The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[Ducatamount]

Barney seems like a good name.
I can tell how smart a dog is by looking in their eyes and he is pretty smart.
You are both lucky.

[JoeP]

Such soulful eyes Dino/Barney/Lucky Dawg has.

If I had another dog, I'd name him Desmo. But on this board, it's probably already taken. So I'd have to name him something lame, like Ignition Coil.

[Barney]

If I had another dog, I'd name him Desmo. But on this board, it's probably already taken. So I'd have to name him something lame, like Ignition Coil.

hah oh man, Desmo is a great name for sure, but how about SSS, or maybe spark plug?

I know it takes a long time to get to know a rescue, but he seems like a very good fit so far.. I forgot how nice it is having a dog in the house.  thanks guys 

[1.21GW]

+1 on Desmo. 

[freeclimbmtb]

When I DO find a dog I can bring home, if hes a boy: Desmo, a girl: Dharma.  that was decided years ago, taken or not.

[Barney]

When I DO find a dog I can bring home, if hes a boy: Desmo, a girl: Dharma.  that was decided years ago, taken or not.

[Grampa]

Tan and white is Desmo. Black Lab is Leela. Black and white is Sedici. (lm named her )

[Barney]

good lookin little pack there 

[DarkMonster620]

Came across this . . . someone might be interested

http://www.dogheirs.com/elleng/posts/2603-emaciated-puppy-who-was-mistakenly-declared-dead-miraculously-revived

[Stella]

Stories like that (and there are way too many) make me really hate some people.

[DarkMonster620]

Stories like that (and there are way too many) make me really hate some people.

you have no idea what I see everyday around my town . . . or city . . . or others posting in fb . . . things I cannot click like just because I KNOW I wouldn't do that . . . to an animal . ..

[DarkMonster620]

My dogs playing with the big red ball

[metallimonster]

Well friends I am now going through the hardest thing I've ever done.  Tuesday night we had to let go of the best friend I've ever had.  She had been having trouble walking and since she was a german shepherd we thought it was just hip problems.  Turns out she had a tumor on her liver that burst and there was not much we could do.  I am completely and utterly devastated right now.  Kitana was the best thing that ever happened to me and truly was an extraordinary dog.  If it's okay with you guys I'd like to tell her story.

   In April of 2002 I was finishing up my first year of college and was hanging out at a friend's house when we heard a commotion outside.  We ran out to find a man pointing a pellet gun at a barely weaned puppy and yelling he was going to shoot the “coyote”. I ran over and picked up the most ridiculous little puppy I'd ever seen and told the guy to make the beast with two backs off or he'd have to shoot me first.  She was literally all ears and multi colored fur and I instantly fell in love with her.  You see, I had been dying (and I mean wanting in the worst way possible) since I was a very little kid to have a wolf german shepherd mix and here was a little wolf/shepherd mix in my hands. My mom had for years been shooting me down because her previous dog (a grey german shepherd) broke her heart when she passed. But this puppy, she was different.  I knew mom would never be able to say no to keeping her.  Kitana as a puppy was a terror but she was also so cute (being 50% ears helps) that she melted everyone in my family's heart.  Within an hour of bringing her home mom was already in love to. We took her to the vet the next day to deworm her and get rid of the nasty case of the mange she had and we've never regretted it.

   Kitana was easily the worst puppy I've seen (I had dogs all throughout my life on my dad's side of the family).  She got into everything and a water dish would not survive 10 seconds after her drinking without being flipped over.  Our favorite puppy story is when we came home to her covered in hardened pizza mix that she opened and of course mixed with her water. We moved to a new house in Columbus about 4 months of finding her and that's when she started becoming the best dog anyone could ever ask for.  After being the hardest dog to potty train that I've ever heard of.

   I know most dogs love being outside and playing but Kitana's favorite thing in the whole world (besides her pack) was her back yard and she ruled it with an iron fist.  She didn't bark just to bark but would let anyone walking by and any dog walking by know that that was her domain.  She would spend hours chasing squirrels, birds, bunnies, and more times than I care to remember skunks.  She loved the snow in winter and would make nests out of leaves in the fall. If she wasn't inside getting attention she was out in her yard. She also loved her “babies”.  Unlike most dogs she horded her stuffed animals and never ever tore them apart. And really more than anything she loved her family.  I could lay down next to her and she would kiss me for 15 minutes straight if I let her. She loved human food and got eggs most days.  We almost lost her at age 5 to turning her stomach over but she survived and thrived like nothing ever happened. 

   I know everyone loves their dogs and thinks they are special but Kitana really was one of what I call the “different ones”. She knew so many words and listened to everything you said. She would pick out individual animals out of her collection and knew each one's name.  Her favorite was a Mr. Bill doll that would say “Oh NOOOOOO” when she bit it.  I just can't see how I'm going to get over her.  The amount of love, understanding, and sweetness in her was just so amazing.  I know in my heart that I will never have as close a relationship with anything than I did with her.  My Mom and I were just so close with her and I hesitate to say it but I really believe she understood every word we said and knew every feeling we had.  I have no regrets with her and the amount of attention and love she got every day.  I don't think there was a more loved and pampered dog out there.

   I'm not the most religious person but someone had to put her in my path and I will be forever grateful that I got to spend almost 11 years with such a wonderful creature. I also hope to at some point see her again.  I'm crying my eyes out writing this but I know sharing it with fellow dog lovers will help.  Thank you so much for reading her story. I'll post some pictures soon.

   If anyone has some suggestions on how to process this I would be open to anything.

[Triple J]

So sorry to hear about Kitana.  

Take comfort in knowing that you provided her with an exceptional home throughout her life, something not enough dogs get. Other than that I don't really have any advice. It's how I deal with the passing of a beloved pet.

[Stella]

Oh so heartbreaking, I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to your beloved girl, Kitana - she truly was meant to be with you and no one else.  She knows that you did everything you could for her and loved her to the end - obviously she was smart like that based on what you've shared.  

I don't know how much can be said or done that will really help other than letting time pass to help lessen the intensity of the loss.  If you can take a day or two off of work - do it.  (A friend took a week off when one of her pups passed.)  It helps that more people now have animals as family members and not as livestock or a token in the back yard, making it more socially acceptable to grieve like we do when they die.

Going to work actually helped me with the last two I said goodbye to but everyone is different.

Vent and share and grieve with us as much as you need to.  Many of us have been there.

Just sorry I can't help you more.        rest peacefully Kitana....