Said Goodbye to a Special Buddy

[Bryan S]

It was a sad day as we laid our yellow Lab Murphy to rest yesterday afternoon. We had seen his condition going down and at 14 years 6 months, age had caught up with him. He had reached the point that it was a struggle to stand up and yesterday we had to help him up. The strength in his legs were gone and we could not bare to see him struggle.

He is not the first pet we have said goodbye to and will not be the last, but this is the hardest. He came into our lives as a young puppy at a time when someone very close to us was breaking our hearts. He was the definition of a velcro dog and where ever we were is where he had to be. It did not matter whether it was on the couch or crawling between us in bed, he was there. Being the misses works from home she spent the day with him and says she has all of her crying out, I am not sure that I do.

Always ready to go.

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[TracyP]

Bryan, I am sorry to hear that. They become so much a part of our lives.

 

[Steve_Honeycutt]

Bryan,

Sorry for your loss. Pets do have a way of becoming our best friends. Hopefully, you can concentrate on the good times.

Steve H.

 

[CLetts]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.

 

[Hmerkle]

Bryan,
I am sorry for your loss - we lost our Cody a little over 3 years ago and still miss him. Like your wife mine was VERY close to him and he was like a little 4 year old. You could talk to him like a person and he would respond. He loved to eat and would almost "suck" on his food like he relished it. My mother-in-law made polishinken (sp) a crepe-like pancake and a ricotta cheese filling he would beg for it and when we gave him a little bit of it you could literally see him smile!

They become people's best friend for a reason!
A VERY good friend of my wife's gave her the book Cold noses at the Pearly gates - it is REALLY a GREAT book.
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Noses-The-Pearly-Gates/dp/0806528877

I am sure there are a lot of people on both sides of that debate - but what Gary says makes a lot of sense!

Three Cheers to Murphy!

 

[CaptnA]

Bryan, the four leggers that enter our lives are indeed family to many of us. I feel your pain.

 

[BKind2Anmls]

I sympathize with what you are going through and share your pain, having gone through it myself too many times to think about. Just know that you made him a very happy dog while he was with you and take comfort in that he loved you and knew he was loved in return.

To paraphrase something I read: People are born so that we can learn be nice...to love and be kind. Dogs are born knowing how to do this so they don't need to stay as long.

 

[Touchwood]

It was a sad day as we laid our yellow Lab Murphy to rest yesterday afternoon. We had seen his condition going down and at 14 years 6 months, age had caught up with him. He had reached the point that it was a struggle to stand up and yesterday we had to help him up. The strength in his legs were gone and we could not bare to see him struggle.

He is not the first pet we have said goodbye to and will not be the last, but this is the hardest. He came into our lives as a young puppy at a time when someone very close to us was breaking our hearts. He was the definition of a velcro dog and where ever we were is where he had to be. It did not matter whether it was on the couch or crawling between us in bed, he was there. Being the misses works from home she spent the day with him and says she has all of her crying out, I am not sure that I do.

Always ready to go.

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Brian..I choked up reading your post. Our black lab Maggie was also 13 plus years old and had exactly the same experience (back leg strength gone, had to help her up etc).

The vet came to the house and Maggs just put her big head down in my lap and went to sleep. That was 3 weeks ago...so I sure know what your feeling.

We have to make the tough decisions for them.

Don

 

[Volksdad]

Don and Bryan:

It's not easy to say goodbye to a member of the family, I feel your pain. It's tough to do the right thing. You know they would want you to be happy, so remember them with love, and think of the good times.

Glen

 

[Flute Maker]

Don and Bryan, so sorry for your losses. I havent experienced that . I know one day we will. Our pup is 11 and we are so attached but we know one day her time will come. Cherish the memories that you were allowed to have. I know your "best friends" were given the best of care and I know they felt the love you had for them!

 

[thrt15nc]

So so sorry to hear that. They really are family. One of my favorite quotes is from Anatole France. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

http://www.petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm

Tom Swortzel

 

[DaveT]

Sorry for your loss. In March I had to put my 14 year old golden retriever down with the same symptoms you mention. Too hard to watch him suffer anymore.

 

[tarheelz]

Condolences, Bryan. Dogs are great and labs are something particularly special.

(We have two foster labs in our house right now through NC Lab Rescue.)

 

[Mr. Bill]

I feel your pain. We had a great German Shepherd for 13 years. She and my kids grew up together. There were times when she showed that she was much smarter than both of them!

 

[ScottM]

Sorry Bryan. Pet ownership brings us such joy. Focus on the good times.

 

[b4man]

I'm so sorry Brian.

 

[cskipper]

Bryan, I'm glad you didn't make him suffer but am sorry that your lost him. We had a similar situation a few years ago so I feel like I know how you both are feeling. No matter how much time passes you will always remember him and now that he felt loved.