Today is the saddest day I've had in almost 20 years.
Just put my awesome friend to sleep and buried him in my back yard. My Airedale Terrier was named after you know who, back when I thought Tiki Barber was a great guy (don't want to get into that).
My main man dog, Tiki, was born December 21, 2002. My wife has allergies so we looked for a hypo-allergenic breed, which led us to Airedales.
When I went to the breeder's house to pick, there were Airedales of different generations everywhere and the latest litter was mostly sleeping or minding their own business. Except one. He came right up to me wagging his little puppy tail and I said I guess you must be the one. It's like he chose me. I had already chosen the name, so i said to the breeder, that's Tiki.
Airedales have an avg lifespan of 11 years. Tiki made it to 15 and 8 months, so he had a good run, but that doesn't make it any easier. My kids have never seen me cry.. I'm so sad.
I'm sure Tiki couldn't have asked for a better life.
I've seen this poem shared with those who - ( New Window )
I Loved You Best
So this is where we part, My Friend, and you'll run on, around the bend. Gone from sight, but not from mind, new pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on; I'll find the strength, life measures quality, not its length. One long embrace before you leave, share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true, but they be they, and they aren't you. And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought, will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed, the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed. And as you journey to your final rest, take with you this...I loved you best.
-Jim Willis
One of the hardest things I have ever done in my adult life was put down my dog at 15 too. Nothing I can write will make you feel better. Just know we all (dog owners) have to endure the same at some point.
Cheers to a great life Tiki..
All I can say is hang in there - it does get better. You'll always miss your pup, but as time goes on, you miss him in a different way.
I just got a new puppy about 3 weeks ago. It's so much work, but I was ready and I love the new guy. He's great and has a huge personality.
You'll have to cry it out a bit. Everyone does. But he's not suffering now and he's in a better place.
Best of luck.
She has said that he was the biggest wedge in our marriage. At the time, i didn't know we had any wedges.
As much as I love dogs, I don't want a divorce. It sucks that I have to choose.
She has said that he was the biggest wedge in our marriage. At the time, i didn't know we had any wedges.
As much as I love dogs, I don't want a divorce. It sucks that I have to choose.
I am dreading the day when they leave us. I pay for health insurance for both of them, which is up to $200 a month. Whether its a good value is debatable, but I've done it specifically to avoid the situation you had with you wife. If these dogs need medical treatment I want to be able to do what ever is necessary without having to worry about finances or arguing with my wife whether its "worth it".
I knows you mean -- I have gone through this a few times and it does suk that you can't get another dog --
I don't know what I'd do with out my pup around. I've fallen in love with all of mine.
We lost our Archie Moonlight Graham in February. We were talking about him today, my wife and I, and she started to tear up. Said we couldnt talk about him any more today. ☹️ Of course it gets incrementally easier. But our guy was more than a dog to us. He was family. Sounds like your Tiki fit that bill, too.
Hang in there. All the best.
My condolences.
My family is going through this right now. Our 7 year old yellow lab was just diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoma. We started chemo last week an he seemed to bounce back a little. We just received the phone call from the doctor and he was not as optimistic as we are. He said we will re-evaluate Dexter's health in a month to see if the chemo is working, if not he suggest to stop the chemo.
It's been like a friggin roller coaster with our emotions. He didn't look like he was going to make it the week and then he bounced back after the first round of chemo which was this past Tuesday.So we were all so very hopeful and encouraged. Now he seems to be slipping back again and his next round is this Tuesday.
The doctor told us to spoil him. (which we do anyway) He just started eating again a little bit so he is getting whatever he wants. He sleeps with my wife and I sleep on the couch. We all spend a lot of quality time with him. The kids have played less video games and more time with the dog.
As much as I love this dog and this is killing me right now, I will never get another. This is like watching a human family member being sick with cancer. The only difference is they can't tell you what hurts so you can make them comfortable.
So I offer you all my good thoughts to you and your family. Your dog sounded like an amazing little guy!
My family is going through this right now. Our 7 year old yellow lab was just diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoma. We started chemo last week an he seemed to bounce back a little. We just received the phone call from the doctor and he was not as optimistic as we are. He said we will re-evaluate Dexter's health in a month to see if the chemo is working, if not he suggest to stop the chemo.
It's been like a friggin roller coaster with our emotions. He didn't look like he was going to make it the week and then he bounced back after the first round of chemo which was this past Tuesday.So we were all so very hopeful and encouraged. Now he seems to be slipping back again and his next round is this Tuesday.
The doctor told us to spoil him. (which we do anyway) He just started eating again a little bit so he is getting whatever he wants. He sleeps with my wife and I sleep on the couch. We all spend a lot of quality time with him. The kids have played less video games and more time with the dog.
As much as I love this dog and this is killing me right now, I will never get another. This is like watching a human family member being sick with cancer. The only difference is they can't tell you what hurts so you can make them comfortable.
So I offer you all my good thoughts to you and your family. Your dog sounded like an amazing little guy!
We were not allowed to have a dog for this reason -
"as much as I love this dog and this is killing me right now, I will never get another. This is like watching a human family member being sick with cancer."
My Dad said when his dog died when he was a young teenager ... it took him over a year to get "right" and he didn't want us to go through it. I have a suspicion that he did not want to go through it again .... also.
We had everything else though - Rabbits, parakeets, Hamsters, Gerbils ... lol Fish, etc ... no dogs.
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having a dog is like having another child. Their personality, their loyalty, the way they can always make you smile when you might be having a bad day..
My family is going through this right now. Our 7 year old yellow lab was just diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoma. We started chemo last week an he seemed to bounce back a little. We just received the phone call from the doctor and he was not as optimistic as we are. He said we will re-evaluate Dexter's health in a month to see if the chemo is working, if not he suggest to stop the chemo.
It's been like a friggin roller coaster with our emotions. He didn't look like he was going to make it the week and then he bounced back after the first round of chemo which was this past Tuesday.So we were all so very hopeful and encouraged. Now he seems to be slipping back again and his next round is this Tuesday.
The doctor told us to spoil him. (which we do anyway) He just started eating again a little bit so he is getting whatever he wants. He sleeps with my wife and I sleep on the couch. We all spend a lot of quality time with him. The kids have played less video games and more time with the dog.
As much as I love this dog and this is killing me right now, I will never get another. This is like watching a human family member being sick with cancer. The only difference is they can't tell you what hurts so you can make them comfortable.
So I offer you all my good thoughts to you and your family. Your dog sounded like an amazing little guy!
We were not allowed to have a dog for this reason -
"as much as I love this dog and this is killing me right now, I will never get another. This is like watching a human family member being sick with cancer."
My Dad said when his dog died when he was a young teenager ... it took him over a year to get "right" and he didn't want us to go through it. I have a suspicion that he did not want to go through it again .... also.
We had everything else though - Rabbits, parakeets, Hamsters, Gerbils ... lol Fish, etc ... no dogs.
(Half my post got cut off) - anyway Does Dexter have youth on his side? Isn't 7 like middle age for dogs? Hopefully he rallies and can turn it around. Sorry about your predicament Tom .... Pulling for Dexter. Hoping for the best!
(Half my post got cut off) - anyway Does Dexter have youth on his side? Isn't 7 like middle age for dogs? Hopefully he rallies and can turn it around. Sorry about your predicament Tom .... Pulling for Dexter. Hoping for the best!
Thank you short lease! I get all teared up just looking at him. Yes he is 7 so we thought he had youth on his side. The problem is that the doctor said TCell is very aggressive. It spreads rapidly to the organs. So we are just doing whatever it takes to make him comfortable.
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In comment 14017724 short lease said:
(Half my post got cut off) - anyway Does Dexter have youth on his side? Isn't 7 like middle age for dogs? Hopefully he rallies and can turn it around. Sorry about your predicament Tom .... Pulling for Dexter. Hoping for the best!
Thank you short lease! I get all teared up just looking at him. Yes he is 7 so we thought he had youth on his side. The problem is that the doctor said TCell is very aggressive. It spreads rapidly to the organs. So we are just doing whatever it takes to make him comfortable.
That is all you could do .... Eff Cancer. Good luck with Dexter!!!
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Yesterday was one of the worst days in recent memory. Today was pretty crappy but I was busier and only thought of the horror of losing Tiki when less busy.
I have to kind of chuckle at the thought of pet health insurance being the answer to "avoid this situation". Paying $200 a month for pet insurance would NOT have made my situation better. My wife is pretty frugal and would've offed Tiki herself before we paid $200 a month for insurance. He was pushing 16, my wife wanted him dead..
I don't mean to make my wife sound like some evil witch of the east. She wasn't allowed to have a dog growing up and never experienced the positives. She was pretty negatively biased when we got Tiki. It's like he had no chance with her and she held stuff against him from 14 years ago... and he smelled, even a day after a shower, etc...