Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Hardest Part About Having Pets
...is having to say goodbye.
Photo from Google Images
I wasn't actually going to post this, because it's rather depressing. We had to say goodbye to a beloved canine family member. No, not Chance. He's still with us. Thank goodness! I dread the day we have to say goodbye to him because he gets too old, or sick, or ends up in an accident. I know it's pretty morbid to think like that, but I can't help it. I know it's unlikely, but I kind of wish I could "go" before Chance does. I tell Hubby the same thing too. I tell Hubby: "You are not allowed to get sick. You are not allowed to get injured. You are not allowed to die before me. I go first". I know it sounds twisted, but I don't want to be the one left behind.
The hardest part about loving someone so much (okay, in this case it's a dog!) is the thought of not having that person (or pet!) with you anymore. The thought of having that love taken away from your life just seems so unfair, painful and unbearable to me. Perhaps I am a drama queen, but that is how I feel.
SomeoneWe Love Deeply (*no real names will be used in this post) has the happiest, most beautiful, most intelligent, most lovable dog ever. The only thing is that this sweet dog recently bit one of our friend's grandchildren.
Friends of ours from down south were up visiting the Island. They had a bunch of their grandkids with them and though the grandparents warned the kids not to touch dogs they don't know, the youngest went ahead and touched the dog. Mind you, the grandson has Autism. He doesn't always understand or listen to his grandparents when they explain things to him.
Here's a little history about Sweet Doggie. Sweet Doggie had an injury a few years back. She was run over by a tractor. She survived, but sustained some pretty harsh injuries to her back. She's a young, vibrant, happy dog and is really great on the farm. The only thing is that she cannot stand to be touched on her back. It's just too painful for her. People who come to SomeoneWeLoveDeeply's farm are always warned about the dog's back and not to touch it.
Anyway, the little boy went ahead and touched the dog's back and as a result got nipped. No skin was broken. The boy was probably more scared than hurt. In any case, the decision as to whether to put the dog down has been out there since the incident. It hasn't been the first time Sweet Doggie snapped at a child for touching her back. It's happened once or twice before.
I think SomeoneWeLoveDeeply was torn as to what was best for the dog. It was one of the toughest decisions she has ever had to make. She lost sleep over this. She has prayed about this. Yesterday she called us up and said that she felt that the dog had to be put down. She couldn't bear to think of this happening again.
I cried and cried. Little One and I went over to spend a few moments with Sweet Doggie. Sweet Doggie definitely knew something was up. She wasn't her normal self. She had the saddest look on her face. She just stayed in her dog house and looked at us with sad eyes.
I just got off the phone with our friends from down south. I checked on their grandson and told them what was happening with Sweet Doggie. Our friends were really sad and asked if Sweet Doggie really had to be put down.
As I type this post, Sweet Doggie is en route to the veterinary clinic to be put down. Farewell, Sweet Doggie! You added so much joy and laughter into the lives of those who knew you.
Photo from Google ImagesThe hardest part about loving someone so much (okay, in this case it's a dog!) is the thought of not having that person (or pet!) with you anymore. The thought of having that love taken away from your life just seems so unfair, painful and unbearable to me. Perhaps I am a drama queen, but that is how I feel.
SomeoneWe Love Deeply (*no real names will be used in this post) has the happiest, most beautiful, most intelligent, most lovable dog ever. The only thing is that this sweet dog recently bit one of our friend's grandchildren.
Friends of ours from down south were up visiting the Island. They had a bunch of their grandkids with them and though the grandparents warned the kids not to touch dogs they don't know, the youngest went ahead and touched the dog. Mind you, the grandson has Autism. He doesn't always understand or listen to his grandparents when they explain things to him.
Here's a little history about Sweet Doggie. Sweet Doggie had an injury a few years back. She was run over by a tractor. She survived, but sustained some pretty harsh injuries to her back. She's a young, vibrant, happy dog and is really great on the farm. The only thing is that she cannot stand to be touched on her back. It's just too painful for her. People who come to SomeoneWeLoveDeeply's farm are always warned about the dog's back and not to touch it.
Anyway, the little boy went ahead and touched the dog's back and as a result got nipped. No skin was broken. The boy was probably more scared than hurt. In any case, the decision as to whether to put the dog down has been out there since the incident. It hasn't been the first time Sweet Doggie snapped at a child for touching her back. It's happened once or twice before.
I think SomeoneWeLoveDeeply was torn as to what was best for the dog. It was one of the toughest decisions she has ever had to make. She lost sleep over this. She has prayed about this. Yesterday she called us up and said that she felt that the dog had to be put down. She couldn't bear to think of this happening again.
I cried and cried. Little One and I went over to spend a few moments with Sweet Doggie. Sweet Doggie definitely knew something was up. She wasn't her normal self. She had the saddest look on her face. She just stayed in her dog house and looked at us with sad eyes.
I just got off the phone with our friends from down south. I checked on their grandson and told them what was happening with Sweet Doggie. Our friends were really sad and asked if Sweet Doggie really had to be put down.
As I type this post, Sweet Doggie is en route to the veterinary clinic to be put down. Farewell, Sweet Doggie! You added so much joy and laughter into the lives of those who knew you.
**This is my 1,000th post!**
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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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16 comments:
I'm so sorry C! I know the feeling of losing a pet. Just recently, we had to put down our two dogs. They killed one of our pigs and then two days later, they attacked the other two, nearly killing them. I just couldn't bear to think that it could just as easily have been one of the kids. It broke my heart, but I knew it had to be done because something in them seemed to snap and they were no longer the friendly, lovable dogs they had been. It was very hard on Mike to have to put them down, but he agreed that we just couldn't take that chance. Our two remaining piggies are still living. One is completely healed (miraculously) and the other is still badly injured and doesn't stand or walk. I didn't think it would even survive, but we had to give it a chance, and so far so good.
Anyway, I'm sure Sweet Doggie will be missed, but I think her owner made the right decision, as hard as it is. Now Sweet Doggie won't be in pain anymore. Thinking of you...
What a sad story so beautifully told. I've never had to make a decision like that, it must be the hardest one ever.
Congratulations on 1000, looking forward to chocolate binge.
Its just so hard to have to make the decision, then look into the pet's eyes.
But then they will know its the right one. The next child to be 'nipped' could well have been nipped in the eye or face.
Congratulations on your 1000th posting!
I wouldn't want to make that choice and I would have really tried to find a special home for SweetDoggie! Poor girl. XO
So sorry to read this Chris. What a sad story.
I should have known.....I was thinking exactly what Ms.mamma said.
I would have tried to place the dog in a home with a family who didn't have kids before I could do that? Or maybe just put her in a kennel when there are visitors?
Hope I never have to make that decision! So sorry C!!!!xoxo
Ugh. What a horrid decision, especially knowing why sweet doggy would do such a thing. I think I would have tried to place the dog as well, with someone with no kids. But I would not judge them for such a difficult decision, either. :(
A neighbor's nephew was bitten much worse by the family dog, though no one knows why. The boy has had two or three surgeries now. Of course, they put the dog down, but that was a much clearer case than this one.
I'm sorry hon. No fun. And selfishly, I'm glad it wasn't Chance that had to be put down! With our worries over Gen's health lately, I don't know if I could have handled it!
Patti:
Oh my goodness! I had no idea! I didn't even know you guys had pigs!!! So sorry to hear that :(
BTW, total serious about you coming over with Samantha to make homemade baby food sometime! :) Chat soon!
Jan:
Selfishly, I'm glad it was not my decision to make. I don't think I could have handled it. Hubby went to the vet with Sweet Doggie's owner this morning. I spoke to Sweet Doggie's owner this afternoon, and she seemed at peace with her decision.
Merinz:
You are so right. I was thinking about Little One and her being more mobile these days. It kind of scared me to think of Sweet Doggie snapping one day and biting her.
Anyway, not the happiest of posts...considering this is my 1000th post! I'll try to post something more upbeat soon! :) It may have to involve a day at the beach and chocolate! LOL!
Ms.Mamma and Jimbo:
Hello! I've missed you, amiga!! Anyway, you are right. I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision :( I asked Sweet Doggie's owner at one time if she thought finding a new home for her would be a solution. It was out of the question. Sweet Doggy has bitten people a few times before. I thought it was just once, but it was a bit more. Two kids, Hubby, an elderly friend, and my niece. They weren't really bites, but more like nips to let them know to leave her alone. This said, Sweet Doggy was getting more and more unpredictable and it was becoming a bit scary even just being around her. One never knew what she would do. One minute she was sweet and docile, the next she was jumping toward you and snapping.
Still so very sad though :(
C, I'm so sorry about your special doggy friend. It's too bad another solution couldn't be found. It's so hard to loose a part of your family be it animal or human.
Peace!
congrats on post 1000 :)
...read...bleached somehow my mind...nevertheless, understand and respect the decision...may there be happy days ahead for everyone...
What a terribly hard and sad decision to make. Never one we want to be faced with, but honestly I feel it is the humane thing to do in the right situations.
Give Chance a good hug!
(Congrats on your 1000th post!)
Happy 1,000th! You post a helluva lot more than I do, woman.
And thank you SOOOO much for your great post on my blog. Man, I'm not even posting on my own blog anymore, lol.
That is very sad and a really good question, at what point is ur pet a threat?
From the sound of it, I'd say not in this case, but you just can't let things slide when kids are concerned.
For me, I'd say no, it would have to be something more than that and it kills me that people with dogs that have killed other dogs still go to the dog park.
We need to really know the dog, don't we?
What a sad and difficult thing.
so super sad but thanks for sharing.