That Rainbow Bridge story is so glurgy (glurgey?) and yet, it makes me cry every time. I’ve loved and lost so many great dogs. You know, I’ve never had a bad dog. Every single one sweet and loving, although not necessarily perfect. It makes me wish for the Rainbow Bridge.
StG
I’m sorry for your loss. 
This is Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The Power of the Dog” and it speaks exactly to what you said here.
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/power_of_dog.html
It’s not a depressing thread. It’s a sad thread. Sad because you’ve had to make that godawful decision responsible pet owners have to make. Depressing would be for the jackasses who abandoned the dog to"live in the wild." You rescued an animal who had no future and gave him food, shelter, and love. And, finally, responsible decisions about his quality of life.
Very sad right now, but not depressing. Hopefully encouraging to someone who might be thinking about adopting a rescue critter. The joy out weighs the pain at the end.
Now, I’ve got to go curl up with a tabby who’s been a complete tear-ass all day. She makes me nuts, but I’d miss her like hell.
It took me until today to be able to respond here. I’m so very sorry for your loss, it’s only been 2 weeks since I lost Stormy.
In the thread I posted were links to sites to help with pet loss, I called the Iams linen and they were helpful. I’m still raw about this, but I hope we both can cope with and remember how we cherished our pets.
Baker, that was a wonderful poem thanks so much.
StG
We just went through this in November. We had to put down our springer spaniel Dottie the day before Thanksgiving after a weird illness that stumped two vets. She just never responded to treatment and gradually declined over the course of three weeks. We kept hoping the next new drug would help her turn the corner, but she never did. The heartbreak of it is that she was our younger dog. We had her and her sister (same parents, different litters) Phyllis since they were puppies; Phyllis will be 14 in February, and Dottie would have been 12. All this time we had been preparing for Phyllis to go first, and then thinking that we would have Dottie yet for a few more years. Now Dottie is gone and we can probably expect to lose Phyllis sometime this year. We’ve been hanging on with each milestone: Phyllis, please make it to Christmas. To the new year. To your birthday. To spring. We can’t go through it again so soon. She is healthy and happy so far, but so was Dottie up to about 3 weeks before she died.
And of course sweet Dottie was ever so slightly my favorite. Still can’t believe she’s gone. It’s hard some days to look at Phyllis and not imagine her sister somewhere nearby. The whole holiday season was pretty horrible. We had our annual Christmas open house, and had invited several new friends who had never been to our house. We had been looking forward to having them meet our pups together. Bittersweet to have just Phyllis greeting them. The house is very different now.
So I feel your pain. It’s a horrible decision to make, even though we know it’s the right one.
I could have written this exact line except my girl was named Emma and I had to put her down on the 7th. I’m amazed at how strong some people are being able to share their feelings. Even though it has been almost 20 days I still cried when I read the poem that Baker linked to.
I keep thinking I should post a thread about Emma’s life and her impact on me and my family but I don’t think my words can do it justice. I will share a quote that I think I picked up here somewhere, but I don’t remember who posted it… but I thank you very much for sharing it.
“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”
–Unknown
I agree. One day, sooner rather than later, I’m going to have to make the same decision, and I hope I can be as brave as you have been. It takes courage to do the right thing and choose to break your heart a little sooner in order to spare the pet who depends on you extra suffering.
I hope you and your household are doing okay, and that your joyful memories will overtake the sorrowful ones soon.
Lord, it was 4 weeks ago today that I had to make the decision about my horse Bob. I was thankful that his last day was not his worst day. I’m crying now. BUT. I saw a rainbow driving to work which is odd considering it’s 2 below zero. I like the concept of the Rainbow Bridge but don’t necessarily believe in it. But today I like to think that Bob and all our other lovies are behind it.
Hugs to all who have lost faithful critters.