Another sad day

My oldest Basset Hound, Duke T. Dawg passed away this morning. A good 13 year run for a Basset, he was a trooper till the end. Poor guy had a stroke, had to use a wheeled go-cart for his rear legs but it never slowed him down, we took one of our long walks Monday, and he just gave up, had to go get the garden cat to get him. Yesterday he just laid at my feet and wanted to follow me around as I did yard stuff so he rode in the garden cart, still a happy guy, ears up, tail wagging as he could.

This AM his face drooped, he was labored breathing, and his heart was racing. I knew it was time. We rode to the vet in the truck, he tried real hard to look out the window like he did back in the days when we rode the country in the 'big' truck. He always loved to ride anywhere with me. We got to vet, there I left him in truck to check in as he was laying comfortable. Checked in went back to truck he had crawled over to drivers side and was happy, ears pied out, tail wag of sorts. We went in waiting room and instead of staying on floor he wanted up on my lap, and he never was a lap dog. I think he knew. He went like a trooper, eyes looking at me and a final tail wag...

Why is losing pets so hard?

Edited by oldsoldier - 23 April 2014 at 11:44am

Jesus it got dusty real quick. Stories like this hit me way harder than people.

Really sorry to hear it. He had one hell of a life, no doubt about that, and you both handled it admirably.

Pet stories are the best.  Pets dying is the worst.  My $.02 worth on why pets, especially dogs hurt when we lose them is this:  You will never find a companion animal like a dog that gives love and affection unconditionally.  You could have punished that dog bad for some horrible thing and he'll come back to you the second you call for him without the angry voice.  Dogs are the best.

Thank to all, hardest part was this AM when I called by habit him and the rest to chow, and he did not appear out of his dog house. I later cleaned the dog house out and his bedding, just can not wrap my head around he is gone yet.

I pick up his cremains this afternoon, he goes on the mantel over the fireplace with Beau and Samantha, and will be interned with me when I go. We will meet at that bridge, and play all day.

Edited by oldsoldier - 24 April 2014 at 12:30pm