anyone here for a handhold..

[babyproblems]

On Tuesday I have to take my little dog to the vets for the last time…I’m heartbroken. it’s not my first rodeo as I’ve had many rescues all oldies; so I know what to expect; but this one is particularly hard.. he’s actually been with me the least amount of time but he’s gotten into my heart like no other.

I am so so sad.
I adopted him at 15, a tiny skeletal 2.5kgs of skin and bone. blind, deaf, picked up by the police in a terrible state. Really he came to me from the rescue center for the very end; they couldn’t manage his care in a typical shelter setting and thought he would be obviously able to go more comfortably in a bed in a warm home etc. But then we’ve spent nearly three years together. I assembled a small team of wonderful vets and although he has a lot of health issues, caused by the neglect he suffered for years before he came to me, we really managed to improve his health and he was mostly quite stable. We’ve found a way through together and he has really schooled me in resilience against the odds, about stability and just how to keep going and enjoying the moments of happiness and joy even when things aren’t all great.

I love him so much and I’ll miss him so so so much. I just wondered if there was anyone here to listen 😭💔

Where we begun & where we ended up ❤️

Pearl was my first and only cocker spaniel. A blue roan. Absolutely gorgeous. I haven't had one since. Im more of a westie girl. I volunteered at a rescue after my westie died and ended up being persuaded by pearl herself to bring her home. While all other dogs barked and jumped up at me, she just stood beside me quietly and kept placing her paw on my knee.

She taught me strength and determination doesn't come from shouting the loudest, but just being steady and consistent - one step at a time. She showed me to live life for now and dont be dragged down by bad memories. If she could overcome her screaming night terrors and terrible experiences of beatings, then I can overcome my challenges.

Currently I dont have any dogs but hope to get one in the next 18 months or so.

I once went to a psychic. She described my pets and gave me messages from them only I would understand. They were being looked after by my dad, his mum and other family members who have gone before us.

They're waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge OP. All of them. And each time I lose a pet, I ask them to welcome a new member of the family until I get there xx

Thinking of you today OP x

I’ve got something in my eye!

What a lucky dog to have such a lovely person scoop them up and love them so much. How wonderful to be feeling the warmth of the sun in your autumn years.

Sending big hugs OP. Dogs get under your skin don’t they, little horrors.

Thankyou so much for all of your replies ❤️

It’s been a horrible countdown. Still a few hours to wait… he’s got the sun in his face and has eaten like a king this weekend.
Thankyou so much for all your thoughts really really thankyou ❤️❤️❤️

OP, I've always been much taken with the saying "Dogs come into our lives to teach us about unconditional love; they leave when we've learnt all they can teach us."

But reading your story about your life with this dog - you already knew. God bless you for giving this dear little dog so much love for three years. XXX

Hope you’re ok @babyproblems
You've done a sterling job of looking after that wee dog. Cherish your memories of your sunshine times together x

Thank you everyone for your posts here.. we said goodbye today.. the weekend felt like a year and I was full of dread but it all went smoothly and he was in my arms as he went on his way. Even the vet shed a tear.. she’s seen him very regularly and has been excellent. I don’t think you could wish for a better way to go. I’ll miss him terribly. Already am. I’d forgotten how hard it is when you’re back home and you hear a noise and think ‘oh it’s him’ then you have that sad realisation that it’s not. I have another Ddog who is a terrible softie to me so he is here as usual. Also have a four year old who is full on, so luckily not much time to dwell!!! Thankyou for your messages here that have all made this a bit more bearable. Love to all your dogs Xxx

Take care OP

You gave him some wonderful times at the end of his life and he's left a paw print on your heart. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm glad he went peacefully surrounded by love x

Thank you for giving your lovely dog the life and love every dog deserves. You have given him the last gift of a peaceful passing surrounded by love. ❤️

Thinking of you this evening, OP. 8 billion people on the planet and you must be in the top 0.1% for taking on elderly dogs and loving them in their final years. You deserve all the best things. Once you get through the worst of your early grief, I hope you'll be proud of yourself for what you did for this little angel.

So sorry for your loss. Today must have been awful.

He looks so beautiful in the photos from recently, I’m sure he knew how much he was loved by you.

Big hugs xxx

I’m reading this on Tuesday night before I go to sleep and I’m crying for you and your little dog . I’m sure you gave him the best time of his whole life . Take care x x

I'm sorry for your loss, it never gets any easier having to go through it x

I'm so very sorry. He was clearly such a special boy and so very loved. Thinking of you tonight.

Give all your doggies an extra hug tonight. Enjoy all the moments together and just take a moment to think about how utterly special it is, as a human, to find an animal friend whom you love and who loves you, whilst we are all just spinning round on a blue ball in the sky. It’s really quite magical to share a bond - and complete trust - like that with another living being who is a completely different species to us... To be there together during life knowing and feeling what love is. It’s the real magic. Thankyou for all your posts here xxxx

Ah OP. Sounds like he passed with a perfect ending. Treated like a king, in your arms with his amazing vet x

Coming here to offer a gentle hug and take some of the kind words, if you don’t mind sharing.

We are saying goodbye to our beautiful boy tomorrow. 6 years we’ve had him as part of our family since we adopted him. He’s slept with my son since the day we collected him. Tomorrow is going to be really hard for us all but absolutely the right thing for him.

Hopefully all the pups will be up there together causing mischief until we eventually join them and see them again.

hugs

@Ca2026 oh I’m so sorry to hear this ❤️
It’s so so hard. Take comfort in that it’s a real kindness to save suffering, to have given them the best the world can offer. It’s so hard to handle your own grief and that of your children’s.. I have a son who is 4, and another dog, who he is very close to, and it occurred to me during this whole episode that when it’s dog2 who is at the end how awful it would be for my son who probably will be 6/7/8 or so by then… the little dog who we said goodbye to on Tuesday was really all mine as he was so inactive and poorly, never played etc and so other dog has been much more involved in husband and sons lives’, whereas little dog was really a huge focus for me looking after him and he was a calm, quiet, resilience for me within the chaos so held a special place.

Remember the good times spent together and also that it really is an exceptional kindness to prevent them suffering at the end and making the choice for them to suffer the least possible.. it’s a privilege and an act of love to make that choice when we can at the right time. Sending you hugs and strength. You might find some relief when the moment has passed - of course it’s terribly hard to come home and carry on, you feel their absence so much; but I find the period of having to make the choice, then making it, and then waiting also awful and stressful. Once the moment has passed and you no longer have to ruminate on the choice, I find my sadness shifts to something slightly more tolerant, and you know they are at peace, you know their story ended full of love and family which is the very best we can a hole for. Xxxx