# Grace's Time Is Almost Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121 "2009-11-03T01:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/1 "2009-11-03T01:31:43Z")
Four years ago, a senior doberman was dumped near my farm. My neighbor saw the people stop and speed away, then she came into his yard, looking lost. I took her in a couple days later, when I saw her wandering the road. I had her spayed, and the vet heard a heart murmur at that time. She told me just to watch for coughing or fainting. She was 8 or 9 then. Grace was diagnosed with congestive heart failure about 6 months ago. I’ve been treating her with medication. It’s been a huge struggle to get her to eat. The last two days she’s barely eaten anything. She was out in the fields hunting mice Saturday, but today she didn’t eat her usual breakfast of eggs scrambled with sour cream and ham. Tonight she wouldn’t eat ham, chicken, or left over prime rib. She fell coming through the dog door and had a hard time getting up, and she’s just not interested in anything tonight. If she doesn’t perk up tomorrow I’ll have to make the call to the vet. The vet said she was surprised I kept her going this long. It’s been so hard to keep her going - $150/month in meds, and tons of money spent trying anything to get her to eat. Although I’ll be sad to see her go, I’ll admit, watching the decline has been very hard. StG ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/2 "2009-11-03T01:36:34Z")
See my post for “fuck, here goes the cat” or something like that in the BBQ pit for putting down my cat a few months ago. Long story short, you can have a vet come to your house and have the pet put down rather than taking it the vet and stressing it out. Much nicer for both you and the pet if you can afford a bit more money. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/3 "2009-11-03T01:55:36Z")
I wish I knew something more to say. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/4 "2009-11-03T02:03:25Z")
I’m so sorry about Grace. And God bless you for your kindness. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/5 "2009-11-03T02:06:52Z")
Be at peace, both of you. I’m glad you had each other for the past 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/6 "2009-11-03T02:12:11Z")
I know what to say. I know you’ll miss her when she’s gone, but think about this: If she had to be unfortunate enough to have lousy owners that would abandon her on the side of the road like that, how lucky she was to end up with you, who gave her scrambled eggs and ham every morning. You took a potential tragedy and turned it into four years of happiness for this dog. Your sadness should be tempered with happiness because of that. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/7 "2009-11-03T02:28:19Z")
I’m so sorry. You were both so lucky to find each other. Good girl, Grace. _Good_ girl. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/8 "2009-11-03T02:55:06Z")
Thank you, folks. I’ve always treated my animals so that I never had to say “I wish I’d tried…” before the end. StG ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/9 "2009-11-03T02:58:15Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > I know what to say. > > I know you’ll miss her when she’s gone, but think about this: If she had to be unfortunate enough to have lousy owners that would abandon her on the side of the road like that, how lucky she was to end up with you, who gave her scrambled eggs and ham every morning. You took a potential tragedy and turned it into four years of happiness for this dog. Your sadness should be tempered with happiness because of that. This. You gave Grace four years of heaven on earth, compared to what she would have faced. I’m sorry for your loss, **StG**. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/10 "2009-11-03T02:59:49Z")
I am so very sorry. Grace was a lucky girl to have found such a loving, compassionate owner Please give her a hug and a smooch from me, and a scratch in her very favorite spot. Damn… it’s so hard. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/11 "2009-11-03T03:11:44Z")
I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/12 "2009-11-03T03:14:52Z")
I’m so sorry. You’re one of the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/13 "2009-11-03T03:30:08Z")
Poor baby. (Both of you.) My old lady Scout had a similar decline, and even though I knew it was time, I must have stood looking at her (lying there so peacefully, head up, eyes alert, yet unable to eat, drink, or rise) for half an hour, tears brimming, before I could speak the words, “OK, it’s time.” Scrambled eggs and ham? That’s one spoiled dog . . . who deserved every morsel. Good night, sweet pup. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/14 "2009-11-03T03:45:12Z")
So sorry for both of you, but glad that Grace had these last four years with you at the doggie spa. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/15 "2009-11-03T03:51:59Z")
Give Grace a big hug for me and I have a big hug for you as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/16 "2009-11-03T04:55:19Z")
> [@Kricket](#): > > Give Grace a big hug for me and I have a big hug for you as well. Can you add a second one of each from me? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/17 "2009-11-03T05:26:45Z")
Something…something in my eye here… Good for you, **St. Germain**. Grace was indeed lucky to find you. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/18 "2009-11-03T09:13:18Z")
At least in the end when she goes, it’s not being abandoned and lost, but in the presence of friends and she had the greatest of time ever since 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/19 "2009-11-03T13:46:20Z")
Very sad right now. You gave her a nice life. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121/20 "2009-11-03T14:23:51Z")
She’s refusing all food and water. I did get her out to go to the bathroom this morning, but it took all she had. She’s not in pain, but she’s just ready, I think. StG [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graces-time-is-almost-up/516121.md?page=2)