R.I.P. Angus the Black Lab

I lost one of my best buddies today. Angus the Black Lab, eight years old, was humanely put to sleep after it was determined that it was too late to save him from a bowel obstruction. He had somehow ingested a plastic bag, for which I blame myself, for not keeping a closer eye on him.

Angus only came into our lives two years ago. He wandered into a mall one day, skinny and somewhat beaten up by the stray dog life. A friend of Mrs. Wrong who works at the mall called us, and we agreed to take him in for a few days, and to see if we could locate his owners. Only, no one seemed to be looking for him. He had no collar, but he was very well-behaved and he was neutered. After about a week of bonding with us and our two incumbent retrievers, it became obvious that Angus was a part of our family.

Before long, he filled out. He started piling up nicknames too: Anguish (due to a serious thunderstorm phobia), Slick, Bobangus, Flabrador Retriever. He was 96 pounds of Goofy Love. He was already leash-trained, and he was the kind of dog who loved nothing better than to come trotting up to your side when you called his name. Unless it was lending you his considerable abilities as an auxillary heating unit on a cold night. It is a cruel world indeed where a dog this sweet spent the last four days of his life either doped up, or in excruciating pain.

I’m not posting this to elicit sympathy, as I know everyone experiences loss and I’ve been fairly lucky in that tragedy has generally stayed away from me. I just thought that I needed to give the ol’ boy his due. He was a good dog, and that means something to me.

That’s a very nice tribute, and I am very sorry for your loss.

Angus sounds like a wonderful dog. And you are wonderful for taking him in and giving him a good life.

At the same time do not blame yourself. Pets eat things and you can never watch them all the time. Sad but true.

Take care.

Slee

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope another furry friend comes into your lives soon. (That’s the best healing IMHO)…

Angus is now in doggy heaven playing with my Golden Retriever, Friday.

You did a good thing by taking him in. Give your other dogs a big hug.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words and support.

Honey, I wonder if Friday knows my old Golden Muddy Waters, who went there four years ago?

I hope they’re all playing with Duke, our German shepherd.

Don’t think about the last four days. Like sleestak said, you can’t watch them 24/7. Think about the last two years, and the love, affection, doggie treats, and safety from thunderstorms you provided for Angus. I bet he adored you for saving him.

I’m quite sure of it. I picture them spending their days rolling in mud puddles with no one telling them to stop, marking the endless amount of fire hydrants, eating all the prime rib bones they can handle and having their ears scratched whenever they want by the kindly old woman watching over doggy heaven.
:slight_smile:

I have a black Angus in my life too- our oversized Newfoundland.

His life expectancy has been shortened, so we cherish every day we have with him. When his time comes (and it will be sooner rather than later, I’m afraid), he will go out the way he came in- happy, joyous and free! He is the most amazing member of our family and the world’s greatest dog.

I so love it when a person can love a dog like you do. I’ve thought of all of my dogs as “higher beings”, in that they have the important things in life all figured out.

When your Newfie’s time comes he will be welcomed with open paws by Angus, Friday and Duke and he will tell the other dogs what a great human he had.

Please come here and post about him, there is a hug waiting for you.

i’m so sorry. it is difficult to keep dogs from eating “inappropriate items.”

heidi the german short haired retreiver that my cuz had, died after surgery. she had eaten a pair of panty hose.

This is true. We live in a neighborhood with a number of tourists and homeless people, and I have to constantly stop my boys from eating chicken bones and such that they find on the street (why won’t people just use the trash cans?). I think he got the plastic bag that killed him from around the dumpster at our apartment building, however. I guess I could have kept him on the leash all the time, but he would have hated that.
Also, he was initially diagnosed with pancreatitis, which he exhibited all the symptoms of, and that’s what he was treated for. It wasn’t until a couple of days later, when he didn’t respond to treatment, that they did exploratory surgery and discovered the real problem. So, if any of you ever find your pooch in this situation, remember Angus and ask your vet if an obstruction could be the problem. Also, if the dog doesn’t normally throw up, and starts doing so in a way that you find unusual, don’t hesitate to take him in. I don’t know if Angus could have been saved, but I still wish I’d taken him the first morning he was sick, instead of waiting a day.

I am so sorry for your loss . . . I have two Labs that are rescues. My heart goes out to you.

I’m very sorry for your loss.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I can feel your grief. I lost my yellow lab Nikki last March from lymphoma. She also was eight years old and was such a sweet dog and friend. That was a wonderful thing you did for Angus, taking him into your home. Just think of the good times you and he had together in life.