Well, Damn. My Dog Is Dead.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

His name was Teddy. He was my great-grandmother’s dog. He came to live with us when my great-grandma went to live in an assisted living facility.

My grandmother and great-grandmother got him from the Humane Society several years ago. They were never really sure how old he was, but they guessed him somewhere around 5 when they got him, so that would put him somewhere around 10 now.

He was a good little dog. Never gave us any trouble at all, ever. The kids loved him. My son doesn’t know what’s happened, but my daughter and stepson are pretty shaken.

Teddy’s been acting kinda old lately. He used to be a yippy little thing, but not so much anymore. Sleeping a lot more, walking a little more slowly, not eating as much as usual, and going deaf.

About an hour ago, my husband asked me if I’d seen Teddy since I’d gotten home. He couldn’t recall having seen him at all today, but he’d been in & out. I went out into the front room, because I know Teddy liked to curl up under the kids’ play table and sleep there. Sure enough, there he was. But it didn’t look like he was breathing. I touched him, and that confirmed my suspicion.

So, my husband has buried Teddy in the backyard, and he and my stepson said a small prayer for him.

I’m not as sad as I thought I’d be. I’ve had pets die of old age before, and I think I kinda saw this coming. Not that I didn’t love the little guy–if and when I ever get another dog, I’d like one like him. Teddy was great. But my husband and I knew something was up, and we were sort of braced for it.

The kids will be okay, I’m sure. But I am really not looking forward to telling my great-grandma. She and Teddy were very, very close. My great-grandma is a wonderful, wonderful woman, but at 98 years old, she’s starting to get a little honked off that she’s still here. Telling her that she’s outlived her dog too is only going to upset her more.

Damn.

Thanks for listening to me.

2

Persephone! So sorry to hear about Teddy. I had to put my darling Copper Dog to sleep in June and I still miss the little fellow. It’s just not the same coming home without hearing the click, click, click of their paws. My husband, a former dog un-lover, had to get a new dog because he was so torn up about it.

So sorry for your loss. It does get better after the shock wears off.

3

I’m very sorry for your loss, Persephone.

4

Sorry to hear that.

Do you have to tell your great-grandmother? I think I’d be going for the little white lies bit. At least if she stays in that facility, and doesn’t come to visit, that is.

5

:frowning:

6

Rest in peace, Teddy.

Hugs to the Persephone family.

:frowning:

7

How sad, Cristi. I tend to agree with LoadedDog on this one. Is this something your great-grandma really needs to know? If it can be kept from her, maybe that would be the best thing.

Good luck in dealing with your children on this. It can’t be easy. I’ll be thinking of you, hon.

8

I am so sorry for your loss.

I have an old,old brittany about 11 or 12 who is declining rather rapidly and I fear she might not make it through the winter. The vet said she probably had metatic breast cancer last year. Now she’s blind, senile and incontinent at times. She mostly just lies around and runs into the walls when she is up. But she’s not in pain, still eats well and still interacts with the family and other dogs so I should count my blessings huh?

{{{{{{all those who mourn Teddy’s passing}}}}}}

9

I’m sorry to hear about your loss. I had to put my dog down last April. She was about 13 years old. I know it can be pretty tough. :frowning:

10

Sorry to hear that. It hurts to lose a pet.:frowning:
I lost my kitty a few months back when she got out of the house and got mangled by a dog. Its hard not to miss 'em.

Damn, now I’m all sad.

11

:frowning:

<hugs>

12

:frowning:
Very sorry to hear that Persephone.
I dread this happening to my dog, but I know it’s coming some day.

13

My dog just turned 15 this past summer. Just 12 days over a year older than I am. My family has great luck with dogs, but the signs are there. He no longer barks at passing deer or bear, he’s going blind, doesn’t move unless he’s getting food…it’s gonna be weeeeeeeeird when he finally goes.

As for cats? Not so well. The first 2 I remember became road pizza pretty quickly. Then about 3 years ago, we put our cat down that was 8 months old because of a blood clot that rendered his hind legs useless, and because of lack of blood flow, gangrous. Two years ago, my dad ran over our cat in our driveway. The little guy was 5 months old. He fell asleep under the car when he went outside. When the car started, the cat didn’t move like usual, but my dad never saw him. So when he backed up…poor guy. It was so hard for my dad to explain that to my sister. Sigh

Sorry to hear your story, Persephone. It’s always hard when people lose pets that they’ve always had around. Hopefully things get better.

14

Yep, I can do math… he is 377 days younger than I, not 377 days older than I am.

15

:frowning:
Sorry to hear that. May Teddy rest in peace.

My mother’s little Cindy dog is 16 and has cancer. We’re getting nervous because the vet said she’d have about six months and, well, the six months is up. I’m praying she holds out until January - it sounds selfish, but I’m getting married later this month, and I’m so afraid that we’ll lose her on my wedding day or on Christmas Day. It’s going to be horrible to lose her as it is, but it would be worse on one of those two days. Especially as… well, Cindy’s never been the sweetest tempered dog and could be quite nasty, but now that she’s gone senile she’s a cheery, happy little thing who loves everyone. She’s the dog we always dreamed of having (except totally off her rocker). Life without Cindy is hard to imagine.

16

Truly that sux. :frowning:

One small consolation: Teddy (based on your post) didn’t seem to be suffering, and apparantly died in his sleep in one of his favorite spots. All told, not a bad way to go.

Wait a while before replacing him, and just grieve a bit. then, when (if) you should get another dog, y’all will be “clean” about it.

17

Oh, Persephone, I’m sorry for your loss. Teddy sounds like a wonderful dog, and I’m glad you had him in your and your children’s lives for as long as you did, and that he didn’t suffer when it was his time to go. Hang in there.

18

As someone said: the only fault that dogs have is that they do not live long enough.

19

So sorry to hear about Teddy.

I just turned into a dog person 5 months ago with a puppy. Can’t even fathom the thought of losing him.

Good luck with G Grandma…

20

So VERY sorry for your loss. I lost mine in 1985 and
I still grieve.
MERMAID and others the Vet told me this:
As long as they have an interest in something
around them; they have a RIGHT to their life.
That interest could be food, or could just be
watching the family as they move around the house.
Make sure their bed is in a good viewing place.