Sad encounter with old man in park just. :-(

[tiredemma]

We have been taking our Spaniel puppy walking in the local park really frequently since she has had her jabs. On a number of occasions we have seen the same old man with his very, very old golden labrador. He has stopped to chat etc- complimented us on our pup, his dog had a fair old sniff around our dog etc etc.
Saw him today - minus his dog - she passed away at the weekend. She was 15 years old- he (and his late wife) had her as a pup. He looked so desperately sad, I actually started welling up as he spoke to me.
He is still walking the same route that he did with his dog. God its so sad. I don't even know him but feel utterly devastated for him.
My 8 year old (tactless) asked him- "why don't you go and get another dog?"-
He replied that he was "too old" now

have horrible mental image of him being at home alone with no companion.

Two old boys together I call them

God I'm off again...

That is so sad, i hope that you can walk with him and maybe find out of he has some family to keep him company.

I'm crying. I think re-homing an older dog would be lovely.
Still crying.

I knew I shouldn't have clicked on this. :(

Poor old guy.

oh that is sad. Poor fella.

I like the idea that previous poster had about you asking him to walk with you now and again? May give him something to look forward to?

So sad :(

Thats so sad. When a pet dies you do go into grieving mode and it can be just the same grieving as when a close relative dies. He probably wanted to talk to someone about it and share his memories. I know i did the same thing once when my dog died. I walked the same route knowing that it was probably other dog walkers who understood how bad i felt.

That's so sad. Poor man.

Dooin's suggestions are a good idea. I hope you keep seeing him at the park and maybe he can sometimes walk along with you.

OP please keep us updated whether you see the old man again. I think a lot of us would be really pleased to hear if you do and in complete tatters if you dont but that cant be helped x

Oh that is sad :(

Hopefully he can get to join you on some walks.

:(

We are going back to the park at the some time today (first thing DS2 asked this morning when he woke up)

Really hope the man is around. Will update on our return)

(the thought of him wandering around the park minus the dog makes me feel so sad)

well thats me crying now! if it were me i would offer him the company of my dog either at his home or for walks, just couldn't not do anything to help him, I would find out if he has family friends etc and if not would try and befriend him, hope you see him again soon. x

:(

That's so sad.

I think walking in the park at the same time is a good idea.

Maybe you can ask him some puppy rearing questions? Make him feel like his advice is valued etc? It might just make his day.

Oh goodness that is so very, very sad. I can't stop thinking of him sitting in his chair in the evening without his faithful companion next to him. I hope he has a loving family to help him through this.

On a lighter note, in a similar vein to your DS's tactless comment my own DS (3) came over whilst I was reading this thread and asked me why I looked so sad. I told him the story. We know a chap who lives alone with his dog and our DC often go round and throw balls etc. Let's call them Bob and Fido. Anyway, DS went very quiet after being told the story, then said "if Bob dies then Fido can go and live with that old man, then everybody will be happy again". Poor 'Bob' is only in his 50's.

I meet an old (80s and super fit) lady quite often when walking my dog. She has a 14 yo lab and they walk 2-3 hours a day. I knew all about her life, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her dog's name but not her name.

I went 2 months without bumping into her this year and thought that either her or the dog had died, I felt really sad that I never found out her name.

Then I saw her again, with the dog. I tried to be casual when I said "oh, I haven't seen you around for ages" (I didn't want her to guess what I had been thinking). Turns out she had been away on a cruise

I made sure to ask her name then.

tiredemma you are doing a lovely thing.

tiredemma Any news???

Sorry for delay- I had to go and collect DS1 from his rugby camp.

Went on same route walk today but didn't see him . Hung around for a bit in the hope that he would appear but sadly not.

Going to try again tomorrow.

Sorry I don't have any uplifting news to report back

Poor old chap My parents lost their 'last' dog last year. But they were toying with getting another older dog recently - until they adopted a stray cat and I think that has filled the gap. But it's hard, very hard when you lose even you animal companion.

I live next to a sheltered housing complex and 1 old man keeps calling after my dog thinking it is his he had rehomed when he got the sheltered house(pets not allowed)It upsets me to see him running towards us shouting for Robbie,I used to tell him it wasn't his dog but now I know him better I just let it be,it's so sad

oh lily :( that poor man

Any news tired?