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#1: Bionerd (nieboo) on Oct 13, 2007 [SPOILER]

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cute

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Yeah, I forgot they post most recent to least recent!

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My long puzzles were tiring me, so I thought I'd try something different.

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Awesome ideas, #'s 8 and 9!

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So sorry to hear that and my sympathies. I've had a few similar tragedies in the last few years and spent part of this morning in tears because I realize that my faithful companion, my dog, is nearing the end too. I'm hoping he makes it through the Winter with me but his hips are getting progressively worse. He had an episode early this morning where he had a lot of trouble standing up. Later, however, with the coaxing of a few "squirrel, squirrel" he was pretty sound and active.

It's so hard deciding what's best for our companions. Loki had been having seizures for a few months and he wasn't very active. But just about the time we would decide it might be best to have him put to sleep, he would have a good day and come out of his cage and play with the other ferrets a bit. But finally one morning he *woke us up* making this horrible noise (and ferrets are not loud or vocal creatures). He was having a different kind of seizure and it was HORRIBLE. So, we drove him across town to an emergency vet at 4:30 in the morning and ended up having him put to sleep.

But as long as they feel loved until the end of their lives, I don't think we can make a bad decision. --Here I'm starting to tear up now!

Anyway, thanks for the sympathies and good luck with your pooch. By the way, were you saying "squirrel, squirrel?" Or did he see a squirrel, squirrel? :)

To Arduinna - I was saying it to perk him up and get him moving. It worked.
I've always promised myself that I have to make the decision that's best for my animal and not for me. I've seen too many people hang onto an animal that was clearly in pain and suffering because it made *them* feel better not to put it down.
However, now that I'm getting close to having to decide what the right time to do that might be, its one of the hardest and painful decisions I'll ever have to make.
My dog turned 12 the first week of August. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and he's the first dog I've had that was truly mine. He's also the breed I always wanted (Austrailian Cattle Dog - commonly called a Blue Heeler, lots of country stars have them) and turned out to be much better then even I expected.
But I'm done thinking about it for tonight. I just got home and checked on him on the way in. He seems to be doing better tonight.

It's a hard time, indeed. I think the best advice on the subject I've read is to think of your pet's three favorite things. When they've stopped enjoying their three favorite things, it's time to let them go.

I have heard it said that the last best thing you can do for a beloved pet is to remove their pain by taking it for your own The price we pay for the privilege of sharing their lives, I guess.

I am happy to say that my Old Guy appears to have tapped a new Fountain Of Youth since we brought New Dog back from the pound. I dunno, I guess being thoroughly annoyed most of the time must have recuperative affects or something.

Oh, and Martin... my New Guy is also an ACD. Such interesting (and challenging!) little guys.

Byrdie, my last dog was also a healer (mix). Winnie was a wonderful dog, so sweet and gentle and affectionate. She also developed a painful condition that involved her hips, perhaps the same malady your doggy has. I adopted Winnie 10 years ago when she was about 18 months old, and just a few months ago I had to make that awful decision to let her go. I agree, it was the hardest decision I've ever made. I know now it was the right one, and to have waited any longer would have been cruel. I was told later that she was probably in more pain than she let on. I'm thinking of you.

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Nipper had a bit of trouble standing up to come in tonight. Once he got going he's done pretty well. I've been giving him baby asprin twice a day but tonight was really tough. He's vibrant in every other way and he's a real stoic dog - not one to show pain. Because it's snowing a little bit I could see plainly that he was dragging his right hind foot somewhat.

It's not a decision I'm ready to make and obviously not looking forward to, but I don't think we're going to make it all the way through Winter.

Theresa, we know you are busy, but how about an entry for this week's WC?

That's right I was busy-- busy playing video games and watching movies and catching up with family!

I explained to Sylvain in one of the posts why I haven't entered this week-- I don't know if others feel the same way. It's a bit intimidating that the theme is "your best puzzle"! I'll think about it!

Your best shot at this week, please.

I know I'm about a year late, but I'm really glad I found this puzzle (and the comments) in the "random puzzle" draw tonight. We just put my dog, Tucker, to sleep last week, and it was/is a heartbreaking decision. I'm sorry to hear that so many others have gone through the same thing, but comforted by your thoughts - particularly the "3 favorite things" comment. When I think of Tuck's 3 things I know we made the right choice, tough as it was.

While re-reading the comments I realized I obviously didn't read the previous ones when I posted comment # 22. It sound so insensitive ... I'm sorry I apologize to those of you who were suffering for your pets. Specially to Byrdie who was going to a very difficult time.
Thanks Stacy for bringing this back to me and allowing me to rectify.

No worries, Jotta. I don't remember thinking anything of it at the time and your sympathies are appreciated.

As a follow-up, those previous posts I made were last November and Nipper made it through that period with the help of 2 baby asprin a day (hidden in a chunk of string cheese) and a good warm place to spend his time when I wasn't around. However, in January an infection in his foot caused irrepareable damage and I had to let him go then. The leash we used when he went to the feed mill with me is still on the floor of his side of the truck and it'll stay there until I give the truck up. His collar is with his ashes in my living room. Thinking of him can still, at times, make we weep.

To make matters worse, my other dog finally showed all the signs of her age (she was a little older than Nipper) and I had to let her follow him in April.

To Stacey - I know the loss you are feeling. My heart goes out to you.

Funny how a little random puzzle brings such a discussion...
My sympathies to all who experienced such a loss.
I was in a similar situation with my cat a few years back. Euthanasia is a very difficult decision to make.

#16, 17, 19, and 21 made me cry. Earlier this year in 2017, my family had to make that decision for our beloved Quincy, a 15 year old cocker spaniel with cancer. We knew he was suffering and made the decision to stop his suffering with euthenasia. It sucked. Like so many here have already expressed, we knew we made the right decision, but we wished so bad that we didn't have to.

Arduinna, I hope you are still enjoying ferrets. They are cute critters, aren't they? I've never had one, but I know I would love her if I did.

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