TonyP Loc: New Zealand

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

and SO lovely!!!

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Thank you. Yes they are. Sadly Molly died about 2 weeks before the first lock down here for Covid. She was a month shy of her 14th birthday. She wasn't looking good for about a year before she died and our vet put it down to old age creeping up on her. Ran a lot of tests on her over the year but nothing showed up. Finally one night we took her to the vet as she wouldn't eat, he kept her in overnight and we were to go see her at 10am the next day when he would have the results of more blood tests. Sadly she died just before we arrived. The latest test indicated her liver gave up. I feel I should have picked something wrong with either her kidneys or liver that week, as she was drinking a phenomenal amount of water. But it was summer, hot, and Vallhunds have double coats and I just thought she was thirsty. The vet did advise that once the liver gives up there is nothing to be done, maybe some consolation.
I missed her so much, and still do, but my partner decided I needed another little mate. Without me knowing she put the word out that we might be interested in another Vallhund, maybe mid life age, if anyone had one needing rehoming. A short time later she told me someone was bringing Badger around for me to look at. After a bit of an argument, I didn't want another dog, I wanted Molly back. But Badger arrived with her breeder. Badger was a stud dog of hers she had to let go due to her getting a new stud for the kennels. Badger was about 51/2 years old then. Long story short, Badger is now nearly 8 years old. Hasn't replaced Molly, but he works hard at it. We had Molly cremated and she's buried just outside my office door.
Badger is under my desk chewing on a rubber bong as I write.

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

we lost our treasured German Shep very suddenly....He refused his food at 5.30pm....at 5.45 I said to husband that the dog was in pain. Straight to the Vet. 5 minutes away...........they discovered his spleen was one large cancer and 1/3 of his stomach had been invaded too. goodbye to him then..he was 12, our hearts are still recovering,, but as we are both over 90 a new dog is not to be considered..............he is buried in our hearts

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Beautiful photos, beautiful pups! I'll be 86 next month. I have a 17 year old, three pound Yorkie that will be my last. I have had a dog (as many as 3 at a time) every day of my life and I found long ago, that the way to ease your grief is to get another dog ASAP. It won't END the grief or take the place of the one that's gone on, but it will do a decent job of filling the hole in your heart.

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

That is what we always did, get a new one to love.......

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I'm sorry for your loss of your dog, especially so unexpectedly. And the older we get, I think they mean so much more to us as companions, friends. A dog is special (afterall, what does dog spell backwards ). And you give one of the reasons I didn't want another after Molly died. But Trish my wife was ahead of me and was looking for an older dog. I am coming up 76 but hope to live for a few more years yet...

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Thank you for your comment Jo. You must be a wonderful 'mother' to your little mate. At 17 that's quite a long life, even for a Yorkie. Is it a she or a he? Ive found bitches seem to live longer than dogs, especially when they live with older 'happy' families.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA