Our two dogs Christmas Noel and Holly Berry were born on Christmas day 2000, we got them a year later and they were part of our everyday lives, like all family dogs. They travelled with us to many MINI events and became known as the MINI-Poopers.....
We lost Noel Sept 5 to congestive heart failure, we had treated her successfully for more than 5 years, but when the end came it came quickly and suddenly. One day she was her normal self, the next day we couldn't rouse her, even tho she was still breathing.
Today we lost her littermate and sister Holly, it came as a real surprise as she was deemed far more healthy than Noel, with a strong heart, good lungs and no back or muscular problems. About 2 weeks ago she stopped eating......we could get a little food down here and there but she would only take a few bites then lose interest. Rose went nuts trying desperately to find something she would eat. Today she had an ultrasound procedure and they found a large mass blocking her intestine - they gave her a 50/50 chance of surviving the surgery but no chance that it wouldn't come back - and that she might live 3 more weeks or 3 more days. We decided to end her suffering......
People say 16 years is a long time for a dog to live, but sometimes it's just not long enough
Love 'em while you have them, too quick they leave us.
My deepest condolences. There is a reason for the nickname "fur-kids" - they are family.
Wow, sorry for your loss, Dave. 16 years is a lot, and I trust you've many photos capturing the good times you'd shared.
It rips your heart out. I am still stinging from the loss of my Choc. Lab 2 years ago. She let me love her for 14 years and for that I am honored.
Dogs > Most humans
Sorry Dave take consolation in knowing you gave those dogs good lifes.
Thanks you, all......
BTW, the surgery to remove the tumor would have cost just over $5000.00........if she were younger or they could have given us better chances for her to live after removing the tumor, I probably would have spent the money.....but Rose said no, not if they couldn't even be sure she'd live thru it. And if she did make it she would have days or weeks of pain afterward recovering, and as aggressive as the tumor was it was most probably going to come back - hard. I just couldn't put her thru that.
As it is, we spent over $1000 the last few days at the 2 different vets we took her too trying to find out what was wrong. Healthcare in this country is out of control nuts!
That's a shame, but at least you eased her suffering and she probably knew that you were trying to help her.
So sorry to hear about this Dave. Having met both your dogs I know they were sweet, smart, fun, and full of character. It's very tough that we outlive our dogs - but I can think back to the various dogs I've lived with over the years, both as a kid and has an adult, and reflecting back, I'm very thankful for the times we had together and the memories of have of them.
Sorry to hear about that Dave.
We do outlive them but id take 13-15 years as a dog with a good home any day I won't have 13 years that good in my life. Our 2 dogs here eat better than us sometimes.