Sammy: 9/14/1999 - 9/07/2012 - Say a prayer for Sammy & for the "pack" he left behind

[Andad]

Sorry to hear about Sammy.

I can't think of anything to say Nathan except that it was good you could share your loss with us all.

My old Westie (Harris) is nearly 13. Time with him is very special.

[bayerische]

Very sorry for your loss.

[conrail]

[Kingair]

I am really sorry to read this sad news . . .

Here is our sad story . . .

We lost our Dashhound Bourvil about 3 years ago and we said we would never ever buy a dog again.

Bouvil had some kind of stroke (I guess you call it) and he always felt on his left side . . . he couldn't walk anymore . .

He was just 7 years old . . .

So I jumped into my car and drove to our vet . . .

The only news he had was that he needed to put our dog to sleep . . .
Crying like a child I was holding him when the vet . . . . .

Several times (some months later) I heard our daughter crying in her bed during the evenings that she was missing her dog . . .

So we had some discussions about it because if you have a dog (my .02 anyway) is that he/she becomes a new family member and that he/she should be treated that way.

If we leave we take the dog for 90 % . . . sometimes it just isn't possible . . .

Last december we made the decision to get another dog . . .

We gave our daughter the possibility to have a puppy or adopt a dog.

7 years old and being really clever she told us some days later that she wanted to adopt a dog since puppies will find their way to new mommies & daddies easier than the dogs who need to be adopted.

So we started our search for a Greyhound . . . .

At that time there where only 2 available in Belgium and all the rest where Galgos who where abused is Spain and send over to Begium (Greyhounds in Nood)

For me it wasn't a problem to adopt a Galgo but it's just a 'dog' and you never know or better you don't want to know what happened with these dogs.

That wasn't an option for me with a 7 year old daughter.

So we continued our search and came in contact with Retired Greyhound Thrust in the UK

After several calls, fax and mails they allowed us to adopts a Greyhound because normally they visit the new parents to check if all is OK and that they are able to adopt a dog.

We made a complete story of it for our daughter.


So we left the first weekend to Stansted, UK . . .

December 6 it is Sinterklaas in Europe and all the kids get gift just like you have Santa Claus (but we have both, we're the lucky once ;-)

There where no tickets available to the UK but Sinterklaas found the last 3 and he put them in our daughters shoe during the night ;-)

We put sweets and carrots in our shoes and Sinterklaas takes them for his horse and puts small presents in return . . .

Great guy Sinterklaas ;-)

So we left to London on Saturday to do some Xmas shopping and sunday we went to Stansted to have a walk with Baron to see how he was and reacted with kids . .

He was really great so I directly made the decision to adopt him without the notice of our daughter.

He had to stay a little longer to get vaccinated and chipped.

The weekend of december 17 we told Charlotte we had to go for a meeting in Amsterdam during the weekend and she couldn't come along with us

Just a small little lie . . .

So we picked up Baron and drove all the way back to Belgium.

When we arrived my wife made a really big red ribbon around the dog.

I called our daughter that we where almost home.

When we saw here arriving we went quickly outside just like we would enter the house . . .

What a coincidence we just arrived at the same time she said.

So we opened the door . . . my wife quickly took the camera . . . and Charlotte asked what are you doing . .

My wife said . . just going to shoot some pics of the Xmas tree ;-)

So she entered the living room and there she noticed Baron after 30 seconds because he was lying still on his pillow.

And in the pic you see the result of a kids dream that became true

She will never forget this day . . .

Neither will we ;-)

HAGOne all

[Kinnakeet]

[QUOTE=Grissom;3573022]







For those of you who may face such a situation in the future, if you can do this at home, I highly recommend it, painful as it is, especially for the other pets in your "pack". Animals are more spiritually intuned than most of us, and when they can see and experience this kind of event, real time, I do believe it is much less traumatic, especially if it is done kindly, lovingly, humanely, and surrounded by family and friends. I would also like to say, that the horrible dread in the pit of the stomach that is right there when we are faced with this does go away, once our loved pet has crossed over, and while followed by that feeling of emptiness, it is much more manageable, than the other...........so there is a little light at the end of that terrible tunnel.

G-d bless you all, furry and not so much..........love one another, and cherish each moment with your loved ones, for ultimately, that is what we take with us, when we move on to the next level......the love.......

Nathan

Thanks for sharing your journey Nathan, and I'm sorry for your loss.
I totally agree with your decision to have Sammy pass at home; I've previously had two beloved pets die when I was not there with them ;and when it came time to deal with my third friend, (a cat) I was determined to make her passing as stress free as possible- and that meant having the vet come to our home and me holding her while she was being euthanized. While this scene was very hard for me, my little cat had a peaceful passing, so I have no regrets!
We have a horse- who is one of my daughter's best companions and an amazing team mate, (they compete in Jumpers together); While his "time" is still hopefully years away yet, I am SO committed to preparing myself and my daughter to be strong enough to be with him when that time comes. I'm also saving some $$ aside to have him cremated, as you can't bury a horse in your backyard; the usual route for a deceased horse is an animal rendering plant, (glue factory), and our boy deserves better then that!

PS- Kingair- thanks for sharing your story and pics as well- a "happy beginning" for your family!

[Cabaiguan]

Jeez. I shed a tear during that one. Condolences to you on the passing of your friend.

My spaniel is 12 years old as well and I know the day is fast approaching for us.

[Mickey®]

Grissom

Nothing better than a good dog. I honestly feel your pain...
I think I have your other dog's twin at my house?

[HeyItsRaymond]

Sorry for that. He looked like an awesome companion and friend.

I had several Great Danes growing up we had to put down. Its never easy.

[mailman]

Very sorry Nathan.

[HL65]

So sorry Nathan! I know how awful that is--losing a loved family member. My thoughts are with you! RIP Sammy and best regards,

[tattooedfagin]

really sorry to hear this, had to stop reading half way through as i was filling up....

[seand442]

Yesterday was D-Day. We had to put JD down. Even though we knew it was the right choice, that didn't make it any easier. Even the vet told us that he had a couple of days, maybe. It was one of the worst things I've had to do and both my wife and I were blubbering messes for most of the day. He will always have a very special place in my heart as he was the first additional family member we picked up from the pound. I keep reminding myself that we gave him a better life than he would have had otherwise.
RIP JD. I will always love you.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by seand442

Yesterday was D-Day. We had to put JD down. Even though we knew it was the right choice, that didn't make it any easier. Even the vet told us that he had a couple of days, maybe. It was one of the worst things I've had to do and both my wife and I were blubbering messes for most of the day. He will always have a very special place in my heart as he was the first additional family member we picked up from the pound. I keep reminding myself that we gave him a better life than he would have had otherwise.
RIP JD. I will always love you.

Sorry to hear the sad news . . .

I wish him a nice trip to dog heaven ;-)

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by Grissom

We had to put Sammy down yesterday, and that was incredibly painful.

That stinks. There is a special place in heaven for dogs and cats. I like them better than most humans...

[never2late]

What a beautiful old friend . . . sorry for your loss.

[chicfarmer1]

Sammy will always be in your heart, and you will always feel him a blessing in your lives. Sending condolences.