Horseart Loc: Alabama

What's left of this old heart is shattered.
I had to put my 2 pound, 17 year old Yorkie to sleep today. Give your pets an extra hug tonight. Can't say more because it's hard to see what I'm typing when my eyes are raining.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

I know it’s foolish but we tend to get so attached to our pets.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you for looking and commenting.
We do love them and it hurts too bad to lose them. I am 86 and have had a dog (sometimes 2 or 3) every day of my life until now. That will be my last one. At my age I don't want to have to worry about what would happen to one if I went first.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

A gorgeous pet ! As pet owners we must always acknowledge the loss of our pet is coming and treasure the times we have with them ! ! I feel your pain ...

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Oh, Jo! I know. That happened to us last November. Just remember the happiness you gave each other.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you so much. They are all special and even though we know it will happen, we are never ready and never would be.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you Mike. It's tough thing to have to go through, but much better than seeing one suffer.

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

I know how you feel Jo, so you are not alone. Had four chickens, originally for eggs, but fell in love with them to the point vet bills (over the years) far exceeded the cost of a decent second-hand car! These little beauties would greet us when we came home. Hop on our lap for a cuddle. And communicate in a way that was astounding. And that's what is so wonderful about the relationship with any animal. Give, and it will be returned ten-fold unconditionally. Same with dogs that we have owned over the years. Painful as heck when they go but my god are we all the more complete for having shared their time. You no doubt have many lovely memories and plenty of photos. So, as time passes, they will be the things that occupy your mind and make you smile again as the pain slowly fades.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

They become more than just pets, they become trusted companions, guardians, and extensions of the family.
I know how you feel at this time, we had to put down our female "Abby" a Belgian Tervuran couple months ago. I also had to put down my wife's 34 yr old sorrel geldingl"Jazz" last spring.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

So sorry about your loss. They're a family member and sometimes even more. We had a golden we had to put to sleep because of cancer. It seems they're prone to cancer. Looks like your buddy had 17 years of your love and compassion. I'm sure he feels lucky crossing the "rainbow bridge".

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you Paul. You are 1,000 percent right. I have has pet chickens, ducks, geese, dogs horses, barn cats and birds.
I have one pet left...an old parrot. At my age, there will be no more pets. It's too hard to think about what could happen to them if I go before they do. I've had at least one dog and at least one bird every day of my 86 years. That should be enough.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss too. I don't care how small or how big they are, they are our babies. The cannot care for themselves so they look to us and in return they give us love unconditional and unlimited.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you so much. About a month ago, he went almost blind and deaf. He couldn't find me unless I was 6 inches from him. Yesterday he went totally blind started bumping into things. Today he had a hard time walking. I couldn't see him suffer. They are our babies. I have no idea how many typos I have made with all this rain in my eyes.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Jo, I feel your pain.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sorry to hear that. Condolences

We will probably go through that twice in the not too distant future, my wife's Shin Zhu 'Toby' is 16 and my Irish Shorty Jack Russel Tara is 14. Both are past the average for their breed. Toby was full-grown when we got him, and the vet guessed he was about 3. Tara had just turned 1, born the weekend after Thanksgiving 2009 to our neighbor's dog. I got her in Jan when she was 7 weeks, fit on my hand length way and weighed 2 lbs.
Then we got Toby a year later when our niece's husband and kids found him tied to a parking sign at the park. A guy had been walking around trying to give him away.
I retired in 2007 so they and I have been homebodies together the whole time we have had them. Then Debra retired a few years later. When they pass I am going to be a wreck. Debra says, "No more pets. At our age, it is hard to take losing them." (the last of five cats died Jan 23). Every so often, we get to cat sit for our daughter's now one-year-old cat. We had Persephone for five weeks last spring while Jasmine was with a group from Medical School on a trip to Costa Rica to learn medical Spanish and work in a local clinic. We also had Miss Purr for a week while Jasmine visited another of the graduating class who moved to Italy. Now we settle for one or two days when they visit - Jasmine is doing her residency only 50 miles away.
Sorry if it looks like I am trying to take over your thread. The passing of your little one and the pictures got to me and caused a lot of thinking.