I lost my buddy last night.

[Stella]

Beautiful boy who, no doubt, shared a great life with you.    I lost my Buddy four years ago when he was 14.   Not quite as unexpectedly.        I feel your pain.   

[hbliam]

So sorry to hear that. I also dread the day my JRT goes.

How is the pug doing without it's buddy?

[mcgalinmd]

My ex and I had to put down our "fred" last year.  Lost control of his legs/rear from old age.  Talk about gut wrenching.  We all cried as he drifted off to sleep.  I still have pics of him in my bedroom with my daughter (then 2, now 13).  It makes me think of how great a dog he was.

I feel your pain.

[Blackout]

Sorry about that man.

[triangleforge]

A buddy worth mourning is one worth celebrating as well. Sounds like you two had some great times worth smiling over for years to come. Hang in there, because I can promise that the good memories will long outlast the pain. Good luck DucPenguin, and RIP Aries.

[Shortie]

I'm very sorry to hear about your pup. What a handsome pup indeed.

Losing a pet is a very unique kind of sadness. Their love and companionship is uncomplicated and pure. They ask no questions, tell no lies, and they never second guess you.

Every time I think about the greying fur around my Rotti/Shep's muzzle it makes me sad. Even though he still has so much puppy in his eyes I know he won't be around forever. We just have to make the most of their company and not take them for granted, just like our human companions, as you never know when you'll be forced to let them go.

Our pets can teach us a lot if we truly pay attention. Their time with us is all too short but they are oh so worth it!

It will get better with time. I believe you made the right (albeit difficult) choice for your aging pup.

[hydra]

oh man, you've got me tearing up dude. he looks just like my old shepard. he passed away 6 yrs ago but he still appears in my thoughts all the time. his name was "Buddy"...

very sorry to hear of your loss...you will always have the memories

[metallimonster]

Man I am so sorry to here this dude.  I have a German Shepard that looks a lot like him that I almost lost 2 years ago.  We had the choice to pay 4 grand or put her to sleep.  I ate ramen noodles and did nothing for 4 months becuase there was no way I was letting her go if she could be alright after the surgery.  Anyways, I hope your doing okay and my thoughts are with you and the big guy.

P.S.  If anyone is going to get a German Shepard or another big dog and they are female, tell the doctor to pin their stomach up while they are in there so what happened to my dog (she turned her stomach over) can be prevented.  

[Slide Panda]

RIP Aries.

It's a tough thing to go through.  But in time the hurt will go, and you'll always get to remember all the good  times you spent with him.  He looks like he was a happy and much loved pooch.

[Ivan]

RIP Aries.   I've been through two Boxers and a Bull Terrier.  I'm presently owned by another Boxer, Penny.  It never gets easier when the time comes to say goodbye...

[Drunken Monkey]

We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine and who,
so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or unworthy thought.
This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam,
and at its proper season the cherry tree strews petals on the green lawn of his grave.

Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a dog.
Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer,
or gnawed at a flavored bone, or lifted his head to challenge some strange intruder.

These are good places, in life or in death.

Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else.
For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life,
eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps and at last.

On a hill where the wind is unrebuked, and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppyhood,
or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze.
It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing is lost - if memory lives.

But there is one best place to bury a dog.

One place that is best of all.

There is one best placeto bury a dog.
If you bury him in this spot, he will come to you when you call -
come to you over the grim, dim frontier of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again.

And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him, nor resent his coming,
for he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper,
people who may never really have had a dog.
Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.

By Ben Hur Lampman

[S4ROB]

I am sorry for your loss.    Aries is a beautiful dog. RIP

RIP Aries.

It's a tough thing to go through.  But in time the hurt will go, and you'll always get to remember all the good  times you spent with him.  He looks like he was a happy and much loved pooch.

Something I have learned to make it a little easier, is to have the vet do a house call when you have to make that difficult decision

[ducpenguin]

So sorry to hear that. I also dread the day my JRT goes.
How is the pug doing without it's buddy?

The Pug is not sure what to think yet...she is down, but expects him back any minute...She gets excited if she hears another dog bark in the distance.  I think when it all settles in, she will be lonely.  I have to work all day, and he was her playmate/guardian/brother, she was certainly confident knowing that he was standing right behind her...I hope she does ok with it.  I think with other dogs in the area, she may be able to meet others.  We will see.

RIP Aries.
It's a tough thing to go through.  But in time the hurt will go, and you'll always get to remember all the good  times you spent with him.  He looks like he was a happy and much loved pooch.

Thanks Yuu...He was happy, and we did have great times together...lots of memories...
Oh yea, did I mention that he saved my life?
Very good memories!

Metal and Hydra...I love Shepards, such a great breed.

Too all who have posted...I am sorry for your loses as well...I know how you must feel or must have felt...my condolances to you all...

Too everyone else who have posted that may not have gone through this....eat up the time you have with them!  They are special beyond words and just like Hangin_biposto said...their love is uncomplicated and pure...I am not sure that you can find that anywhere else in this world...
Thank you

[vwboomer]

Very sorry to hear about this.
Two years ago my wife's yellow lab woke up with minimal use of his rear legs, then a couple hours later, nothing. 2 nights at the vets and some accupuncture and chiro work gave him most of his movement back, but his tail is still crooked and he's a little gimpy   

I never really thought I liked the bugger but facing that was really hard

[ducpenguin]

I am sorry for your loss.    Aries is a beautiful dog. RIP
Something I have learned to make it a little easier, is to have the vet do a house call when you have to make that difficult decision

My vet wouldn't do it...I will be changing vets.  I asked.  Thank you for the comment, he was a fine looking dog.
Drunken Monkey...thank you, that was beautiful.