My Dog Passed Away

[LaurenB]

Hello, girls. I am a new member to the AN CT team. I wanted to let you know about a special member of our family that has passed. I shared this information with my other digi-families at SDD and DRS... and I bring the news here now as well because I create here too.

Dear Girls,



Bear is at rest in doggie heaven today. I took this photo this morning with the children before they went to school; I told them to wish him well as he went into the hospital. We told them that he is very sick, and that the doctors will do the best that they can to make him better. My son, of course, understands better than my daughter. We've talked with him privately about not wanting Bear to suffer, and the doctors, Mommy, and Daddy may need to help Bear stop suffering.



After the vet saw just how much the tumor has grown with indications it is now spread into the nasal cavity/sinuses with green goop coming out of his eyes, tumor bleeding regularly, no longer eating, weight loss, heavy breathing, his quality of life has significantly diminished with a prognosis of very little time remaining. Me, not being the strong one, at all, and with my husband and vet's support, decided that putting Bear at peace today would be the best thing for him today. I could not be in the room; I am an emotional wreck. My husband said Bear closed his eyes and gave a soft, happy sigh of relief.



RIP Bear, 6.2.11

[Debb Cozzi]

Oh Lauren I am so very, very sorry for your loss! I come from a long line of dog-lovers. Our dogs have been as much a part of our family as our kids. When we have family reunions not only do we reminisce about the time Uncle Bud ate the 140 radishes we also remember the clever tricks of my grandma's dog Zoe, the gentle humor of my Uncle Rick's dog Dinky, and the race to steal socks that was the hallmark of our own mini Doxy Bandit. My grandpa always used to say, "The problem with a good dog story is that it always ends in tears."

My two daily companions are my sweet 12 year old golden Millie and her son, a black lab/golden mix named Tramp. They sleep at my feet as I work, prompt me to get up out of my chair and away from the desk to take them for walks and in every way shower me with the most marvelous and unconditional love. I COMPLETELY understand the heartache you are experiencing. Please know my prayers of comfort will be yours. May the God of all compassion, who is the creator of these wonderful animals, minister to your heart and fill you with peace as you reconcile to your loss. Your Bear looked like a champion; that most wonderful of creations, a good dog!!

((((Hugs)))))

[traci]

I am so sorry to read of your loss! I have two wonderful sweeties that are never far from me. Like Deb, our family is one of complete devotion to our dogs. It was no mistake that the word "dog" is the mirror image of God....because they are. Perfect love and perfect tolerance.

[LaurenB]

Debb, I had to walk away after reading your post twice because I cried for 20minutes each time. What you wrote resonates so deeply with me, I thank you for such strong words of compassion. I needed to hear those words. I will be coming back to reread them again when I am ready- to help bring peace when I feel so, so weak.

Bear, my beloved Newfoundland, is a champion. However did you guess? ;-) He has only been with us for three years. We adopted him a rescue that rescued him Philly... Bear was abandoned on the streets in a bad, bad, BAD section in NorthEast Philly where he was found eating out of garbage cans, ridden with fleas, suffered severe hair loss, and had two terrible ear infections. He was estimated to be about four in 2008.

When we brought him into our home, he fit right in. I love that you shared your stories of your dogs They made me laugh Thank you so, so, so much. They each have their own personality, don't they? And your Grandpa is certainly right about a good dog story ending in tears... these precious animals just mean so much.

You could do whatever you wanted to Bear. The kids could ride on him, if they wanted to. He would pull a sled. Eat a large pizza if left on the stove and I was giving the kids a bath. Eat a whole watermelon if left on the counter... open a container of peanut butter and lick it clean... lick my toes and lay on my side of the bed each and every night. Howl whenever we'd leave on the weekend at the mention of ice cream... Chase after bunnies and squirrels, but cringe at toads.

I am out of my routine of feeding, walking, letting him out. I miss his panting, drooling, puffs of hair black hair falling out just after I vaccuum. ;-(

I found this poem written by Lord Byron about his own Newfoundland, Boatswain:

Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who
possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the Virtues of Man,
without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning
Flattery if inscribed over human
ashes is but a just tribute to the Memory
of Boatswain,a Dog.

This photo was taken in Novemer 2010. In comparison to the first photo, you can see that Bear looks so healthy here, which was just six months ago...

[Debb Cozzi]

Lauren, the fact that Bear was a rescue dog makes him all the more precious! Have you ever read Mark Levin's "Rescuing Sprite"? DON'T read it right now while the loss is still so fresh and you are emotionally fragile. But in the month's ahead I would highly recommend you read this book. I know it will resonate with you.

I love the poem you shared.

I completely understand that missing of routines. When my middle son was just a toddler we had a wonderful Australian Shepherd named Maggie. Like all of her breed the herding instinct ran powerfully through her veins. My son, Anthony, would run through the house, or in the front yard and Maggie would chase after him "nipping" at his pant's leg, trying to "herd" him back to me. Anthony would laugh and squeal all the while yelling out, "'top it Maggie, 'top it!" (He had trouble pronouncing his "S's"). Sadly, we were having some work done in our yard and one of the workers left our gate open. Maggie got out and got hit by a car. My Anthony was so heart-broken. I would say, "Let's go out and play in the yard." And he would decline saying, "no fun without Maggie." For weeks and weeks I would find myself listening for the "play sounds" of Anthony and Maggie-only to hear silence....it is a hard adjustment.

I'm hugging you across the miles sweetheart. Hang in there. Know that people care and understand what you are going through. ((((Hugs)))))

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

This thread is bittersweet. I love the funny stories, but wow, I'm more than a little melancholy reading the sad ones. Thinking about you, Lauren, and your family and am so very sorry about Bear.

[Amson]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I had to do the same with our 14 year old kelpie last year and it was the hardest thing that I have ever done. My thoughts are with you.

[LaurenB]

Dear girls,

Tomorrow marks TWO WEEKS since Bear's passing, and it seems like a lifetime. I have shed countless tears. I feel lost and broken (my girlfriend said she used those very words when her Nick was hit by a car, similar to your Maggie, Debb). I feel as though I *should* be cleaning up after him or hearing his panting or *something* to mark that he is here... I just miss him so much.

My children are doing better than I expected. They each have selected a favorite photo of Bear that we printed and placed in a frame that they have put in a special spot in their rooms. We talk about him freely, especially our favorite memories. They ask me all the time, "Mommy, are you still sad?" They want to know when we get another dog if we can name it Bear Junior.

[Scrappy Diva]

Lauren, I am sitting here in my hotel room an vacation, in Montreal, with tears streaming down my face. The loss of Bear, someone so special to you and your family, breaks my heart. So many of us can truely empathize with you. I pray you are comforted by your precious memories of the time you shared.

Marilynne