The old dog is gone

[residualheat]

Really sorry to hear about your friend, motherearth. As mtlouie says, dogs are wonderful people and about the best friend and counsellor you can have. It sounds like he was a good dog and I bet he had a brilliant life, surrounded by friends.

I like that rainbow bridge story, it's really comforting and helped me a lot when my Toby died. I had this dream, before we lost him, that me and Mr heat both died and we found ourselves standing on a bridge, with darkness around us and light ahead. Standing between us was a tall young man I didn't recognise and I said 'Who are you?' and he said 'I'm Toby'. I said 'So that's who you are'. In the dream he was there to guide us. Be nice if that came true.

[mtlouie]

I'll tell my dog dream story:

When my son's old lab died (he was fourteen) about a week after he died I dreamed that we were all sitting in the living room with him.  Everyone else was sitting in chairs, but I was on the floor petting him.  I said, "I can't believe Dr. [our vet] gave him that shot.  He looks wonderful!"  He turned around and started licking me in the face and I could smell his breath and I thought, "Oh, my gosh, this is a dream.  Sam is dead."  And I woke up crying my eyes out.

Then about a week later I dreamed that Sam and I were in this beautiful field sitting by a stream.  We talked and played together and pretty soon I looked up and there was a bridge over the stream and at the top of a rise in the field was this incredibly HUGE old tree.  All of a sudden I realized someone was waiting for Sam beyond the rise that I couldn't see over and he was about ready to cross the bridge.  I woke up.

That's the last time I've ever dreamed about him.

 

[AnIowan]

Not that I'm a big "ever after" kind of guy, but I do believe there are special places that those we love get to go to after they pass on.

I'm guessing Colt is there right now eating potatoes and sweet corn. 

Our old (20 years as far as we can guess) tabby passed on last February so we thawed out the ground, had a little funeral, and she's got wildflowers coming up around her.

It's amazing the influence pets truly have in our lives. 

I'm am sorry for your loss....

[pamela]

I'm sorry mother. RIP Colt.

[rocketgirl]

I thought in honor of Colt and all our animal friends I would tell a funny story that happened to our dog sandy.

We had a wild CA finch that we took care of for some friends (had it 3 years, was supposed to be only 3 mos.) it became sick and was suffering so I took it to the vet and he put it to sleep.  We buried him in our back yard.  About 3 weeks later we were packing for an RV trip and we put our dog Sandy out back while we finished packing (it was evening).  While she was out there she dug up Pepe (the bird) and ate almost all of him.  We all scolded Sandy and ended up throwing what was left of Pepe in the trash (I teered up just a little)  and we went to bed for the night.  The next morning I hear Sandy coming down the stairs and she sounds like a train wreck.  When I come around the corner she's made it down the stairs and she's trying to walk to me but she can't keep her head up and she's trying to walk to me but her body is all wobbly and she looks like someone spun her around 100 times and she's pointed in the right direction but her legs move her in a different direction.  If I wasn't so alarmed it would have been hysterical.  We take her immediately to the vet who after examination determines either she had a stroke or something neurological and she may never recover.  They keep her for observation and just a couple hours later the vet calls for us to pick her up.  when we arrive Sandy has improved so much we are able to take her home but before we leave the vet has one more question.  Has Sandy eaten anything unusual lately?  I mentioned Pepe (the bird he euthanised a few weeks ago) but thats about all I can think of.  The vet gets a big smile and says "well that's one for the record books, we use a heavy narcotic when we euthanise and when Sandy ate pepe she got a healthy dose of it".  Sandy was stoned!!  When we got home, again we put Sandy in the back yard to finish packing and wouldn't you know, when it was time to leave, Sandy had gone back for more Pepe. No Pepe for Sandy this time.  Poor, Poor Sandy.

[mtlouie]

 

[residualheat]

Good story, rocketgirl 

Sounds like Sandy got what we used to call a 'legitimate street find'. Just as well she didn't eat it all, from the sounds of it!

[JohnLudi]

My deepest condolences motherearth.  I've lost a lot of people in my life, but saying goodbye to my cat was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

[Madnsassy]

Motherearth, sorry for your loss.  It's a deep mourning as is the loss of anyone we love.  Two of mine are getting up there, and it's difficult to think about.  In fact, right about now I think I'm running an old-folks home:  94 year old Mum, 32 (96) year old mare, two 10 (70) year old dogs.  Losses ahead to be sure.  A screwy, yippy, lovable young jack russell showed up here a year ago during a lightning storm and is still here, so I won't be all alone.   

Thanks for the pepe story, Rocketgirl.

[fredd58]

So sorry for your loss motherearth - isn't it simply amazing how they can find a way to grab your heart? And how very much it hurts when they let go.
Lost my 16 y/o sheltie this last year - I still miss that little bundle of energy every danged day.

[residualheat]

So sorry for your loss motherearth - isn't it simply amazing how they can find a way to grab your heart? And how very much it hurts when they let go.
Lost my 16 y/o sheltie this last year - I still miss that little bundle of energy every danged day.

I still miss my dog after four years, but he visits me in my dreams occasionally. Dogs are such good friends.

[de jure]

I am sorry to hear of your loss, as well.

The only thing I can add is the thought that I don't want to go to any Heaven where animals aren't allowed. I bet you don't, either.

Elizabeth

[motherearth]

No truer statement!

I have a pony waiting at the gates when my time comes 

Best wishes to everyone who has spoken with such kindness and shared so personally.
A soothing balm.
Thank you.
motherearth

[rdocr]

Can't do anything about your loss, but here is a bright spot about old dogs

One day the old German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long,
discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading
rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

The old German Shepherd thinks, 'Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!' Noticing
some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on
the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about
to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly, 'Boy, that was one
delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more around here?'

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of
terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. 'Whew!' says the
panther, 'That was close! That old German Shepherd nearly had me!'

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby
tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for
protection from the panther. So, off he goes, but the old German Shepherd
sees him heading after the panther with great speed, and figures that
something must be up.

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes
a deal for himself with the panther.

The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, 'Here,
squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving
canine!

Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel on
his back and thinks, 'What am I going to do now?', but instead of running,
the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen
them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old German
Shepherd says...
'Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another
panther!

Moral of this story...
Don't mess with the old dogs...

LOL

Ralph

[mtlouie]