Especially if he was as spoilt as my boy.

Your picture straight away put me in mind of the rainbow bridge. How lovely.

Hope you're all ok.

[DramaAlpaca]

Twrch I've just seen your thread & I'm so sorry about Max.

We lost one of our springers a few weeks ago, although in different circumstances as she was old & ill & had to be pts. I posted on here about her & it really helped me.

My three sons are about the same age as yours & they were devastated, as we'd had her for most of their lives & she was their first dog. The bond my boys have with our springers is very strong, they all adore each other, and to lose one was very hard for them.

Springers are fabulous dogs & it sounds like Max had a wonderful life with you, your wife & your boys.